Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 07, Issue 45, 7 November 1907, Page 27

Irish News

DOWN— A Link with the Past "Tjhe presence of Mrs John Ma-rtin at the great Nationalist demonstration at Warrenpoint the other day, and her kindly response to the enthusiasm of the vast concourse of people who desired "to see her, 'by coming to the front of the platform and bo-wing her acknowledgments, constitute a touching incident in Irish National politics. Mrs John Martin^was the junior by many years of her husband, whom ehe had known all her life. Her marriage to Mr John Martin did not take place till after his return from exile. It is now almost forgotten thaifc John Martin and Mrs Martin's famous brother, John Mitdhel, who in life weTe associated together in such thrilling and historic episodes, in death were not divided. John Martin was borne away in March, 1875, dying, from the funeral of John MJtchel in Newry, and expired a few days afterwards in the house in which John Mitchel had breathed his last. DUBLIN— The O'Connell Crypt After years of patient effort, and the expenditure 1 of a considerable sum of money, the Dublin Cemeteries Committee have at length concluded the decoration and embellishment of the O'Connell crypt. For several years the exudations from the walls Tetarded the decoration of the Liberator's last resting-place. How to get rid of this obstacle remained for long a perplexing and unsolved problem. The labors of the Committee, under the advice of eminent architects and engineers, were eventually crowned with success, and the work has now been completed in a highly artistic manner. . - „ . , Death of a Well-known Writer The news of the death of Mr Michael T. Duggan, which sad event took place after a very brief illness, will be received with deep regret by many Catholics (writes a Dublin correspondent). Mr Duggan, who held a responsible position in the office of the Board of National Education, Ireland, where he served for many years, was a gentleman of wide culture, and had acquired a widespread reputation for the extent, and solidity of his knowledge. He ranked as a linguist of a very Qrigh order, and as a litterateur whose pen was always at the service of the Cafholic Church his writings were greatly appreciated and admired. The questions of primary and university education in Ireland were from time to time treated by him with marked ability in his contributions to the current literature on those subjects ; and his ' Life of the Venerable Oliver Plunket,' published by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, has been read witlh the greatest interest throughout the country. Readers of the 'New Ireland Review,' to wliich sic frequently contributed, and in which, his writings always obtained an honored place, will long remember his exceedingly able and interesting articles, in which he completely refuted the previously-accepted theories of Lord Macaulay as to the authorship of the ' Letters of Junius ' ; but his most scathing criticism was reserved for those who advocated interference with the right of tfoe parent to regulate the religious education of the child committed by God to 'his care. KERRY— Potato Disease An Irish exchange states that in consequence of the wet and inclement weather winch prevailed during August and September in the East Kerry districts the potato disease had appeared in several localities. KERRY— A Challenge Mr Lindsay Talbot-Crosbie, Ardf crt Abbey, Co. Kerry, writes to the ' Daily Graphic ' as follows : — In your issue of September 3 you say that England might, for her own peace and quiet, be willing to Tid herself of Irish troubles by allowing Irishmen to manage their own affairs, but that she would not be prepared to abandon the loyal minority in Ireland to be subjected to a Roman . Catholic ascendency. As one of the ' loyal minority ' I can assure you we do not in any way share y.our apprehensions, and, if this is the only barrier to the fulfilment of Irish national aspirations, it may at once be swept aside. We are tired of being exploited by Orange lodges and the Tory Press for their own political objedts ; and, so" far from the scattered Protestants of the South and West living under civil or religious disabilities, I challenge the production of a single case in which a Protestanl has, on account of his religion, suffered either in purse or pocket from the action of his Catholic neighbors.

KILKENNY— From Cabman to Baronet The deaitlh of Sir George Meredith, recently recorded as having taken placs at South Great- George's street, Dublin, recalls the fact that deceased, as plain George Meredith, ; was a native of Athy, in which he lived for some time before his death, when supporting, and ultimately substantiating, a claim" to a baronetcy and an estate in Kilkenny worth £200 a year. Sir George, -as a young man, left home and went to sea as an ordinary seaman. He subsequently emigrated to Australia, wner'e he alternately filled the roles of cabman and "policeman. Ho ultimately settled down at Hobart. He was twice married, and leaves three children by his first wife. ' . ; LElTßlM— Serious Fire In the early hours of September 16 a fire broke out- hvth« extensive business establishment of Mr^J. J. Lynch, Carrick-on-Shannon. It was with considerable difficulty that Mr Lynch and :Mrs Lynch and the other occupants of the house were' aroused. There was intense excitement when it was observed that .they haxi no means of escape from the flames, which were eating into- the building. Blankets were at once procured, and Mrs Lynch, with great presence of mind, jumped -from tfhe third storey into one, which was held by four men. Mr Lynch immediately followed, and when he landed on the blanket, by some unaccountable accident it gave way, but he luckily escaped with some injuries albout the head and face. The other occupants closely followed, and escaped without injury. The premises were totally destroyed. LIMERICK— Mungret College The celebration of- the silver jubilee of Mungret College, Limerick, drew together a large number of past students and friends of this fine educational institution. They were entertained to luncheon by "the Fathers of the Community. To theRev. W. Ronan, S.J., and the Very Rev. T. V. Nolan, S.J., the present rector, to whose efforts much of the success of the College is due, well-deserved tributes of praise were given by the guests. LONGFORD— A Sturdy Nationalist

The 'Westminster Gazette,' speaking of Mr J. P. Farrell, M.P., who was arrested recently on a charge of cattle driving, says that he lost no time in giving the House of Commons tho benefit of his views once he became a member : — ' Mr J. P. Farrell, M.P., who was returned for trial in Ireland in connection with what has come to be known as cattle driving, was not long in the House of Commons before he made his voice heard. He was returned to Parliament at a bye-election in 1895, and he took his seat on a day when the Irish Estimates were under dis-

cussion. Within an hour after- taking the oath he was on his feet, calmly delivering a strong speech on the administration of Dublin Castle. Before that sitting had closed he had spoken three times.' Mr Farrell is a newspaper man, and went to jail for the cause so far back as 1889. Previously he sat for Cavan, but when Mr Justin M'Carthy left the House of Commons, and a vacancy occurred in Longford, Mr Farrell cam* along and got the seat. During the Parnell split he stood a* the candidate of the Party for Kilkenny City against Mr Patrick O'Brien, who remained a Parnellite. Mr O'Brien beat him by only fourteen votes. ROSCOMMON— The.Other Way About It is proverbial (remarks the ' Catholic Times ' that persons who wrong others always imagine they are aggrieved at the hands of those whom they have injured. In Ireland the Episcopalian Protestants long lorded it over the Catholics, treating them as inferior beings. Latter-day legislation has impaired their ascendency, but they are still a favored body, receiving a vastly disproportionate share of the offices and public appointments at the disposal of the Government. Yet Dr Elliott, the Protestant Bishop of Kilmore, accuses the Irish people of intolerance. He is in alarm for the Protestant minority, fearing that they will suffer endless afflictions because of their creed. Considering the representation they have in the Government o£ the country, it is pretty clear that they do not fare badly. . The Lord Lieutenant is and must be a Protestant. Of the thirty or forty gentlemen who° are in waiting on him and are maintained at the public expense about nine-tenths are of the same religious belief. So is the Chief Secretary, and about five out" of every six employed in his office are likewise Protestants. Under the Local Government Board the proportion of Protestants to Catholics is about thirty-four to thirteen, the salaries of the Protestants amounting to £22,225, as compared with £7,500 given to Catholics. These facts and figures lead to the conclusion that if the Irish Protestant suffers hardships they are of a roseate and not of a dismal hue.

SLIGO— The Freedom of the City The Sligo Corporation have decided to confer the' freedom of the borough on Mr J. E. Redmond, M.P. WATERFORD— A Distinguished Visitor The Right Rev. Monsignor O'Riordan, Rector of the Irish College, Rome, spent a short holiday during September in Waterford as the guest of the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr Sheehan. WEXFORD— AII Appointment Rev. Mother Gertrude, who has been many years Superioress of the Loreto Convent, Enniscorthy, has been appointed Assistant Mother-General of the Order in Ireland. She is succeeded in Enniscorthy by Rev. Mother Ignatius. GENERAL \

Commercial Probity On December 1 last (remarks the London ' Daily News ') the sum of £375,000 was due from Irish tenants in respect of the repayment to the Government of instalments owing on the purchase of their holdings. In March last all that sum had been paid in except £1,059. We do not think any people could be furnished with a better certificate for commercial probity. Catholic Secondary Schools A fact of no small interest (remarks the ' Freeman's Journal ') is to be culled from the results of the Intermediate examinations. Not so many years ago the Catholic secondary schools of Ireland were thought unable to compete with the Protestant rivals in mathematical studies. It was explained in various ways. The pure-bred Gael, it was said, is not mathematically inclined; he is imaginative, romantic, fancy-free, and not to 'be curbed by tlie rigorous discipline of figures. The Gaels of the south, however, and particularly those of them who are in the. hands of the Christian Brothers, o.Te now .carrying off the mathematical trophies from the erstwhile -champions of tlie north. Side by side with this interesting fact is another not less attractive— namely, that the classics are bringing prizes to the legitimate homes of classical studies, the Irish diocesan seminaries. The Protestant schools were won't to take off the most coveted distinctions in Greek and Latin, as well as in mathematics, but it is so no longer. And the sad reflection remains that these Caltholic youths who are showing such capacity in all branches of erudition are still without a university to complete their survey of the realms of learning.

Success of Catholic Schools Few things (writes a Dublin correspondent) excite such widespread interest in Ireland as the Annual Intermediate Examinations. The results are always awaited with anxiety by the general public, as well as by the teachers and their pupils. On September 12 the official list of exhibitioners, prize winners, and medallists was issued. The number of exhibitions have been reduced by fully .one-third as compared with last year's list. This parsimony destroys the career of many a student whose only hope of attaining to the top of the educational ladder lies in winning distinctions enough to enable him to continue his studies. Blackrock College, Co. Dublin, heads the list as far as exhibitions go, having won no less than nine, three of which are in the senior grade. ..The Academical Institution, Belfast, also won nine exhibitions, but only one of these is in the senior grade. Rockwell College won eight exhibitions, and Clongowes Wood College eight also. The latter takes the first place in all Ireland for the number of awards, having gained no less than forty-four. Loreto College for Girls, Wexford, obtained seven exhibitions, St. Louis', Monaghan, five, and Loreto College, Stephen's Green, Dublin, three, a very creditable record for these institutions. Unmistakable evidence of the splendid education imparted by the Christian Brothers is to be found in the list published by the Intermediate • Commissioners. To their Cork school belongs the honor of having won sixteen exhibitions, by far the highest awarded any school or college in Ireland. Thirty-nine distinctions were also awarded to this institution, placing it next to Clongowes in that respect. The O'Connell Schools, North Richmond street, won thirty-eight distinctions, or only one less than the sister school at Cork. The Synge Street Schools, Dublin, also did remarkably well, and so did the James Street Institution, Enniscorthy. The Youghal Kilrush, Omagh, Newry, - Tralee, Clonmel, Belfast, Thurles' Dundalk, Naas, Ennis, Mitchelstown, Glasnevin, Kilkenny Tipperary, Waterford, Mullingar, Maryborough, Dingle/ and Armagh Christian Brothers' Schools have well held their own and shown what a boon they are to the districts where they are laboring in the cause of education.