AN GAOḊAL.
349
What was his crime, the world may ask, that this
the case should be,
He was the champion of the poor, and fain would
have them free;
He was the peasants' advocate, the landlord's
dreaded foe,
Nor feared their might while he had right upon
his side to show.
This noble priest of wide-spread fame, the anoint¬
ed of the Lord,
Whose gallant deeds for church and home we can't
too well record —
Has fought the battles of the poor, from Carrick to
Glenveigh:
Search Ireland round, none can be found to equal
him today.
With pride look back to '5, when Bradley was in
jail,
With murder foul most falsely charged — imprison¬
ed without bail.
Our patriot priest, right manfully, alone took up
the cause —
The battle fought and set him free despite their
English laws.
When artificial famine swept the homes of dark
Gweedore,
Brought on by landlord avarice, — the robb'ry of
the poor;
Their wrongs and sufferings he proclaimed and
brought the world to tears,
They echoed through the House of Lords 'till
blanched the British Peers.
And still that latent strength of soul he wields at
his command —
No fear could paralyze his tongue, nor flattery
stay his hand ;
When voice and pen are needed to the peasant's
right protect —
The People's Tribune was then — proud, fearless
and erect.
Dark are the hills of Donegal, but darker still the
deeds
Which landlord rapine there has wrought among
its moors and means;
But darkest this of all the rest — of all the ruffian
crimes,
That damn the Irish landlord to the scorn of fu¬
ture times.
Dark was the day for Carrick when Tom Connoly's
estates
Were purchased by the Musgraves, manufacturers
of grates,
Of Orange castle from black Belfast, these perse¬
cutors mean,
Use all their tact, by word and act to trample out
the green.
Twas on the 4th of April last: — and sad 'twas to
behold,
A faithful servant of his God, and shepherd of the
fold,
These blacksmiths' hearts were hard enough to
turn him from his home,
Because he was the people's friend, and priest of
of the Church of Rome.
Thank God, the time's approaching fast, when iron¬
mongers all,
Must cease to persecute the poor, from Cork to
Donegal,
When alien might can't crush out right, and free¬
dom's cause is on,
When floats old Erin's emerald flag in Heaven's
brightest sun.
The following communication from Mr McEniry
of the Philadelphia Philo-Celtic Society, as by
some accident overlooked. It should have appear¬
ed two months ago, but, as the matter of which it
it treats is interesting to the Gaelic student, we
shall give it now, apologising to our Philadelphia
friends for the unintentional delay. —
School Rooms of the Philo-Celtic Society,
211 South 12th st., Philadelphia, Pa.
Editor Gael:
Dear Sir.
You will oblige every member of our Society
by allowing us to return our sincere thanks to Prof.
T O'Neill Russell and Mr Joseph Cromien of New
York, through your patriotic Journal, for the splen¬
did services they rendered our society at our enter¬
tainment on Jan. 17. They not only gave their
services gratus but also paid all expenses attending
their journey from N Y to here and back. The
readers of your paper everywhere, will be pleased
to hear that our first entertainment was a grand
success. The receipts clear all expenses a¬
mounting to Three Hundred Dollars. The follow¬
ing officers have been elected to serve until Jan.
1885. Miss Lotto Sheridan V President, Mr P F
Murphy Sec., Miss Lizzie McSorley Treas, Mrs L
Fox, Miss Ellie O'Leary and Messrs. McFadden,
Halvey, and McGowan Directors.
A splendid watch given the society by Mrs T F-
Halvey for presentation to the person making the
best financial returns for tickets was awarded to
Miss Lotto Sheridan. Master Willie Fox, Miss
O'Leary and Miss McSorley made very creditable
returns also. A splendid gold medal will be pre¬
sented by Mr Doyle, a gentleman of this city, at the
first meeting after March 4, to the pupil who has
made the most progress in the Irish Language from
the time of his or her, as the case may be, becom¬
ing a member of the Society until March 4th, when
the examination will be held.
Masters Willie Fox and Arthur McDermott have
challenged Miss Sheridan and myself for the hon¬
or of raising the best club for the Gael from now
until June 15th, when the contest will be decided.
Miss Sheridan is hopeful for success but it is my
opinion that our youthful opponents will be victo¬
rious.
Fraternally,
Thos. McEniry,
President.
