Great Britain had entered the First World War ostensibly in order to defend the territorial integrity of Belgium, and across the British isles there had been much sympathy for the Belgian refugees who had arrived between 1914 and 1918. During a period of elevated nationalism across Europe, in the emerging Irish Free State there was also a sense of fellow feeling with Belgium as a victim of a militarily powerful and intrusive neighbour. For a newly qualified professional musician, Ireland shone out as a country with an abundance of well-maintained church and cathedral organs and a shortage of professional musicians, where a Belgian might expect a warm welcome. Accordingly, following his graduation at Mechelen, Ernest de Regge emigrated to Ennis in County Clare. His prospects were enhanced by the excellent reputation of the Lemmens Institute internationally. The bishop gave him a job as a music teacher at St. Flannan's College, a prestigious school with close connections to the seminary. Bishop Michael Fogarty, who according to one source "ruled the diocese of Killaloe from 1904 until his death ... in 1955", would play an important role in de Regge's career and life more generally. With effect from 1923 de Regge was appointed organist and choir master at the cathedral. His appointment should be seen in the context of Bishop Fogarty's determination, in compliance with the 1903 papal initiative "Tra le sollecitudini", to restore the primacy of Gregorian chant in worship.