Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 4 March 1915, Page 47

Irish News

V GENERAL, > Sir Thomas Esmonde’s son is a midshipman on the Invincible, which played so dramatic a part in the Falkland Islands battle. Mr. D. D. Sheehan, M.P., who belongs to Mr. William O’Brien’s party, has received a ‘ commission as lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, forming qoai£ of Lieut. -General Sir L. Parsons’ new Irish Army Division. > - The diocese of Galway has contributed £SOO for the relief of distress in Belgium. Bishop De Wachter, in acknowledging the gift and an additional sum for the refugees, says that ' Galway deserves to be pointed out as a model of generosity.. Leading Seaman Thomas H. Carroll, H.M.S. Formidable, who succeeded in successfully steering his boat and seventy survivors to Lyme Regis, is a Kerry man. He joined the navy in 1893. In his Irish way, he attributes their safety to God’s Providence. Private Pugh, Connaught Rangers, late instructor of the Cool arty (County Longford) National Volunteers, has been killed in action. Sergeant W. J. Clarke, late Commander of the Manorhamilton National Volunteers, who joined the colors at the outbreak of the war, was also killed in action. • , The death of the Very Rev. Canon Blake, Dunfanaghy, was learned of with profound regret among the people of the parishes of Killymard and Donegal, where he was so well known and esteemed, having been pastor of the former parish, part. of which comprises the town of the Four Masters, for a period of,twelve years. Hon. T. B. Fitzpatrick, Boston, U.S.A., honorary treasurer of the U.I.L. in America, sent Mr. Redmond a New Year’s gift of £IOOO as a contribution from the Nationalists of the United States'to the Irish Parliamentary Fund. Mr. Fitzpatrick assures Mr. Redmond that with the rank and file of the United Irish League in America there is no defection in its loyalty to the Irish leader and the Irish Party. Mr. D. F. Cleary,' sub-manager of the Provincial Bank, Newcastle West, County Limerick, died suddenly on January 2. Deceased attended his duties on Saturday, and in the evening when sitting in his chair at home, became suddenly ill and never rallied. Both priest and doctor were present. The utmost sympathy is felt for the sister and brothers of -deceased, who belonged to an old and respected County Limerick family. The death took place on January 1 of the Rev. Brother O’Callaghan, of the Presentation Order, at Greenmount Industrial Schools, Cork, aged seventyfour years. Born at Scilly, Kinsale, he joined the Order over fifty years ago, and taught for many years at the Lancastrian Schools. He collected a large amount of money in America and throughout the British Isles for the building of Mount . St. Joseph Monastery, Cork, the head house of the Order. FORTY THOUSAND IRISH RECRUITS. Taken in round numbers, the total of the Irish recruiting since the outbreak of the war to the end of the year was just over 40,000. During the Christmas holidays and for an interval preceding there was an appreciable decline in the numbers presenting themselves for enlistment at the Irish centres, and the observation applies to Dublin equally with the others. Within a short period the authorities expect that the figures will' again mount up to the standard which prevailed prior to the holidays. |/*// A VICTORIA CROSS HERO. Early in January a large number of Monaghan people paid a tribute to Second , Lieutenant David Nelson, i!vho won: the .Victoria Cross on September 1 last in the famous stand of L Battery, R.IT.A., near Compiegne, when, although outnumbered by three guns to one, ythe 'battery kept the Germans at bay and finally

..... ...... ... - A r ■- silenced 'the enemy’s . guns. Only four of the battery were found alive when reinforcements arrived, arid in recognition of the gallant . stand the coveted honor of the Victoria Cross was awarded to ;• Captain Bradbury! who was amongst:' the killed, rid t o Sergeant David Nelson. Sergeant Nelson was also /promoted to the commissioned rank. He was seriously wounded at the time, and has since undergone two operations, and has now almost recovered/ "- ' y , A POPULAR VICEROY. Y /*' At a public' meeting held in the Mansion-House,, Dublin, on January 5, the Lord Mayor, who presided, proposed a resolution expressing sincere regret that the Marquis of Aberdeen had resigned the Viceroyalty of Ireland, and placing on record deep appreciation of services rendered to Ireland by Lord and Lady Aberdeen, and of the earnest and sympathetic support they had freely given to every movement, having ‘ for v its object the welfare of the Irish people and the promotion and encouragement of native industries. The resolution also expressed pleasure* that, ' though ’ the official connection of Lord and Lady Aberdeen with Ireland, was about to be severed for the present, they will continue to take an active interest in the. various ejects which they initiated for the -betterment "of the Irish people. The resolution was passed with applause, and a. committee was formed to make arrangements for a suitable demonstration on the occasion of the departure of Lord and Lady Aberdeen from Ireland. . c . TRIBUTE TO THE MUNSTER FUSILIERS.' Rev. Father Gleeson, formerly chaplain to St. Mary’s Blind Asylum, Merrion, is now at the : front l as chaplain to the Munster Fusiliers. - In a letter to Mr. Patrick Murphy, of ; Ardnagreena,’ North Circular load, Dublin, thanking him for Christmas greetings, he says: _ ' ' .•/ ' •• .A 1 I never expected I should be taking part so ; soon in such a- gigantic world-struggle, which, when the full history of it comes to be written, will stagger the world. lam chaplain to the Ministers. Murphy, as is not surprising, is a predominant name, and all are worthy of the name. lam absolutely charmed with the virtues, valor, and faith of these brave men from Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. J It is not a luxurious campaign, this of ours, I tell you. ... I saw a church in utter debris to-day. It was sad, sad, sad! Oh, I cannot tell you how I felt as I walked over the awful debris of that shelled, burned, demolished, and desolated church, in a village equally shelled, burned, demolished, and desolated ! You people at home cannot realise what war is. You have no idea. A BENEDICTINE MONASTERY. S A unique and interesting event in the religious history of Ireland is associated with the Christmas season. The Right Rev. Columba Marmion, 0.5.8., Abbot of Maredsous Abbey, Belgium, blessed and opened a monastery for monks of the great Benedictine .Order on Christmas Day at Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. After many difficulties had been overcome a suitable residence, with a chapel attached, and with several acres of .land adjoining, was secured, and about a dozen refugee monks collected from various Benedictine . monasteries in England and on the Continent were brought over to the new foundation shortly before Christmas. // The Very Rev. Father Aubert, 0.5.8., has been appointed the first Prior, and the Rev. Patrick Nolan, 0.5.8., M.A., -the first sub-Prior. Both these. Fathers come from the Benedictine Abbey at Erdington. The establishment in his native land of a house of his Order has been a project very dear to the. heart of Father Nolan ever since his profession as a Benedictine monk, and he and Abbot Marmion, who is also an Irishman, have been for some time engaged in searching for a suitable building for the new monastery. ////// . //