The Irish standard., 1901-10-19

Of employment and help to stem the
ever increasing drain of the country's
life blood by emigration.
But about the general idea. The
first question that naturally arose was
that Of a site. Several sites were sug-
gested, and eventually, by happy
chance, site that was at first consid-
cred unobtainable was at length, after
some preliminary difficulties, secured.
This site is known as the Mardyke,
and embraces as picturesque a bit Of
scenery as can be found, for it's size,
almost anywhere in the world.
1t extends from st. Vincent's bridge
in the city to Wellington bridge about
half mile outside the civic boundary,
and contains an area Of between 80
and 40. acres. Amply wooded with
shade trees, it will furnish lovely
promenades, grounds for sports and all
other kinds Of outdoor attractions and
amusements. Through the center Of it
flows the silvery Lee, beloved of song
sters, at this point a very dream Of
beauty and grace. An ornamental
bridge will cross the river from the
grounds proper to the Irish village,
which we propose to erect on what is
known as the Sundays Well side.
The miniature Irish village will con-
+oiD oo N, opv oR tho ohio ~ NJ o,,i otio foo
lures of rural Irish life as are consid-
cred worth portraying, and the aim
will be to show the peasant in the best
light, giving types Of the neatest and
most industrious households, with
women and girls at work, knitting,
lacemaking and pursuing the varioua
other aNocatdons peculiar to their con-
dition in life. Here, also, 1t is consid-
cred advisable to have small museum
which will be confined solely to anti
quities of Cork. A striking feature Of
the Irish village. perhaps one Of the
most striking features Of the exhibit
ton, will be real Irish round tower
which will be designed from the best
examples in the country. The ascent
to the top Of the tower will be made
by the old-fashioned winding stairs.
From the top the observer will have
spread before him the magnificent pa
norama of the grounds and exhibition
buildings, the beautiful river and the
ancient city. From the top of this
tower at night a searchlight will cast
its rays from point to point over the
grounds, and it is contemplated to
have similar light placed on the old
Shandon, which is about three-quart-
ers of a mile away.
To Ibid hundred thousand welcomes
to the scattered children Of the Gael
who will come back from beyond the
seas to the cradle land,
'sThe bells Of Shandon
That sound so grand on
The pleasant waters of the river
Lee"
will ring out as they were never rung
before, and the Irish air will grow
fragrant with Irish melody to welcome
their homecoming. In addition, the
fine-toned bells of st. Finbarr's will
add their musical voices to the well
come, and for these great events the
bell ringers are to be specially trained.
The, exhibition buildings proper will
consist of an industrial hall, ma
chinery hall and a fine arts depart
ment, in addition to which there will,
Of course, be number of tea houses,
kiosks and refreshment rooms scat
tered here and there through the
grounds.
The committee are now entering into
arrangements for securing all the side
shows possible that have been seen at
the Eall's Court, Glasgow and Paris
exhibitions, and they have been in
treaty with Messrs. >Kiralfy, who are
perhaps among the most enterprising
sllowmen in the world, for the trans
fer Of the water chute that is now be-
ing worked at big profit, and is
great attraction, in the Glasgow ex-