The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-12-31

1eStlVal, ana the 'O1relchtas, or Irish
literary assembly. These organizations
held similar gatherings in Belfast the
early part of this year, and their third
meeting will come off few months
from now. These have been the first
musical and literary assemblies-some-
what after the ancient pattern-held in
Ireland for four centuries or more for
encouraging the study of the language
and the music of the nation. They have
had wonderful effect and brought to
light many gems of thought and melody
for the enrichment of music, literature
and art.
Last month there was another remark
able gathering held In Letterkenny,
County Donegal, called the "Aenach Tir-
conail,' or fair of Tirconnell, and, like
the Oireachtas, it was one of the most
representative assemblies held in mod
ern times OF the speakers, students and
lovers of the native language and music
of Ireland. The well-known London
periodical, the Speaker, in referring to
what it calls "the renaissance of the
Celt," writes that "the vitality of the
Celtic temperament as shown by the
new movement in Ireland is a phenom-
enon of far more than passing import" I"
The many continental scholars who
have studied the Irish language and who
are giving an increasing attention now,
a 0f in, nf hp III OH
praise for its beauty, resource, and feXi-
bility. Old Irish, they say, ranks next
to Sanscrit for the philologist, and like
that ancient tongue and the Greek and
a highly infected and beautiful one" In
speaking of it DR.. Douglas Hyde, in his
book on early Gaelic literature, says:
"The tone of that beautiful, unmiXed
Ayran language which, with the except
ion of that glorious Greek, which has
now renewed it's youth like the eagle,
has left the longest, most luminous and
most consecutive literary track behind it
of any of the vernacular tongues of Eu-
rope"
One of the great attractions Of the
Aenach Tyrconnell which was held with
such brilliant effect at Letterkenny dur
ing the last days of last month was the
performance of the Irish drama, "The
Passing of Conall." The hero, the ances-
tor of the Clan O'Donnell, was shown in
| his old age appealing to Saint Caillin of
oh, 10 h nf ho
scenes of his youth. The play then pro-
| ceeds, and there are interesting scenes of
| Irish life in the fourth and fifth centuries
! the king and heroes taking part in a
hunt and in battles at the Dathis in
| vasion of Scotland. st. Patrick arrives
and breaches before the king at Tara,
and defeats the Druids. The play closes
with the conversion of Conall and his
spouse, and St. Patrick prophesying the
| future glories Of his race. The drama
has been written by a celebrated stu
| dent of Irish history, and a prominent
member of the Gaelic League, who de-
sires to have his identity concealed. 1t
| is excellently written after the manner
| of the old writings of the Gael. The
scenes and incidents are matters of his
tory but the learning and research of
! the writer are shown in the reproduc-
! tion of the manners and customs of that
remote period, and in the careful study
of the costumes and accessories. The fol-
lowing are the dramatis personae, and
those who filled them: Conall Cuban
Tin old age), Mr.. Craig; St. Caillin, Mr..
Dram; Felimidh (Cornall's grandson),
Master MKinney; King Dathi Gard Ri of
Erin), Mr.. Larkin; King Laere, Mr..
Taylor; Conall Cuban Tin youth), DR..
Martin; Eoghan (brother to ConalD, Mr..
B. M'Fadden; Doghra Grish druid), Mr..
M'Cully: Crudo British druid), Mr..
Craig; Ferdach (king of Scotland). Mr..
O'Callaghan; Malantha (herald of the Ard
RD, Master Paulson; Duffach (poet), Mr..
Mulhen; Britto British warrior), Mr..
ODonnell; Gallo (Gaulish warrior), Mr..
Maui; Firmus (Roman warrior), Mr..
Magner; st. Patrick, Mr.. Canning; Chief
Huntsman, Mr.. MDermott; Ethna, Miss
Diver; Nor, Miss Harkin; Emer, Miss
Blake; soldiers, huntsmen, attendants.
The acting and delivery of the words
we're really splendid.
One scene that of ST. Patrick at Tara
| has been translated into Irish by pad
raic," of the New York Gaelic move
ment-Mr. Patrick O'Bryne, now Of
Kllybegs. His translation is very fine
and so thoroughly preserves the spirit
of the original production. The pro-
logue and epilogue and the Tara scene
are the best possible instances Of the
character of the play and it's translation
Mr. Bonnar, of the Donegal Gaelic
League, took the part of St. Patrick and
Mr.. Dram the part of the king of Laeg-
haire. The other characters were the
same The scene was acted both in
Irish and English.
LongfelIow's Village Blacksmith.