The Irish standard., 1903-11-21
AN EVENT IN co. CLARE.
Rein S tatement of John Kelly to His
Old Home,


recently one of the glorious events
which adorn the history of our coun
try's struggle for independence and
bring thrills of joy to the heart OF
every honest lrishman, who has help
ed and hoped in the great fight to
drive away cruel landlOrdism in Ire
land, says an Irish exchange. On Fri,
day, 2Sth August. after a long and
bitter contest for the home from
which lie was evicted five years ago
Mr.. John Kelly, of Kilkerrin, was re-
instated among the joyous cheering
and good wishes of the steadfast
friends who nobly stood by his side
from the first moment. when the gage
of battle was thrown down until the
landlords colors We're struck and the
glad word of victory was passed on
to the evictcd tenant who has ALWAYS
borne his wrongs and his sufferings
like the true Irishman whose patriotic
heart ever glOwS with the fiery homes
of success. 1t was hard battle for
the old home, and now in the fruition
of his hopes and the "lalneSs of his
victory, Mr.. Kelly stands in the proud
position of an honest conuucrOr and
the good people of I.alnShcctla and.
indeed, of all West Clare are to be
complmented on this their latest
stroke for the rebuilding of an Irish
Ireland us we'll as for their determine
alton to subduc the greedy hunger Of
the land%rablcr. Mr.. Kelly has al
ways been prominently identified With
good movements for the rcgenpra ton
of his native land and for the ameli
Grafton of her sutferinys and at no
time has he spared himself in any
way from any sacrifice he wns called
upon to mike. And as Il mark of cs-
1ecm fol him the people of Lahasllcc-
ia on their part have always rcposrd
the greatest condolences in him and
nave honorrd him with the power of
their votes whenever he has como for
borcr, especially, he has ALWAYS been
/, faithful friend. ana if others i'm DAVIS
gone hy had used their influence as
John Kelly did in forwarding the in
terests of the lahoring classes and the
small farmer. we would not now have
so much work for the nnti-cmi"rniion
tn ,ltI.1,
he was cvictc,l from his home and
farm at Killicrrin and, although if
was one of the most tempting places
Ill the county, To the credit of the boo
pie be it said that it has lain idle
through all that time ami no yraIlcrs
clutch was eyer fastened ON its floors
or fields. For time those ,nrrion
birds of the Irish conflict, an rmcrwcn
cyman, held goddess riot i'm the ho,uc
stead, but even that evil had TO pnss
away and mt length the landlord SAW
the folly of his ways ana met the
rlghtful owner in Il concilatory man
1i"r with tile happy result that Mr..
A'''' "'" SiNtl lIlt hitltF IOf 1r-ltl-
statement and. as was stated, tho
great victory was completed when his
friends and c0mpntriots assembled TO
see nm regain possession and to wish
him unstinted success and happiness
i'll the future. The chief feature of
the grand occasion consisted i'm n
magnificent tOrcll-light procession in
the evening. which left Lalnshccda at
eight O'Clock and marched i'm proud
array to Kilkcrin. and which was COM
posed OF contin$rntS not only from the
village itself but also from the sur
rounding districts. The men from
the East and the men from the West
ana from the lower country as well
as the upper country all assembled i'm
Labasheeda, and there placing them
selves under the direction ana load
ership of the patriotic secretary of the
local branch of the United Irish
League, Mr.. William Kelly. and of his
assistants AMI licutenants. Mcssrs. =.
Curry, Michael Casey John King,
Richard Farrell, Daniel MalOncy O,o-
leen), Daniel Mcnamara ana l..
ONeill. they formed in line at the
chapel and lit the torches for the
march. Then. although the village
does not boast of IL regularly organ
band, nevertheless for this case the
Will was present and the way was
soon discovered in the Shape of indi-
vldTll players and Instruments by
means of which II respectable fife and
drum corps was arranged with Messrs.
Hugh ONeill and John Lnnanc as at
rcctors, and then the march began
with the inspiring music Of the IRIS
ing of the NOon." for MIR. Kclly's
home, two miles away At nearly ev-
cry house along the journey a crowd
was waiting to join the ranks Of the
procession, and at one of the labOrer's
cottages which Mr.. Kelly was mainly
instrumental in having erected, was Il
festoon of flaming torches over the
gate, while the occupant. John
O'Brien, cheered Justify for the sue
cess and victory of the "workmans
friend" The scene was most impress
sive as the procession wound it's way
over the Decrpark hill, and the rows
of brilliant lights proclaimed to the