The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-17
THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY.


a rumor has been set ahoat to the
effect that syndicate OF Irish-Ameri-
cans in New York is about being organ
lied for the purpose OF buying the
Muckross. estate on the banks OF the
Lakes OF Killarney to preserve it as a
national park. A list OF several promi-
nent men has been published as having
subscribed from $500 to $4,000 each.
Among the men named is Bourke Cock
ran, but when questioned concerning
the scheme lie declared that he had not
contributed anything and knew nothing
at all about the matter. When asked ii
he would subscribe 81 900 or any other
sum he said he could not answer the
question inteligently. He said he must
know something about it before COM
hitting himself. His interviewer said
to him: "Your name is spoken OF as
one OF committee to issue invitations
to meeting OF prominent Irish-Ameri-
cans to be held at the Waldorf Astoria
next week, for the purpose OF naming
committee to take in hand the work
OF raising the money necessary to pur-
chase the Muckross estate and carry on,
the plan. Do you intend to serve in that
capacity?"
81 cannot tell anything about it or
what l will do until the matter is pre-
scented to me in some more tangible
shape than a newspaper report, which is
certainly not accurate in mentioning me
as having subscribed $780," said Mr..
Cochran. II cannot say now even
whether 1 generally approve or disap-
prove of the plan"
The following prominent Irish-Amer-
leans were also mentioned as having al
ready given their pledge to the fund:
Richard Croker, $4,000; William R.
Grace, ST. 900; James J. Coogan, $1,000;
Thomas ]. Dunn, ST 900; Eugene Kelly,
Jr,, $1,000; Thomas Adds Emmett,
$1,000; William .Astor Chanler, $1,000;
John F. Carroll, $500; Maurice F. Hola-
han, $500; William O'Brien, $500; John
I. Fitzgerald, $500; Andrew Freedman,
$500 1t is probable that some of these
men were mentioned without their
knowledge or consent, the same as Mr.,
Cochran
James Boothby Roche, former mem
Der OF Parliament for Kerry, in which
district the Lakes OF Killarney are, has
an option on the Muckross estate He is
now in New York, having just returned
from Canada, where he has been hunt
ing and fishing, and is mentioned as
having conferred with James J. Coogan,
Mayor Van Wyck and others in regard
to the purchase of the estate by sub
scription. Mr.. Roche was found by a
reporter with Mr. Coogan in the latter's
office.
II don't know but that this matter
has become public too soon, he said.
LET it be distinctly understood, please,
that | am not the promoter OF this
scheme; that I did not come to this
country with my hat held out asking for
money to purchase the Muckross estate.
AS l understand it, it was the report
that the estate was to be purchased by
one of the Goulds that directed the at
tention of Mr.. Coogan and other Irish
Americans here to this matter, and as
I was here and knew more about the
property than anybody else they con-
suited me about it. Their proposition
seemed to be live one, and so I. have
taken an interest in it,
There are about 10000 acres in the
property which it is proposed to pur-
chase, and it embraces all the princi-
pal objects Of interest to tourists. If
an individual should acquire the proper
ty and shut it off from tourists it
would mean the wiping out of the Lakes
Of Killarney as resort for tourists.
"My idea would be to have the prop
erty purchased not only by New York
Irish Americans but by Irishmen. l
would subscribe 5000. The cost would
be $4,000. would suggest presenting
it as park to the Kingdom of Kerry,
as we call it, but name trustees for it
who should be permanent-say, for in
stance, the Mayor OF New York, the
Archbishop Of New York and two Irish
dignitaries. The park could be made
more than self-supporting if a hotel
were opened in the Muckross Abbey"