Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-01
GAELIC LEAGUE BUSY
Seeking fer Traces Of Pagan Religion
Of Ancient ireland.
APPEAL TO IRISH IN AMERICA
Desire All Who Can to Send Partic-
ulars Of Old Customs.
ANCIENT MYTHS ARE IN DEMAND
Aged Woman of County Down Still
Earns Own Living.
WALKS LONG WAY FOR PENSION
Death of Woman who stIII Remem-
hers Days OF '0s-BalIymOney's
way with Tramps Proves
Effective.
WALKS LONG WAY FOR PENSION

Way with Tramps Proves
Effective.
DUBLIN. oct 31.-(Special)-T Gaelic
league has undertaken the work Of COM
Iiling and sitting the traditions about the
religion and social organization of pagan
ireland, about which there is little accur-
ate knowledge at present The work is In
charge OF John Mcneil the vice president
who ectured recently here on the subject
and closed with an appeal to his hearers
20 write down accurately and carefully an
account of any tradition of the peasantry
which they may think has any bearing on
tie ancient religion and send IT to him. He
also asks me to appeal TO the Irish in
America to send him any of the traditions
which may be preserved among the old
people there
There Is little doubt that the writings
a We do possess on the ancient myths and
" hero lore of Ireland is founded entirely on
oral tradition, and for this the attitude of
he carly church was in a large degree
f,onsible. We find no mention OF the
'ient religion IN the writings of ST. Pat
hk. which are the oldest historical rec
- Ords THAT We possess and st. Adamnanus,
who came two ana a half centuries after
Patrick although he was the next his
torian, also omts all mention of the old
religion. although the period between him
and Ireland's patron saint must have been
time OF constant struggle between pagan
ism and Christianity
view of EARLY Churchman.
- The early churchman regarded the old
: ahligiou as a thing unclean and accursed,
- 4ttf-6ne that should not even be mentioned.
Although many pagan festivals and prac-
tees survived, and still survive in one form
or another they were either given Chris
tan significance or the people who fol-
lowed ther were forced to forget their
origin and meaning, as the old explanation
was forbidden by the church, and to pro-
fess any belief In it regarded as
RECOMMENDATION Of baptism" There is no
doubt however, that many of the old hero
and fairy myths are survivals of the old
religion Anyone who describe them
h ,4ill render great as 5istance in the preserva-
V Non of a link with the dim past which Is
1fast dsappeaTinR.-ssss-
~ The revision OF the voters list has dis
Z closed the existerce OF another lively link
3 with the past The revising barrister al
III CRriickmore, County Tyrone, had TO pass
- ON the objection to the vote for municipal
4 purposes Of Mrs. Bridget McGurk, who is
4 les years old. She was reported as in ex-
cellent health and quite active and 1t was
announced that she would como 20 the
court To defend her vote. The revising
barrlstcr however, declared that he would
not hear Of dragging her TO the court at
her age and said he would go and see her
al her own house. "She ought to have two
votes" he said, instead of having the one
she has taken away from her"
wonderful Old woman.
Another wonderful old irish woman has
applied for an old age pension at Grey
abbey. County Down. She is Mrs. Jane
ta h.
from her home. more than mile way.
and signed the application form without
spectatcies and with a hand as firm as
that OF a young woman. She was born In
N sos was married in 1888 and widowed In
- R. During the sixty years OF her widow
hood she has supported herself by doing
fine embroidery and she only gave thai
up about year ago. because, as she said,
her sight was not quite as good II used
TO be-" She still does quilting and has
managed to support herself without any
f1assistance from the poor law authorities,
II so that she Is eligible TO pension OF 81. 25
~ A week for the rest of her life She declares
! that she Intends to live long and enjoy IT,
nj Another interesting centenarian has just
died at Newtownhutler County FERN
anagh She was Mrs. Catherin Kierans
and she had documents clearly proving
chat she was born in 1885, that she
IL years OLD at inc lltne OF nef uedlil one
nved eighty years lonely island in
I.ough Erne. and she clearly remembered
some OF the events following the rebel
lion OF l7se.
told some weeks ago Of the complaint
OF the local government board OF the
method OF dealing with trsmps adopted By
the Balymoney Board OF Guardians. It
will be remembered that after the adoption
Of the cold needle bath at the woriNhouse
the number OF tramps calling there dropped
from eighty a week to ten. The board, act
ing under the orders of the local govern
ment board. dropped the cold bath and the
number of tramps at once rose to fifty a
week. The board has now decided that II
will be cheaper for il to employ a doctor
TO pass on the physical fitness OF the
tramps for the cold water ordeal and thus
satisfy the local government board. than
TO continue the hot bath which Is now be-
Ing given
q Proat Out of TramPs.
The Newry Board OF Guardians, however.
has discovered a stll better way. In a re-
cent report II announced that It is making
substantial profit out OF it's tramps. 1t
WI cOmpels the men to break 500 weight of
ye stone every day which is sold for road
material, and the women must work for
certain number OF hours IN the laundry.
q Nhe Newry tramps pay per cent on the
+" Investment.
Iohd Iveagh has added another to his
many munifoent gifts to Dublin and to
the nation. He has announced his inten-
~ tlon OF presenting TO the new Dublin uni
- 'Versity his magnificent house and grounds
IN Stephens Green. The house is by far
the finest in the city, and few years ago
Lord lveagh had the ballroom renovated
aud redecorated at cost OF Sl50OoO. Lord
Iveagh. Il win be remembered. Is tie head
Of the great brewing house OF Guinness.
which gives employment TO a large number
Of Dublin citizens. +. X CULLEN.
Wtniam Mckee Not Guilty.
,,tu1,aursr,1 u. oct Al uvui,a. ~