The Irish standard., 1905-09-23

by the author of the Irish-E English Die
tionary, Edmund O'Reilly. The valu-
able nineteenth edition, by Canon
Burke, of Tuam, had an English
translation ON opposite pages and
with later reprints.
DIR. Hyde tells us, Bishop O'Galla-
gher had the unique distinction of
publishing a book-a volume Of Irish
sermons-which went through over
twenty editions" Every district that
contained a person able to read had
also one or more copies of the SER
mons. Hundreds, aye thousands, of
disappearing people unable to read
themselves, from hearing them read,
could recite long passages to eager
reverent listeners. And thus they
passed from group to group, from dis
trict to district, and from generation
to generation, for over century and
a half
Who can tell what that little volume
did for the Catholic Faith and the
Irish language? For when the scat
tered floclls could not be gathered to
the prosecuted pastor to hear his in
structions, these edifying and instruc-
tive sermons were read in the family
circle, at the social gathering, and in
variably at wakes" where, for the
time being, unseemly tricks were
stopped, while all listened with rapt
attention to the reader. That so few
of our good Catholics have pious
books now read in their families goes
far to show how much we have lost in
literary tastes and religious sentiment
with the temporary eclipse of Ire
lands native language. But while his
written sermons were doing their
good work in the purely Irish-speak-
ing districts, DR.. O'Gallagher himself
preached and labored in Kildare and
Leighlin, to which diocese he had
been translated in 1897.
Although in a Quieter region here
his life was yet one of many hard
ships. He had, as episcopal residence
and refuge in persecution, small
matched hut near the entrance gate
to the present parochial house at
Allen. An illustrious successor-Dr.
Doyle-speaks Of him as prelate
who was eminent in the most peril
GUS times for learning, piety, and
ZEAL" Writing from Allen in May,
1923, he further relates some of the
traditions that existed amongst the
aged inhabitants of that locality con-
corning the MISUNDERSTANDING DIR.
O'Gallagher-who lived there in the
penal times. With feelings of pride,
mingled with piety, these faithful old
people would point out where he or
dained, administered Confirmation, or
held an assembly OF his clergy; how,
leaving them with staff in his hand,
he was often absent for months, but
would return again, and finally died
amongst them. ooh, If you saw him."
they would exclaim, "he was like st.
Patrick himself"
Thus the gifted author of the Irish
sermons spent the closing years of
his remarkable career, and died at
Allen in May, 1851. His remains lie
without monument in some I'M
known grave in the neighboring burial
place--Cross Patrick. But the smould-
ering embers of the ancient faith that
he preached are long since famed in
to a bright flame that lights up the
entire island. Yet the language that
he loved is far from being in honor
amongst us. With so many branches
OF the Gaelic League in our midst,
how few take advantage of their op-
portunities to learn Irish. Let 1t be
SO no longer. Let the noble example
OF the author of the Irish sermons
urge us on to overcome the early diff
ficulties and the opposition so often
met with in every good cause. A few
years Of earnest study should secure
that future editions of Dr.O'Gallag.
hers work would be listened to with
pleasure and profit by hundreds of our
young people, who now scarce know
the translation of Feis Chill-Dara