Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1913, Page 39

Irish News

GENERAL. Mr. Scanlan, M.P., on St. Patrick’s Day laid the foundation stone of a memorial which is to be erected in Sligo in memory of -the late Mr. P. A. McHugh, formerly M.P. for North Sligo. The death is announced of Mr. Brian O’Donnell, a farmer, at his residence in Inver, Co. Donegal, at the great age of 114 years. Deceased, whose faculties remained unimpaired to the last, could speak Irish only. , ,

. The Irish Lord Chief Baron, in opening the Assizes for the County of Londonderry, said that the only criminal business was a case adjourned from the Winter Assizes, so that in point of fact those were really maiden Assizes for the county . -

Only ten convictions in Ireland under the Weights and Measures Act are recorded in the Return of the Board of Trade in the report "on proceedings and business under the Act during .1912. In England and Scotland the convictions numbered 2183. •

Viscount Gough, in : presiding at a house dinner of the Irish Club in London, said he rejoiced to meet there many men who differed from him both politically and religiously, but that made no difference in their friendship. The so-called religious difficulty in Ireland was largely a myth.

■ On St. Patrick's Day the Irish Guards received sprigs of shamrocks sent by Queen Alexandra and presented by Colonel Nugent. With their shamrocks the Catholics of the regiment marched to the Church of SS. Peter and Edward, Palace street, Westminster, where Father Keogh, the rector, preached an appropriate sermon. At the annual meeting of the Royal Irish Academy, Count Plunkett, K.C.H.S. (a vice-president) and Professor Hugh Ryan, D.Sc, were elected on the council. The new Catholic members of the Academy are Dr. Thomas Costelloe, of Tuam, Father Egan, M.A., S.J., and Father Thomas. Finlay, S.J., Professor in the National University.

Nearly 200 boxes of shamrock were delivered by post at the House of Commons on St. Patrick's Day for the Irish members. These gentlemen gave bunches to their British colleagues, and handed boxes to the police on duty for dispersal to all who cared to ask for a bunch. The whole House, says the Daily Mail, wore quite a green appearance. The Manchester Guardian, on St. Patrick's Day, published an interview with Mr. John Redmond. The Irish leader observed that next St.. Patrick's Day would be the last before the passing of the Home Rule Bill and the establishment of an Irish Parliament. He spoke of the enthusiasm for Irish Home Rule, not only in Ireland, but in Great Britain, the dominions, and the United States.

Nothing more significant with regard to Home Rule has happened of late than the action of the London Times, which on March 17 issued a special Irish supplement. The supplement was a most comprehensive, and it may be added complimentary, publication, giving a striking picture of Ireland as it is, and of the splendid part which Irishmen have played in building up the Empire.

The shamrock seems to have been just as popular as ever it was with the London crowd when St. Patrick's Day came round (says the Universe). Yet it is a curious fact that St. George's Day, when it arrives, will not see any great increase in the British interest in the rose-growing industry. Remarkably enough, whereas most Englishmen can give the date of St. Patrick's Day, they would have to refer to the calendar for the feast day of the saint whose patronage their country enjoys. ; .

LITTLE WORK FOR THE JUDGES. About a decade ago one of the Irish Judges of Assize was angry at Tullamor©—and he said so. The

distinguished official (remarks the Irish Weekly) was compelled to travel to the capital of King's County; so were Grand ; Jurors and-petty—or common —jurors; so ■■: were the High Sheriff, and all the big men and minor men who, somehow, manage to find opportunities of performing public service in connection with an Assize Court: and all the trouble and expense were entailed ;so that; the Judge, the Grand Jurors, the common jurors, and the wise persons- associated i with them, might;: decide a quarrel between two individuals as to the ownership of an ass valued at ten shillings sterling. During the: present Spring Assizes going judges in Ireland have, for the most part, been ranked amongst the : unemployed. In some. places ther cases brought before them could have been disposed of in the County Courts, or by magistrates at 'Petty Sessions: perhaps some of the cases should not have been heard at all. Mr. Justice Gibson received a pair of white gloves from the; Sub-Sheriff at Kilkenny. Mr. Justice Ross was in Cork City on the same day. " Only two cases were to be tried—small items ■; of -larceny; and. robbery— a great community of 100,000 people; and the Judge spoke waring almost affectionately, of the Southern capital as possessing an atmosphere that one did not always find about other cities l in Ireland.' At Roscommon County Court Judge Wakely also received a pair of white gloves. So the tale has been told throughout Ireland—from Derry, Antrim, and Down to the ends of the South and West. - • V

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS. An analysis of the religious statistics given in the complete general . report of the Census Commissioners on the Census of Ireland, taken m 1911, presents some interesting and significant ' features. Comparing the percentages for 1911 and 1901, the proportion of Catholics increased in Leinster, and Connaught, and declined in Ulster. Presbyterians increased in Leinster and Munster, and decreased in the other two provinces. Episcopalians increased in Ulster, but decreased in the other provinces. Catholics constitute more than 50 per cent, of the population in eight of the Ulster boroughs. In Belfast, Presbyterians are predominant, where they form 33.7 per cent, of the population. Of every 1000 of the population in Ulster the following is the religious composition;—Catholics, , 437; Presbyterians, -266; Episcopalians, 232; Methodists, 31 All Others,’ 34. Catholics form an absolute majority of the people fin 114 out of 139 towns tabulated. In the Ulster towns of Limavady, Cookstown, Newcastle (Co.- Down), and Whiteabbey, although less than 50 per cent., Catholics are, nevertheless, the largest section. The Catholic clergy, who, in 1901, numbered 3711 members, in 1911 were 3924. The clergy tabulated under the heading Protestant Episcopalian, numbered 1617 in 1901, and 1575 in 1911. The Presbyterian clergy show a decrease of 18, from 685 to 667.

AN ECHO OF THE ‘ SOURER DAYS.’ V : The Achill Islanders (says the Glasgow Observer) are-making a strenuous effort to buy out their holdings. One dire impediment in the way is the refusal of . the trustees of the Mission Settlement at Dugort, who own most of the land, to negotiate with their tenants under the provisions of the Land Acts. The situation is an interesting one because, although the tenantry- is mixed in religion, their demand is tersely put, Protestant and Catholic —We want our land.’ It may seem surprising that there , should be Protestant agricultural tenants in Achill, but there are, and thereby hangs a tale. During the terrible years of the Irish famine, and in later' seasons of similar destitution, the most determined attempts were made to ‘ convert ’ the starving peasantry of, Achill to a profession of the Protestant faith. The system known and hated as ‘ Souperism ’ was vigorously operated. There was plenty of food soup in abundance for the starving Catholic peasant who would comply with the suggestions of his ‘ evangel - isers,’ and quit the faith of his fathers, Proselytisers were determined if the indigenous Papist < could not be ‘ converted,’ then a Protestant peasantry could be imported and, so to speak, rooted in the land. Of course, plenty of funds were forthcoming, and so the

Mission Settlement became landlord of a great part of the island. Now the tenants, Protestant and Catholic, want to become' owners of the land "they till, and as they are not without plenty of friends in England Achill. being a popular tourist resortit is more than likely the people will prevail. - , • *

, ■ COLONIAL SYMPATHY.* Mr. Hazleton, M.P., speaking at the St. Patrick’s Day gathering in Glasgow, referred in the course of his address to the unanimity in the demand for Home Rule which existed among tire scattered Irish race all over the world. He had; returned quite recently from Australia, whence he and Mr. W. A. Redmond and' Mr. Donovan brought back a contribution of £30,000 for the Irish war-chest. One of the most remarkable features of the visit which he and his fellow-delegates paid to Australia was the unanimity of the' sentiment in favour of Home Rule which they had found existing not only : among the Irish residents there but also among Australians of all parties and all creeds. The resolutions in favour of Home Rule which were passed at all their meetings were usually moved by the . leader of the Government and seconded by the leader of the Opposition, and the Australian Commonwealth had followed the example of the Canadian Parliament in passing a resolution in favour, of Home Rule. The reason why all the English-speaking colonies were so unanimous in favour of Home Rule was that they had experienced the blessings of freedom themselves and they wished that Ireland should enjoy a similar opportunity of 'shaping her own destinies. One of the greatest factors in the success of the Home Rule movement, Mr. Hazleton pointed out, was the sympathy and support of the British democracy. Until recently they had been separated from their Irish brethren by the ignorance and prejudice regarding Ireland and Irish affairs, in which the enemies of Home Rule had endeavoured to maintain them. But they had com© at last to realise that the enemies of Ireland were their own enemies and that realisation of their common interests had resulted in the downfall of the House of Lords. It would be a remarkable example of poetical justice if, at the very time when Ireland was taking down the shutters from the Irish House of Parliament, the shutters were being put up on the English House of Lords.

LANGUAGE DEMONSTRATION IN DUBLIN. Irish Language Week was fittingly opened in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day with the great annual procession organised by the Gaelic League of the City and County of Dublin. From ail parts of Ireland excursions had been arranged in connection with the great event, and enormous crowds from all quarters viewed the display. The procession was divided into five sections. The Language section led the procession, headed by a pipers’ band, followed by a brass and reed band. Then followed public bodies, including representatives of Dublin Corporation, County Councils, Boards of Guardians, Dublin Vigilance Committee, Port and Docks Board, etc. The boys of the Christian Brothers’ Colleges and Schools, to the number of some thousands, made a great sight following this division. The third section consisted of members of the G.A.A. in Dublin and provinces,, and they, too, as they marched along, made a splendid impression. The Friendly and Temperance Societies of the city were well represented, as were also the Trade and Labor bodies and political organisations, the latter including the U.I.L. and Sinn Fein representatives. The route of the procession was from Parnell square to the Mansion House, where a great meeting was held. Mr. Joseph Dolan, a member of the General Council of Irish County Councils, moved the principal resolution, dealing with the spread of the language and its claims on the Irish people. Rev. Father Augustine, 0.5.F.C., submitted a resolution dealing with the question of immoral literature; and a further resolution, referring to national games and pastimes, was carried. Special services, at which prayers in Irish were said, hymns in Irish sung, and at which there were sermons preached in Irish, were held in many churches in Dublin on Monday.