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AN GAODHAL.
Ach b ’fheárr 'na sin h-uile, ’s nach breug é le rádh,
Ná 'r chaill tú ariamh do spéis agus grádh
Do theangain na h-Éireann tá caoin-mhilis árd
Sean-teanga shiúbhalach na nGaoghal ’s na m-Bárd.
An tráth nach rabh bárd ann, bhí tusa ad' bhárd,
Ár d-teanga leath-chráidhte do thóg tú go h-árd,
Budh tú an fear d' fheudadh ar g-ceol do thógbháil
Ní thiocfaidh go h-eug linn do shamhail-se d' fhághail.
’S ní bh-fuighid cáirde na Gaedhilge beo,
Choidhche aon chara is áirde 'na thú,
Ta solus na Gaedhilge múchta go deo
Agus solus na h-Éireann ta baidhte faoi cheo.
Air n-éisteacht an sgéil sin 's nuadhácht an bháis.
Do thuit ó n-ar g-croidhe 'stigh aon sgríoch uathbháis,
A's truagh atamuid, is truaidh ar g-cás
An sonas aig imtheacht, 's an donas aig fás.
An tráth chuaidh d' anam go Flaitheas le léim,
Budh cruaidh an buille do thuit orrainn féin
'Nuair a síneadh do chorp air an g-clar bog déal
Och! chuaidh ar ngrádh leat, a Sheághain Mhic Héil.
It is reported that Dr. Kilkenny, the President
of St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, denies that the study
of the Irish Language is prohibited in that College
by Bishop McEvilly. But, where is the difference
between prohibition and its discontinuance as a
necessary study ? Every one knows that boys
studying for the priesthood will undertake no study
that is not absolutely necessary in preparing for
their examinations. It is just —
"Seachain an ceann, ach buail an muin¬
eul."
Moreover, it is unaccountable how the Bishop dis¬
penses with a knowledge of the Irish language, in
his clergy, when three-fourths of the people of his
diocese cannot confess in the English language.
Nay, there are thousands of Irish and Highland
Scotch in this country today who cannot confess in
the English language.
The Bishop knows well that while the Irish pre¬
serve their language they preserve their nationality
and, as T. O'N. Russell says, they may not be
able to regain their freedom in the near future, but
they can retain their nationality. But without the
language they have no nationality, and can never
be anything but an appendage of England.
But what does Dr. Kilkenny's denial amount
to? Straws show best how the wind blows. We
have gone over the list of donors and subscribers to
the Gaelic Journal and not one name, lay or cleric
from the town of Tuam could we discover among
them, with the single exception of the patriotic
proprietor of the Tuam News, Mr. McPhilpin ! to
the utter disgrace of the faculty of the College and
shoneens of the town. There is where the Bishop's
influence and animus tell. Need there be further
proof ?
We see by the report for 1883, of the Dublin So¬
ciety for the Preservation of the Irish Language,
that it is financially in a flourishing condition,
having a balance of some $400 to its credit. The
following is the total of Irish books sold by the so¬
ciety to date 1883). First Irish Book 37,404, Sec¬
ond Irish Book 17,101, Third Irish Book 4,474,
Copy-book, 5,040. Pursuit of Dermott and Grainne
Part 1 and II. 1,441, Children of Lir, published
July last, 249 coyies have been sold — making a to¬
tal of 65,677.
We have received nos. 13 and 14 of the Dublin
Gaelic Journal. Number 15 is promised at an
early date. We are pleased to see that the Gael¬
ic Union shows signs of real vigor in the face of
so many discouraging circumstances, not the least
of which is the apathy manifested by Irishmen
generally in supporting that which is the very life
of their Nationality.
