Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12, 25 March 1909, Page 467

Irish News

ANTRlM— Presentation in Belfast The members of Division 45, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Belfast, entertained Bro. Philip Fay at a social gathering, and presented him with a dressing-case, on January 25,. prior to his departure for Auckland. Bro. Fay said that when lie reached his new home he would tell his friends how the situation stood in Belfast, and they would "be proud to hear that his Catholic and Protestant '- friends sat side by side on his last night in Belfast, and subscribed -for the handsome presentation for "which he now begged to return his thanks. CLARE— A Candid Opinion \ In view of statements about Irish crime which are so freely made in the English press, some observations made by Judge Bodkin at the Ennis Quarter Sessions may prove to be interesting and, perhaps, illuminating. There was only one case for trial at these sessions. "Judge Bodkin said he did not think it was part of his function as judge to indulge in remarks on any agrarian disturbances that may exist in the coimty, and he did not intend, and never would enter into any political discussion there. Ho thought it a matter for congratulation that, so far as ordinary crime was concerned, Clare — and he believed the same remark applied to all Ireland — compared favorably" -with any country in the world. CORK— A New Catholic College The Irish Franciscan Fathers have acquired for their students the well-known Protestant College, called Berkley Hall, situated just beside the Queen's College, Cork. This, spacious college, which will henceforth be called, very appropriately, St. Anthony's Hall, was built by the famous Dr. Webster, of Cork, and was completed in 1885. He intended it as a lecture hall and hostel for the students attending the Queen's College. He also had a house built in connection with it, called the Dean's residence, where he himself resided. For the few years during which he had charge, the college served its original purpose fairly well, but after his death its' period of usefulness abruptly terminated, and no one seemed to possess a particle of the enthusiasm which actuated Dr. Webster in founding and maintaining it, so that it had to be closed. It was afterwards sold to Mr. Donovan, the present Lord Mayor of Cork, from whom it was lately purchased by the Franciscans. It is an interesting fact that Berkley Hall is built on the site of the famous Irish monastery and school of St. Finbarr, the patron saint of Cork, where that great luminary of the ancient Irish Church lived and taught. It seems, therefore, like a special disposition of Divine Providence that Berkley Hall should come into tlie possession of the Franciscan Order, so renowned in Ireland for patriotism, piety, and learning, and which has done so much for Faith and Fatherland, especially during the terrible years of persecution, when their schools and monasteries, whose ruins now cover the land and excite the - admiration of all Irishmen, were plundered and destroyed. A Venerable Old-age Pensioner An astounding claim for an old age pension has been received by the Midlcton (County Cork) Pensions Subcommittee, the applicant being a well-known East Cork - centenarian, residing at Clonmult, seven miles from Midloton, and whose age has been vouched for at one huudred and two years. This remarkable claimant is believed to be the oldest applicant for a State pension in Ireland. DUBLIN — Lady Aberdeen's New Paper A new monthly journal has been established by ""Lady Aberdeen, wife of the Lord Lieutenant. It is called Slainte, which means ( Good health.' The purpose of the journal is to help Lady Aberdeen in her campaign against consumption in Ireland. In her introductory note she writes : ' Why has so much interest been evoked in this national health movement? We can only find a reason in the fact that the people of Ireland, of all classes and creeds, led by the doctors and by the clergy of all denominations, have awakened to the fact that a race of vigorous, healthy, temperate citizens is the greatest wealth that any country can possess, and that as thero have been many sad causes at work undermining the health of the people of Ireland, a great and sustained effort must' be made to eradicate these sources of trouble and -fco give to Ireland her natural right of being one of the healthiest countries in the -world.' Death of the Oldest Irish Surgeon The death is announced of Dr. George Ellis, who is believed to be the oldest Irish surgeon. Dr. Ellis died

at his Dublin residence at the age of one hundred years* He took his M.B. degree "'in 1834, and became a Fellow of 1 the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1844. He had retired from practice forty years ago. Dr. Ellis was the author of i Irish Ethnology, Socially and Politically Con* gidered,' and wrote several articles in medical journals. A Venerable Priest At the great age of eighty-five there passed away on January 30, at Milltown Park, Dublin, a famous Jesuit preacher and missioner, the Rev. William Kelly. He was .-:• one of three' brothers, who were distinguished members j' of the Society of Jesus. Father William, • the eldest of . tlie three, studied for some years in Maynooth College, and, . later on, joined his two younger brothers in the society. He was afterwards sent to Australia as the pioneer of "Jesuit Missions in that country. -In a . few -years he occupied there a position of great prominence as aya v preacher. He returned to Ireland some twenty years ago, and his later years were passed at Milltown Park^ as Pro- . fessor of Ecclesiastical History and Hebrew. He had a ' wonderful fund of learned lore and a fine taste in literature — -he was as familiar with Homer, Pindar, and' Dante as ■with Sir Walter Scott. He was well versed in Eastern languages, and was an authority among the Persian scholars of "the day. ■ Joined to these gifts were a sweet simplicity arid humility of character which endeared him to everyone with whom he came in contact. GAL WAY— Want of Arterial Drainage His Eminence Cardinal Logug, in a letter to the Very Rev. Dr. Kielty, P.P., Ballygar," enclosing a generous subscription for the victims of the Galway bogslide, says the sad occurrence emphasises a want which has been long felt and acknowledged in Ireland — the want of - ar,terial drainage. Large tracts of the country are waterlogged, and there is no means of drawing off the water, which is rendering those districts almost useless. Protest Against Police Tax Lord Killanin, who was present at a recent' meeting of Galway County Council, protested strongly against the imposition of £8000 for extra police upon the "entire county. The monstrosity of the thing; he said, -was the charging for the police to a district fifty or sixty miles -away from where there was a disturbance. It-- was an awful thing, he declared, that £8000 should be levied, which would establish twenty scholarships in the new University for all time. ,- . LOUTH— Golden Jubilee The Golden Jubilee of Brother P. A. Gallagher wa<» fittingly celebrated at St. Joseph's, Drogheda, on January 30. The interesting occasion was joyfully^ ushered in by a telegram from Rome bestowing the Papal Benediction on the worthy jiibilarian; and the presence of-, a large number of Christian Brothers from the neighboring towns testified to the esteem in' which he is held. -The Yen. Archdeacon Segrave, P.P., V.G., and the Very Rev. Quaxdian of the Franciscans, the Very Rev. Priors of the Dominican and Augustinian Fathers, as well as the Nuns of the different Convents, forwarded suitable presents and congratulations. Complimentary - letters and telegrams from many absent friends — one especially from the SuperiorGeneral, Rev. Brother J. C. Whitty — were received during the day. SLIGO— The Archbishop of Melbourne His . Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, whilst the guest of the Most Rev. Dr. Clancy .during the last week in January, received an address of welcome from the pupils of the Ursuline Convent, Sligo, and attended an entertainment given in his honor. TIPPERARY— To Reinstate Evicted Tenants A long-desired settlement has been arrived at as regards the O'Brien property, Mullinahone. The Estates Commissioners have decided to purchase the whole property, including part of the town of Mullinahone and lands adjoining, and- will at once proceed to reinstate -the evicted tenants, who number nearly thirty. It will "be remembered that the property was evicted twenty years ago, and one of the stiffest fights under, the Plan of ' Campaign took place there for years. There were wholesale persecutions and imprisonments. Mr. J. E. Redmond, M.P., defended some of the prisoners.' The evictions almost ruined Mullinahone, a whole street of houses, built by industrious tenants, being left derelict. For some time past negotiations for a settlement have been in progress and the Rev. W. Cantwell, P.P., and Alderman Condon^ M.P., with the- local committee, have spared no effort to secure its success. The result is most gratifying to all parties, and, while closing a painful chapter of the' Land War,* opens' up a new era of happiness and prosperity for Mullinahone and district.