Philo-Celts.
The Brooklyn Philo-Celtic Society had a very in¬
structive reunion on April 29th, The Hon. Wm.
E. Robinson, the unchanged and unchangeable
Irish patriot, delivered the lecture of the evening
Mr. Gilgannon, as is his custom, opened the pro¬
ceedings with an Irish address. The accomplished
Misses Gilbert and McGrath presided at the piano.
Mrs. McDonald acquitted herself in her usual
brillant style. Miss Crowley, Mr. Martin and Mr.
Costello followed to the entire satisfaction of the
audience.
We learn from the San Francisco Monitor that
a highly interesting entertainment was given late¬
ly by the Philo-Celtic Society of that city, under
the direction of Mr. O'Quigley.
The Boston Society has started a very interes¬
ing monthly journal.
The reports of the Dublin Societies lie before us
and on the whole are encouraging. The S. P .I. L.
have their headquarters now at 6 Molesworth St.
To show that some progress is being steadily made,
the number of pupils in the national schools in '81
who passed in Irish was only 12, in '82, 17, in '83,
25, in '84, 93, and in '85, 161, and the society has
sold up to now, 75,740 Gaelic books. This is en¬
couraging.
The Gaelic Union seems to be dragging along
slowly for the want of funds, and we shall say, to
the eternal disgrace of the Irish people at home
and abroad. Their little Journal, which should be
found in the library of every Irishman with a spark
of nationality in his heart, is dying for want of funds
to pay the printer ! Shame, aye, shame again !!
The Feis Ċeoil in New York Easter
Tuesday was the grandest affair ever
gotten up under the auspices of the
Gaelic movement. Judge Daly pre¬
sided, and beside him sat some of the
millionaire Irishmen of New York City,
Eugene Kelly, P. J. Farrell, S. Bren¬
nan, J. S. Coleman, etc., with carolan's
harp, kindly sent from Ireland for the
occasion by The O'Conor Don. The
Gaelic speech delivered by Mr. O'Don¬
nell appeared in the New York Her¬
ald the next morning under its native
garb.
It is calculated that not less than
three thousand persons patronized the
entertainment.
Early in the spring of '78 some fourteen young
men of New York City came over to Brooklyn and
joined the Philo-Celtic Society. There was then
no Gaelic or Philo-Celtic Society in New York City.
In a very short time the number who came from
New York to join the Brooklyn P. C. S. swelled to
about thirty. Among these were Fras. J. Ward, J.
P. Ryan, P. J. Egan, the lato lamented Messrs
O'Neill and McGuire, F. J. Gordon, W. A O'Flynn
J. McGovern, etc. Seeing such large numbers com¬
ing from N. York, the Brooklyn Society appointed
a committee to examine and report on the desirab¬
ility of organizing a Gaelic society in New York
City. Messrs Ward, Ryan, McGuire, O'Neill etc.
were appointed, and reported favorably. The Hall
214 Bowery was engaged for the evening of May
17, and a public meeting was held and 27 new
members enrolled. The movement took in New
York like wild fire, and in less than six months
some half dozen Gaelic societies had sprang from
the Brooklyn trunk. Mr. Ward continues to be
the most active of the old members and it is to his
exertions principally that the success of the Feis
Ceoil is due.
We go into these minute particulars to show what
great results may spring from a seemingly insigni¬
ficant origin.
No Irishman, however degenerate, could take up
the Herald and the other morning papers of New
York City on the morning of April 28, without a
glow of pride mantling his brow at the deserved
encomiums passed on his long neglected language
and music. Should not the Irishmen of California,
of Australia and of the most remote regions take as
much pride and interest in this brilliant exhibition
of the ancient language and music of their country
as those who were the immediate participants?
Now, those in the most distant parts of the country
can contribute to this reawakening of their ancient
splendor by distributing Gaelic literature. The
Gael costs only six cents a year — a little over one
cent a week, and we ask in all seriousness, Is that
man worthy of the name of Irishman who would
not place it in his library supposing he never open¬
ed its pages? Is there an Irishman living to day
worthy of the name who would not contribute a
penny a week to support the recurrence of such
exhibitions of language, music and song as that
above referred to? If there be, save us from such!
Gaels, scatter Gaelic literature broad cast, and if
you meet any one calling himself an Irishman who
refuses to assist you tell him to shut up and hide
his fraudulent pretensions from Irishmen's gaze.
A few more of such genuine Irish
entertainments as the Féis Ċeoil and
Seanaċus of the N. Y. Gaelic Society
on Easter Tuesday evening will soon
sweep the Harrigan & Hart libel on
the Irish character out of existence;
yet some say, What good is there in
the Irish Language movement? The
sentiments which it has bred have
raised the social standing of Irishmen
to a point which this generation had
not dreamed of seeing in its day.
