The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-06-08
The Death of Rooney,

The Death Of Rooney.
In a letter from Dublin to the Chi
cago American, dated May 81, Arthur
Griffith has the following to say of a
young Irish poet whose death is deeply
lamented:
Since the death of Thomas Davis,
Sc years ago, Ireland has had no cause
for such genuine grief as she had re-
Gently when William Rooney died.
The news of his death caused stupe-
faction for a time. Even now the
members of the Cumann ma Njaedheal
and Gaelic League are scarcely recov-
cred from the shock.
can truthfully say that the death
of no other Irishman in my recollec-
ton has caused such heartrending sor-
row as the death of Rooney. Every ma
tional body in the metropolis aban-
doned it's labor when the sad news be-
came known. The Gaelic League
stood stockstill for the first time since
it came into being-the man who in
spired the revival which it typifies was
gone.
In the fact that his name was not
very familiar to the outside public, as
in his patriotism, enthusiasm, genius,
and energy Rooney closely resembled
Davis. He was the inspirer and lead
er of the great national movement
which has arisen in Ireland during the
last few years, but he did not come
very prominently before the public,
Owing to his dislike of platform speak
ing.
Occasionally he addressed meetings
on the subject Of the Irish language
and at intervals he delivered lectures
on Ireland's language, literature, his
tory, music, resources, industries or
capabilities, but his great work lay in
teaching and writing.
He probably trained and taught two
thirds of the singelv who now appear
on Irish concert platforms, and three
fourths Of the teachers who are in
structing the young in the Irish Ian
guage. He wrote voluminously and
under the pen names, principally, Of
Fear-na-Muintire oman of the people,
and Phil Martin in the United Irish
man.
1t may be said Of him that he not
alone inspired, but led to success the
Gaelic League movement; that he in
spired and led the Irish industrial
movement and the Irish musical re-
vival and that he was the chief figure
in the movement which has for its OBJ
ject the encouragement of Irish art
and literature.
Davis died at thirty. but Rooney
had only completed his twenty-seventh
year. Like Davis in his passionate
devotion to Ireland he resembled him
remarkably not alone in character and
genius, but in physical appearance.
His likeness in face, build, manner and
even in tricks of speech to the founder
Of Young Ireland had often been COM
mented on. The striking resemblance
which his features exhibited after
death to the well-known portraits of
Davis created profound impression.
BY comparing photographs of the two
patriots the resemblance may be seen,
but in a photograph Of Rooney taken
after death it is perfectly marvellous
so much so that hundreds of people in
Dublin are today firmly convinced that
William Rooney was none other than
Thomas Davis come again.
Rooney's death was caused by over
work. For ten years he practically
worked twenty hours daylight of
which he spent as clerk. For all his
work and services in Ireland's behalf
Rooney consistently refused to accept
payment of any kind and supported
himself by his own labor. The re-
mainder of the time was given up to
'' 'e"enihS' WilLIHS ana prOpa-
ganda.
The funeral was remarkable and I'M
posing. The members of various or
CARNATIONS marched after the hearse
carrying wreaths and flowers. In the
cemetery his coffin was carried along
on the shoulders of his colleagues and
comrades to the graveside, where the
great multitude recited prayers in IT.
ish. The scene as the coffin was low
cred was inexpressibly painful. Wom-
en- tainted and men in hundreds went
bitterly.
After the interment meeting was
held In the cemetery, at which it was
unanimously decided to erect monu-
q. *