New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-27
IRISH INDUSTRIES.
Story of Their Founding at Lough-
Lynn bY Sisters.

Nowhere IN the Irish Industrial Exhibition is
there q more picturesque or interesting corner
than the small tncIosure near the door. within
which the Franciscan Missionaries OF Mary are
displaying some Of the results Of the Industrial
revival IN Loughlyun, Ireland. All around the
railing OF the Enclosure are rugs and carpets,
decorated with curious Irish patterns. Inside
two white robed sisters are presiding at q stall
OF lovely Iaces, and four Irish girls. IN green
dresses. are at work with looms bobbins and
needles Katy Kuduf is making carpet and
Annie o'Daly a rug. Katherine Kenny is max
Ing CarT1cknacross design Of shamrocks round
the border OF handkerchief. and Katy Bourke
e. manipulating bobbins upon q pillow In a
mysterious fashion, which is expected eventually
TO produce e duchess lace collar In a design Of
asur de lys and shamrocks It al looks ex-
tremely difficult and endlessly laborious, but the
girls al say that IT is quite easy. and that #
VIII take them only short time to finish the
particular pieces Of work that they are engaged
upon
Yet eighteen months ago they could 90 none
Of these things LoughIynn lay desolate and
hopeless, and her sons and daughters vrere
seeking homes in other lands. The TRANSFORMED
ton was brought about IN this way By con-
tfnued resistance TO his exactions the tenants
q Lord Dillon had succeeded IN forcing him 20
sell his estate This he did about six yeers
age. making over his property to the Congested
Districts Board The board divided the estate
Up into small holdings. but left eighty acres Of
land ached to the house, as it was thought
that the latter would be useless without some
land attached Then the board advertised for
a tenant, but as the place is many miles from &
railroad none came for four years. Then the
Bishop OF EIphin conceived the idea Of con
verting the magnificent old house into an in
eli F1a Ia
the place for $1,000. although $4,000 had been
spent only z few years before il repairing part
Of it that ives damaged by fire. Then he
brought from Belgium community Of the mis-
sionaries OF Mary. and LoughIyun entered upon
q new life
The sisters taught the girls Of the neighbor-
hood not only the beautiful arts now being ex-
hibited at the fair, but cooking, plain needle
work laundry work, da1ry1ng, poultry raising
and kitchen gardening They introduced vege-
tables like the tomato. unknown in the country
before, and taught them to cook the new foods
AZ well as the old ones. The Irish peasantTy
have fallen into the habit Of living largely on
bread and tea, and the sisters have labored TO
restore the use Of oatmeal, milk and eggs
The sisters also visit IN the homes Of the peo-
ME and teach them how to make their cottages
comfortable end beautiful This isn't usual
thing for nuns to do. but the missionaries Of
Mary ere progressive women, and not only drive
all over the country, but drive themselves
Among the interesting things 10 be seen al tnls
exhibit in the Garden are some photographs
showing one reverend sister ready for round
OF calls and another among the cows OF Inc
dairy farm
Although the community was brought rom
Belgium many Of the sisters are lrish and II is
TWO Irish women. Sisters COLUMBIA and BT1gld.
who are IN charge Of the lace stall at the far
We want to keep the Irish girls at home
explained Sister Columbia yesterday, not only
Tor their own sake but for the sake Of the coun-
try. We can never raise Ireland If ell the peo-
PIE go away"
The Industries Of Loughlynn are said to be
moro strictly Irish than any others now IN oper-
alton there. Speaking Of the curious designs on
the rugs and carpets, the Rev. Michael O'bIan-
agan. who Is IN charge OF the exhibit, said that
they had never been used in this kind Of work
before, although revived twenty years ago for
the decoration Of books. The distinctive feat
ure Of this old Celtic ornamentaton is an elab-
crate inteTlacing OF curves and circles. It had
fts origin In the decoration Of nissais and manu-
page from the Book Of KelIs, shown II another
exhibit Father O'Blanagan suggested the use
OF these ancient designs TO the sisters and IL is
his hope that some day ali the products Of Irish
Industry viii be as distinctive as japanese work
IS.
The object Of bringing this exhibit to America
IS 70 secure orders for the work and to raise
money for there Is a debt Of $4,000 on the
school and LoughlyEn is stu very poor. On
Sunday, October q, athletic tournament will
% held at Celtic Park for the benefit OF the
IlorghIynn school The prizes VIII all be OF Irish
manufacture.