The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-04-05
Diocese Of BeTema.
ANACONDA.
Irish Youth Given Chance to Learn
Language of the Fathers.

Anaconda, March 2S.-Mr. Thomas
DeVine contributes the following letter
to the Miner in regard to the Rocky
mountain branch of the Gaelic league.
in this city:
The school opened under the au-
spices of the Gaelic league at Hibernia
hall during the past winter and has
proved a great success, as was demon
onstrated in the late examination held
Miss Boland, the teacher. deserves
great praise for the patriotic spirit she
has shown and is to be congratulated
on her success as a teacher.
In the work of instruction the Of
ficers of the league, Messrs. NJ. Duff,
president; C. c. McHugh, vice pres
ident, and Owen McHackin. secretary,
have rendered valuable assistance.
"A large number of children are at
tending the school and are being
taught to read and speak the ancient
and beautiful language of their ances-
tors. The progress of the pupils has
been beyond the most sanguine eXpec-
tations. Not only the Irish children
alone have shown themselves specially
capable in this respect. but number
of French children attending the school
have shown an equal facility in ac-
quiring the language.
The people of Irish descent in Ana
conda should take a lively interest in
the efforts that are being made, both
in Ireland and in the large cities of
the United States, to revive the an
Gent language and impart to their
children a knowledge of Ireland's liter
ature, poetry and song.
1.-The Irish language is second to none
in powers of expression. In fact, there
is none so capable of expressing en-
dearment or the emotions. It's gram
NAUTICAL construction is almost perfect,
scarcely second to the Greek Besides,
it is the oldest spoken language in Eu-
rope.
"A knowledge of the Irish language
is invaluable to the archeologist an
tiquarian and philogist, which accounts
for the great interest the German sa-
wants have taken in the study of it.
There is scarcely an ancient university
or library in Europe that does not pos
sess numbers of ancient Irish manu-
scripts dating from the sixth and
seventh and up to the sixteenth CEN
fury. Many of these are now being
transcribed and translated into the
modern languages of Europe. Their
contents are very interesting to the
antiquarian.
Some of the ancient Irish master
pieces bring to view a system of PEN
manship which to US of the present age
appears quite marvellous, from the
manner in which the first letters be-
ginning the pages are Ornamented. In
some manuscripts the margins are also
beautifully ornanented. This is called
illumining. 1t displays taste for ar
tistic design that is remarkable for
that early age.
There are many celebrated books,
as the Book of Armagh, Book of KellS,
Book of Ballymote and others, whose
beautiful lettering eXcites our highest
admiration.
Il have had the pleasure of seeing in
the museums of the Royal Irish acad
envy, Dublin. the Catach, of Battle
Book, written by Columbkill about the
year $50. In it are contained the Cos
pels. 1t was used by the princes of
Tyrconnel as a standard when in bat
tie for over a thousand years.
In Trinity college, Dublin, the Bod
leian library, Oxford. and at the uni
versity are contained the Gospels. 1t
was used Rheims Salamanca, Valla-
dolid and at the vatican are found nu-
merous manuscripts whose contents
will prove very valuable and interest
ing to those of an antiquarian turn of
mind.
Thus we see there are many incen-
youth to study the language of their
fathers. There is an opportunity af-
forded at present in Anaconda to those
who desire to acquire such knowledge |
that should not be neglected. There |
are competent teachers who are only
to anxious to give them every assist
auce in their power. Miss Boland as
an educator has very few compeers |
within the state of Montana, having |
for a number of years been engaged |
in teaching in some of the best educa- |
tional establishments in the country. !
She is a thorough German, French and !
attn scholar, and no doubt her ia |
miliarity with these languages has
been a great help in teaching Irish.
''Messrs. Duff, McHugh and Nc !
Mackin. in conjunction with Miss Be-
land. deserve the greatest credit for |
their patriotic efforts in the movement |
for reviving the language of their
Anaconda. March 3O.-The Rocky
Mountain branch of the Gaelic league
gave an interesting literary and musi-
cal programme at Hibernia hall, which
was listened to by a large audience. A
number of the songs and recitations
given were rendered in the Gaelic Ian
guage,
Following is the programme;
God Save All Here" ..>-...........
s.... Miss Bridget 0'Donnelll
Pats Criticism ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The Cocknev' Miss Charlotte Lappin
"A Boys Appear. Master John Walsh
"A Good Advice Miss Agnes. Walsh
"A Lost Day-'' Master James Devine