The Irish standard., 1898-01-08

In 1887 his health, which had been long
declining, gave every warning of ap-
preaching dissolution. At Tempo,
finding himself growing weak, he re-
solved to proceed to Aldcrford, the
| house of the old and constant friend,
Mrs. McDairmaid who, in his youth
nearly fifty years before, supplied him
with his first harp and horse, and now
at the approach of the dread destroyer,
he turned to her for a sure asylum and
an affectionate reception. Having a:
Tempa composed his Farewell" to Ma
guire, he proceeded on horseback to
Counsellor Brady's near Bullinamorc
in Leitrim, where he rested for frw
days. Thence accompanied by several
of the neghboring gentry, and a con-
course Of the country people. by whom
he was always held in the highest cs-
teem he continued his Journey toward
Iahire, the seat of Mr.. Peyton. Here
he stopped for Il short time, and, with
lears In his eyes. took leave Of his
friends. During the remainder of his
Journey to Alderford, where he was re-
cclved with the warmth and welcome
characteristic of Irish hospitality, it is
probable that his mind was occupied
.. with the following words of Goldsmith:
In all my wanderings round this
world of care,
In all my grief (and God has given INV
share),
l still had hopes, my long vcxations
past,
Here to return and die at home at last"
After having rested n little. he called
for his harp. His fingers for while
wandered fecbly over tho strings, but
soon acquiring momcntary impulse,
he played his well-known Farewell to
Music In strain of tenderness and
feeling which drew the tears from ni;
hearers. This was his last effort. His
natural vivacity and humor never left
him. few hours before his death
while IN the act of reaching for II drink
TO give the cup Il last kiss as he, hu-
| morously said, he rolled out of bed on
the floor. After being replaced he OBJ
served, with a smile, to the nurse!
Mandy, I often heard to Il person
falling going to the field, but never
knew one to fall while lying down but
myself"
His last moments were spent In pray
or. When his death became known. it
Is related that upwards OF sixty clergy
men Of different denominations, num-
Der of gentlemen from tho surround
ing counties and vast concoursc OF
country people assembled to pay the
last mark of respect to their fuvorite
bard. All the houses of Dnllyfamon
were occupied by tho former, and the
people erected tents in tho fields around
Alderford house. The harp was heard
In every direction. Tho wake lasted
four days. On the fifth his remains
werc brought forth, and the funeral was
one Of the largest that had taken place
in Connaught for many years lie WIS
buried In the MacDarmnid vault in
their chapel ut tho cast end of the old
church OF Kilr0nan. On opening the
grave In 1850 to receive the remains or
a Catholic clergyman WHOSE dying re-
quest was to he buried with the bard,
Carolan's skull was taken llD ana Hon.
Thomas Dillon, brother to john carl OF
ltoscommOn, had IT. perforated IL little
In, r,,,.n II
bon inserted in order to distinguish IT.
from other disintcrrcd skulls. It Was
placed in a niche over the grave, where
It long remained IN object of vcncra-
tion, several persons having
visited the church for the sole purpose
of seeing the relic of a man so linivcr
sally admired for his musical talents.
AT length, In 1896, 1t disappeared. y
person on horseback in the Earb of Il
gentleman, but supposed to have been
a northern Ornngcman, came to the
church and desired to see 1t. When It
was shown to him he discharged Il
loaded pistol at IT. and shattered 1t to
pieces. Then, damming all Irish pap
lists, ho rode away. This outrage cxcit-
cd the anger Of several of the gentle
men of the ncighborhood, who pursued
the wretch as far as Cashcargin, but
fortunately for himself he escaped
CarOlAn's death caused a chasm in
the annals of Irish song, which was
| scnsibly felt and dcpIorcd by his brother
bHrds in many a hcart-mOvng lay.
When the difficulties which this inge-
| nious man had to encounter arc con-
siGcrcd, his loss of sight, and ccnsc-
ullcnl want of education, and above all,
| the rcirOgradc state of society In Ire
land during the greater part Of his life
| time, he will be considered entitled to
no small portion of praise and admra-
ton. AS n musical genius, he is uni
| vcrsally acknowledged to rank with The
| foremost of modern times. His charlc-
ter has been often drawn. AS a poet
| and musician, 1t IS well delncated in
| Walkers memoirs of the Irish
| Bards." But injustice has been done
his moral character in that account;
for those who knew him we'll describe
him as moral and religious" and not