The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-08
The Round Room Of tho Rotundo.

Nation the subjoined sketch of "the Round
Room:
"Sir Jonah harrington, in his Rise and
Fall of the Irish Nation speaks of one
particular apartment in this place as the
finest room in Ireland This was,' he
adds, and continues to be the great assem-
bly, room of Dublin : and, if it is no longer
entitled to the frat designation, it certain
" is to the second. In the building meet
ings have been held for political, for reli-
gious, and for social purposes. If the
Conference Committee sought fer a place
rich in historic associations Of intensest
pride and interest to the great mass of the
Irish people, they could hardly have made
better choice had all ireland lain open to
truly, have the walls of the Ronnd Room
echoed to the voices of Irishmen who
Sui memories alios feeere merendo."
There the Volunteers of 'S2, with Lord
Charlemont and the Earl of Bristol and
Bishop of Derry at their head after having
effected Free Trade and liberated the Irish
Parliament, met.in convention to complete
their work and divise plans for reforming
the internal structure of the Legislature.
On the 10 Nov. 1888, one hundred and six
y-three delegates-men OF the first rank
and ntelligence-marched thither from the
Royal Exchange, surrounded by all the
pomp of war and thence few days later
Reform Bill-the result of the delibera-
tions-in his pocket, to the House of
Commons in College Green. Coming down
to the era of Emancipation, history tells
US that on the Goth January, 1929, one of
the most numerous assemblies of the Pro-
testant nobility and gentry of Ireland that
had ever been convened in public meeting
was held in the Round Room to advocate
immediate and generous concession in the
matter of the Catholic claims. The Duke
of Leinster was in the chair, and the speak
ers included such men as the Hon. Mr..
King, N. P. (son of the Earl of Kingston,)
Lord Dunally, the Earl of Beehive, Sir
John Newport, Zone of the Volunteer dele
gates of 1881 Lord Rossmore, Lord Gle
ments, Lord Howth aud several other peers
and members of Parliament. Previous to
this--on the llth Of February, lslI-there
was another Protestant meeting in the
same Round Room, to advocate the same
cause, over which the Lord Mayor of Dub
lin alderman M'Kenna) presided, at which
there spoke the illustrious Grattan himself
and Lords Charlemont, Meath and Clon-
curry. Coming down to another epoch in
our chequered history, we find the Rotun-
do the scene of o series of pageants upon
which the mind of every true Irishman
fingers leng and lovingly. Early in the year
1645 the '52 Club started into existence.
This association was composed of the
Weather classes engaged in the Repeal
akltaLlOu, AuO lLS ulHSlOu was tHtS5 0tt<S
to celebrate the great events. of the era OF
the Volunteers and the memory of men by
whom Ireland was raised to pitch of the
greatest national glory. Its first presi-
dent was the Liberator himself, and
amongst the rank and file were William
Smith o'Brien, Charles Gavan Duffy, Or.
(now Sir Johnl Gray, Thomas Davis, Ed
mund Burke Roche tuow Lord FermoyO
John Mitchell and Lord French and here
we would remark, by the way, that the
noble family of French redeemed the
peerage of Ireland in those days from the
odious charge of being universally hostile
to their country's national rights as it fifty
performs to-day a similar function.
Amongst the first acts of the Club were to
determine on q COSTUME and to resolve to
dine together on the anniversary of the
Declaration of the Independence and, &C.
cordingly, on the 10th April, ls45, there
was Witnessed in the Pillar Room of the
Rotando one of the most brilliant spec
| tacles which the mind can conceive. But
| we cannot further pursue the history OF
the Rotundo. Suffice it to say, in con-
clusion, that round that building there
cluster memories that are calculated to
stir to deeds of noblest patriotism, and,
that, therefore, the present Home Rule
Conference could scarcely have in Dublin,
more fitting local habitation.
"Here then, in this stately Hall, and by
the faint pale light of the November days,
| Inc conference aSScuUlcu 6uu uSlu lis bcS-
sion. 1t was on a November day that the
fiery words of Henry Grattan Numbered
forth within these walls, rushed to the
hearts of the volunteers, and nerved them to
dare the immortal deed that set the coun-
try free. The blaze of that inspiring mem
DRY shone around the faithful Irishmen
who gathered here this week from every
province in the land, to profit by the les
sons of the teaching Past, and to tread as
best they might in the footsteps of the
mighty dead. The aspect presented by
the Conference in session was imposing
and picturesque. Not far from the wall Of
the spacious circular chamber, on a dias
slightly raised above the level of the floor
stood the presidents chair, and immedia-
te1y in front Of this, a small table covered
with a cloth of green and gold. To the
right and left of the dias were the spaces
reserved for the press, and close in front
the secretaries sat round their table. The
members of the Conference were ranged in
semi circles extending towards the further
side of the room, and speakers either stood
in their places or advanced to the open
space between the secretaries and the as
sembly, and spoke from that central posi-
ton. Viewed by daylight, the gathering
! nf nd