Evening journal., 1911-03-30

Inc heV. Michael j. O'Flanagan.
Gaelic tongues, and will explain the
objects of the League and its ori-
gin.
Origin of the League.
The idea Of founding the League
originated 1t is claimed, with John
MacNeill. He 1t was who broached the
subject to DR.. Hyde and Father
O'BrOwney. another enthusiast, who /
died in this country some years ago.
At first meetings were held and
classes taught only in Dublin, but
soon the movement was pushed into
the Irish-speaking districts and the
campaign began in earnest.
In 1902 Irish was taught as an Eek
ira subject" in only 235 of the national /
achools, which are State primary |
schools in Ireland. OF the pupils of
these schools presented for examina- |
tion in Irish, some 1000 satisfied the
inspectors. In the school year of
190S-19O9 Irish was taught in over
1900 national schools as an "eXtra
subject" and in nearly 200 others. The
number of pupils who passed" the
inspectors in Irish that year was over
$4,000. A corresponding advance has
been noted I'm the other various
schools in which Irish has been intro
duced as a regular study.
There are two important principles
of the Gaelic League, The first is
that it is non-sectarian and the second
that IT, is non-political. There are to
be found in the Gaelic League, and
among its most prominent workers,
men and women of various creeds
and of many shades of political opin-
ion No political speeches are allow
ed at Gaelic League meetings and no
branch is allowed to qualify its men-
bership by any particular views, re-
ligious or political.
Teaching in the Schools.
The most important part of the
work of the Gaelic League is not con-
uected with the teaching of the Lam
guage I'm the public schools. The
principal work is carried on through
organizers and travelling teachers,
who penetrate every parish in Iseland.
The work done by these teachers has
been most successful, for all over Ire
land there are thousands of Gaelic
League workers overflowing with zeal
and earnestness. There are 13O Of
these travelling teachers and organ
izers. The League trains teachers,
publishes up-tO-date textbooks, edits
the masterpieces of Gaelic literature
and keeps alive the interest in the
music, dancing and games OF the
country.
The city branches of the Gaelic
League generally hold their language
classes in the evening, the teachers
and pupils being for the most part
men and women who are engaged dur
ing the day in earning their living.
The teachers are not paid, and the
classes are free to members OF the
branch.
About the Teachers.
The salaries of the travelling teach
ers vary from $500 to $3.50 per year.
This amount is raised with mucn dil-
fculty from the very small fees paid
by the pupils, or from the proceeds
of concerts or other entertainments
given during the year. Very poor dis
tricts-and that means a large por-
ton of the Irish districts-sometimes
apply to the central executive for a
grant toward the payment OF their
teacher. But as the resources OF
the League are limited, many of them
cannot be granted.
OF the organizers, there are ten enl-
ployed by the League. It is the duty OF
these organizers to go from place 70
Mace. each within the district assign
ed 10 him. and to call together meet
ings at which the people are eXhorted
nos to let their ancient tongue die out
They also visit the schools and re-
port on the state of the language IN
struction in them, help to start class
es for adults and children where lrisn
is nor taught in the school, and te
organize Irish concerts, etc. Where 2
fair proportion of the people are lrisn
speakers they try to induce the paro,
chial clergy to preach In lrisns a.
least occasionally, and to allow re-
ligious instruction to be given ths
children in that tongue.
Every August the League holds
congress in Dublin called the oireacn'
tas. at which the years work is re
viewed. officers elected and other ou
ties performed. The festivities In
clude contests in playing the harI
and the Irish pipes. Irish dancing
singing in the traditional style, an6
story telling. Each evening there u
\ concert, all songs being In irish
and several short Irish dramas arr
nresented. On the last day of thu
week an excursion is made 70 som'
nlace of historic interest in the neigh
borhood of Dublin. Combined Will
this. there is also an industrial eX
hibition of Irish goods.
An interesting change has takel
place within the past ten years IN con
nection with the various industries