The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-12-11

l u
ion at Thurles for the purpose of pur-
chasing a ticket, it is said, for Linn
arick. He was recognized by one OF
the guards, named Hume, who seized
him, saying, you are Mr.. O'Brien;
you are the Queens prisoner" Smith
O'Brien made no attempt at resistance,
and was instantly conveyed to Thurles
Gaol pending his removal to Dublin.
There was very large number of
people assembled in the town, but no
attempt was made to rescue the Illus
trious patriot. Commenting on the ar
rest of Smith O'Brien and the events
which led up to that incident the Free
man says: 1T is not for us now to !
dwell upon the painful event of yes
terday, or of the few preceding days.
It is enough to know that they have
ended in the committal-for the high
est offense known to the law-of a
man as single-minded, as honorable,
as unstained, and unselfish, as candid
and as chivalrous as ever trod Irish
soil. Those who most differ from
Smith O'Brien must accord to him the
highest qualities and noblest virtues
which adorn man. When the mists of
prejudice raised by recent events,
shall have passed away, men will deal
more justly with his fame, and be slow
to ascribe to mean or unmanly mo-
tives, however they may otherwise dis
approve or condemn, the acts of Smith
O'Brien."
Thurles has been for many years the
seat of the Archbishops of Cashel, and
it was here, in 1850, that the famous
Synod was held which decided the
fate of the Queens Colleges in Ire
land. The. handsome cathedral of
Thurles was begun during the Arch
bishopric of the Most Rev. DR.. Leahy,
who is buried within its precincts.
The Gaelic Athletic Association,
which revived the ancient sports and
pastimes of Ireland, and brought a
new spirit into Irish life, was brought
into existence at meeting held in the
billiard-rooms of Miss Hayes Hotel in
Thurles on Saturday, November 1st
1884. In December, one Of the promot
ers of the Association received let
ter from the Most Rev. DR.. Croke
Archbishop of Cashel, in which his
Grace consented to become a patron
of the Association. The names OF
Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Da
witt, John O'Leary, DR.. Douglas Hyde
and the Most Rev. Dr. Fennelly (Dr
Croke's successor to the See of Cash
ely were afterwards added to the list
of patrons. From small beginning
says the historian Of the G. A. A., "it
has become the greatest athletic or
ganization the world has ever seen. >
The Executive of the G. A. A. are at
present considering designs for a Me
mortal to DR.. Croke, which will be
erected in Thurles next year.
Notwithstanding that the town Of
Thurles has lost many of the manufac
lures which flourished in the district
early in the last century, it now pre-
sents all the features of thriving
community, possessing many fine es
Establishments that reflect great credi
on the business acumen of their pro
prietors. The Bank of Ireland and tn,
National Bank have branches in tn,
town. The horse fair, which is he'll,
in Thurles, has worldwide reputa
ton, buyers coming from remot,
places on the Continent, as we'll a
from England and Wales. The las
census shows the population to b.
ALL.
Holycross.
Any account of the ancient town o
Thurles would fail in its interest j
1t omitted to mention the celebrate,
Cistercian Abbey at Holycross. Thi
building was founded in 1882 for tn
Cistercian Order by Donall O'Brien
King of Thomond. 1t owes its origil
to the presentation to Donougl
O'Brien, grandson of the victor o
Clontarf, of portion of the Tru
Cross by Pope Pascal II in ITO. KIM
John granted Charter to the Able,
in 1887. and in 1928 Henry III con
firmed this Charter, and also took tn
house into his protection. In 1876
Isaac OGorman resigned his See ant
became monk at Holycross. In 1877
the Abbot was summoned to Parlia
ment and held the title of Earl of Holy
cross. On the suppression of tn,
monasteries and other religious foun
dations the Abbey passed into the pos
session Of the Earl of Ormond. VIII
liam O'Dwyer was the Abbot at THU
time. In a manuscript entitled "Tri
umphalia chronological Coenobii Cru
cis' ("Triumphal Records of the Mon
aster of Holy Crosse, dated 1910
gives history of the foundation ant
an account of the miraculous cures
) wrought by the Cross. This rare ant
interesting work, which was compiled
) from an old Irish manuscript, wa.
published by the Rev. Denis Murphy
S. J. In the earlier chapters there II
a very quaint account of the founda