348
AN GAODHAL.
surround the ship of the mariner he does not sing
songs, — he only mutters prayers. When the sun
shines out and the storm ceases, courage comes to
his soul, and sounds of joy and lightheartedness
burst from his lips. Long have storm and dark¬
ness brooded over the face of our country; long
has she been under a cloud ; and it was no wonder
she prayed oftener than she sang. But now the
clouds are breaking and the mist is rising; we eee
a gleam of the light that is coming; and we lift up
our instruments and our voices in music and song.
There are Irishmen who think that it matters
not what language we speak or what music we play,
that we can be true Irishmen with the con ueror's
language in our mouths, and the conqueror's mu¬
sic at our feasts. Never did there enter the mind
of man an idea more false than this. It is this which
made us laughing stocks for the rest of humanity,
with the words of liberty in our mouths and the
ideas of slaves in our hearts. What will the na¬
tions say of us if we do not cultivate our own lan¬
guage and music when we call on them to save us
from the Power which is persecuting and ruining
us? Will they not say that we are the offspring of
oppression and thraldom, and are only fitted to be
in bondage forever?
Whence has come, on the Irish race, this care¬
lessness and indifference about their language and
music ? Why do many of them despise the only
things by which men may know that they are a
distinct people, and have a God-given right to be
free? The answer to these questions is to be
found in one phrase, — namely, bad teachers. If
ever there were men who did their utmost to mur¬
der a language, they were some of those under
whose will and under whose leadership the people
of Ireland have marched for a hundred years, and
under whose will and leadership many of them
march even to day. But, in spite of all they have
done, the Irish language is still alive, and it will
be alive when the very names of those who tried to
kill it shall have vanished forever from the mem¬
ories of men.
Let us not fail, then, in the great work we have
undertaken. Let us have good courage, for it will
surely succeed, and the time may not be far distant
from us, when the people of Ireland at home and
the Clan-na-Gael in every country where they are
scattered, will be singing songs of liberty in the
language of their country and their race.
Mr. O'Donnell's elocution and delivery of the
address were excellent ; and that his words were
understood and appreciated by his audience was
shown by the frequent and cordial applause they
evoked.
The chorus of the Society then sang in Irish
D'eis fad-suibal tre shaoghal cruaidh (When
Through Life Unblest We Rove); and after that,
Mr T F Kerrigan, the celebrated Irish piper play¬
ed a selection of Irish airs in beautiful style, and
being loudly encored, responded by playing Brian
Boru's March, The Wearing of the Green, and a
number of jigs and reels that almost set the audi¬
ence dancing in their seats.
Miss Carrie Hun-King then sang, Oh, Erin, My
Country! and as an encore sang, The Kerry Dance
which was loudly applauded. This was followed
by T D Sullivan's splendid song. All the World
Around, which was rendered in excellent style by
Mr P S Monroe, with full chorus by the Society.
Miss Maud Morgan then played on the harp a
selection of Irish airs, including "Eibhlin a Run",
"Kate Kearney, and "The Land of the West." In
response to a general encore, Judge Daly produc¬
ed the harp of Moore, the Irish Poet, which had
been lent to the Society, for the occasion, by Mr.
Childs, of Philadelphia, and on this little instru¬
ment (which, though a perfect harp, is only about
fourteen inches high,) Miss Morgan played "Be¬
lieve Me, if all those Endearing Young Charms,"
in a way that literally "brought down the house."
The fullness and clearness of the tones of the tiny
harp astonished all who heard them.
Mr Henry Magee then sang Beidheadh suan ort,
shruth, Mhaoile (Silent, oh, Moyle !), which was
followed by the old ballad, Mollie Ban a stor,
which was sung by Mr J R MacDonald; after which
Mrs Belle Cole exquisitely rendered Gerald Griff¬
in's beautiful romance, "Hy Brasail, The Isle of
the Blest," which was vociferously applauded.
Moore's Young May Moon, sung by the chorus of
the Society, closed the musical exercises, which
were, throughout, most creditable to all engaged in
them, and particularly to Prof Paul MacSwiney,
who conducted, and by whom the chorus singers
had been drilled.
At the conclusion of the musical festival, the maj¬
ority of the audience adjourned to Irving Hall,
where the social exercises of the Seanachas were
to take place. The reception opened with the siub¬
hal mor or grand march, in which about two hun¬
dred couples took part. Dancing then followed,
and, with a short intermission for refreshments,
was kept up with spirit, till an advanced hour,
when all present retired to their homes well pleased
with the annual festival of the "Society for the
Preservation of the Irish Language," and deter¬
mined to take part in all future similar gatherings
of so patriotic and meritorious a body.
THE PEOPLE'S PRIEST
The Eviction of Father M'Groarty.
Air — Wearing of the Green.
Ye kindly-hearted Irishmen, at home or o'er the
sea,
List to a tale of tyranny, and sympathize with me.
The Rev. John McGroarty, most dearly loved by
all,
Has lately been evicted in the county Donegal.
