The Irish standard., 1898-11-19
REV. DIR. RICHARD HENEBRY.
Professor of Celtic Language at the
Catholic University.

Professor of Celtic Language at the
Catholic University.
The Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun writes: Rev. DR.. Richard
Henebry has just arrived from abroad,
at the Catholic University of America, to
occupy the chair of Celtic language and
literature. His advent is of interest,
both on account of the high position he
has gained in these branches of study,
and because this chair is the first of it's
kind to be established on this continent.
Born at Mount Bolton, near Portlaw,
Ireland, In September, 1868, DR.. Hene-
bry is but S5 years of age. His is the
type of the typical Irish gentleman.
He is short in stature with bright,
CHEEKY face. A smile almost continually
curls his thinly moulded lips and his
gray eyes CLEAN with cheerfulness. His
accent is slight and fascinating.
Yes" he said yesterday, in discussing
his new work, this is the first chair
of Celtic language to be established in
the New World. naturally consider the
study most interesting. having pursued
it for many years. There are really
beauties in the language of old Ireland
which many have never dreamed Of. 1t
may be said that there are two branches
of the Gaelic and the Cymric. The
Gaelic branch includes the Scotch of the
Highlands. the Manx and the Irish
Under the Cymric head are grouped the
Welch, the Cornish and the Breton
(French). There is much that is roman
tic in the old Irish language and delv-
ing into it affords unending pleasure for
those so inclined''
''Is Gaelic spoken to any great extent
now?"
"Oh, yes: you will find it in many of
the southern, western and northern
counties, and in many of the inland
counties of Ireland which are removed
from English influence. The Manx
Irishmen, many of them speak old Gaelic
too, and it is spoken around Cape Breton,
Novia Scotia. At Cape Breton there is a
newspaper printed in Gaelic. 1t is called
Mac Talla'
To see its best beauties the literature
must be studied in the original. All is
lost in the translation. There are 18
letters in the alphabet, which come from
Roman origin through British cham
mel. There are, again, about II various
sounds, and there is proof of great
grammatical skill being developed by
this ancient people in building their
language on this slight foundation. In
this the language is somewhat similar
to the Sanskrit.
"The Irish literature is about the only
relic of Celtic civilization which we have
left. That of Wales was lost through
contact with the Romans, although there
are some drafts of old Wales laws still
extant. The Highland Scotch and the
Manx have some Irish literature, that of
the Manx being best displayed in the
Manx bible and the prayer book of the
Anglican churchJ There is a small
course in Gaelic at Harvard university,
under DR.. Robinson, but no Celtic chair
in America. as 1 have said. In Great
Britain and on the continent it is taught
in many institutions
Rev. DR.. Henebry says that the course
which he will conduct at the Catholic
university this year will be old Irish
grammar, with interpretations of old
Irish texts, such as Wuertzoerg Closes:
the middle Irish texts with selections
from the Leaberno-d Uulhre; modern
Irish grammar and composition, with
readings from Keatings History of Ire
land and the Eighteenth century Gaelic
poets, and occasional illustrated lectures
on the medieval Gaelic hand writing and
miniature.
At Garrick-on-Suir DR.. Henebry re-
ceived his early education. Later he be-
gan his classical studies at the college
school, Waterford. After years study
in st. Johns college he entered May
nooth, and, after a seven years course
at the great college of St. Patrick, he
was ordained in 1892. He went tenn
porarily on the English mission, his first
labors being in the diocese of Stafford
and his first mission being in Man
chester During his course at Maynooth
he had been distinguished student of
languages, and in the English, Hebrew
and Irish classes he carried off the high
est honors. In 1895 he was appointed by
the trustees of the Catholic university
to this chair, which was founded by the
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America,
and for which the order contributed $5O-
900.
The old tongue of the Celt has been
Rev. DR.. Henebry's favorite study since
his youth. When still at Maynooth he
was frequent contributor to nearly all
the Gaelic papers in Europe and Ameri-
ca. His Gaelic scholarship while on the
English mission brought him into con-
tact with such celebrated celtologists as
DR.. Whitley Stokes, Professor Strachen.
Professor Kune Myer. Herr Stern and
others.
On his appointment to the Celtic chair
in the Catholic university he determined
to go to Germany and make deeper