The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-09-26
The Movement Industrial as Well as Intel
lectual, With Women Actively
Engaged in the Work.
Founded by Seven Men in 1882 the League
is Succeeding Beyond the Hopes OF
the Most Sanguine.

: factures for the Irish consumer" and
it Is due to the efforts of the league
that there has recently come into be-
ing an Irish trademark which bears
the Gaelic legend "Deanta in Eirinn"
tmade in Ireland.) This increased de.
mand for Irish products bids fair to
realize the dream of the instigators
that f1ourishing commerce may soon
be reared in Ireland, while already en-
listing plants are finding themselves
taxed to their utmost to fill the orders
pouring in, and new industries are
springing up everywhere.
In America the results are likewise
apparent, for the tide of emigration,
which has been annually sending 49,
900 exiles from Erin to this country,
is being stayed. No longer do the ten
ants of small farms too small to sup.
port. an extensiye family. and the un-
derfed population Of Dublin or Belfast
look to America as their only hope.
Work is everywhere about them,
whether at. tweed, linen or carpet
loom, at press, desk or counter, or in
fields rendered doubly arabic by a
newly awakened productive intelli-
gence.
1t is healthy, normal employment.
growing out of the normal needs of
the country, and not. like lace making
and embroidery, dependent upon the
prosperity or whim. of a foreign pur-
chaser.
The Oireachtas, or great festival,
held annually in Dublin, is the out
come or climax of system of minor
local festivals held throughout the
year all over the country. Partly so.
cial and partly educational, they serve
the double purpose of keeping alive
the spirit of the league and of resur-
recting the gay and festive social life
once so characteristic of the Irish peo-
pie, but which had begun to languish
for lack of stimulus.
/ These local festivals consist of
three parts, the Feis or literary festi-
val, the Cuirm Ceoil or concert, and
the Aeridheacht, which, as a Lacquer
has put it. "is neither so solemn as
the Olympic games nor so trivial as
an Anglo-Saxon picnic." There are
contests in singing, the Gaelic or ira.
ditional singing of course; in dancing
the national folk dances or "rinces,"
in oratory and story telling. and in
playing Irish airs, ancient and modern,
upon the pipes and fiddle. The prize
winners in each group are delegated
to attend the Oireachtas and carry off
if possible, the honors from the as
sembled heroes of Feises in other dis
tricts.
The Oireachtas, like the Feis, also
consists of three parts. There are
competitions in the different branches
of Gaelic study, in singing, dancing
and playing, meetings of various kinds
and all industrial exhibition. There
is also the Ard Fheis, or parliament
of the league.
The opening event this year was
the reception to the delegates to the
Ard Fheis given by the Lord Mayor
of Dublin, the Hon. MIR. O'Reilly, at
the Mansion House, his official resi-
dence. The evening was opened by a
traditional Gaelic custom, relic of the
days when Irish kings with their
chiefs and warriors assembled with
brilliant pageantry at Tara.
A band of pipers in the green kits
and "brata" paraded around the hall
1reland's champion piper, Francis
playing ancient martial music on the
huge war pipes. They were headed by
Power-"An Paorach" 1.-THE power). as
he fondly was known to all Gaelic
Ieaguers.
This young man, who has dedicated
his life to the cause, is a fair example
of the spirit of devotion and self.sacri-
fee which is animating the league