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n1; '1:.< t1ouu"5 28, 1912.
(Alf CLAIDH�MH SOLUI •• j
the non-speakers converse, or try to converse, in Irish." " The tremendous burst of enthusiasm evoked y the noble and soul-stirring appeal made on the introduction of these clubs, rendered the Gaelic League more than ever a living force in the seminary. " To a thorough understanding of the immense success of the Gaelic League here, nothing perhaps contributes more than a knowledge of the general tone and atmosphere of the college. Let it be at once said, if it has not already been inferred, that it is Irish, intensely, unswervingly Irish. " An account of the progress of the Gaelic League in this college would be incomplete without reference to the generous support given to the movement by the school authorities."
A Christmas Festival.
POINTS AGAINST THE NATIONAL BOARD.
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"Fleadh na Nodlag," the great Christmas re-union of Dublin Gaels, will be held in the Mansion House on Saturday, 4th January. The tickets are now ready, and may be had at 25 Rutland Square. The prices are 3s. (single), and 5s. (double). It is hardly necessary to point out that the " Fleadh " offers to Dubliners the best possible opportunity of meeting IrishIrelanders, and that the festival is not solely an Ard-Chraobh function. The more prominent members of the Dublin Branches of the Gaelic League and other Irish organisations attend every year; and it is expected that every Gael will realise how becoming it is that he should take part in this annual social re-union of Irish folk in the Capital.
l. IRISH Al\D COOKERY. " Irish is taught within school hours, though cookery is omitted." - Inspectors Report. [\Ve have been informed that a school with a " fair " merit mark is advanced to " good " ,on the introduction of cookery. The teaching of Irish or the introduction of the bilingual programme is made an excuse for the lowering of the merit mark, as Point II. shows.] IL THE BILINGUAL PROGRAMME. Merit mark, " very good." " This school is improving and has some of the marks of a very good school. " Children speak clearly and distinctly and read well. Penmanship and history are carefully taught."-Inspectors' Report, 1911. Merit mark, " Good." " The Bilingual programme has been in operation here since last July. The methods of teaching are too formal and routine, and little appeal is made to the intelligence of the pupil. "-Inspectors' Report, 1912.
[The Senior Inspector for the district from which this report comes has no knowledge of Irish. The teachers have been particularly successful at the teaching of Irish. The principal is well up in method, and his assistant holds several certificates won during three years at at an Irish College.]
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THE DEMAND FOR A POLICY OF FIGHT.
Sgoil na Rinne. Sgoil na Rinne will re-open immediately after the New Year. New students will receive special attention, and the Principal will do everything necessary to secure the proper Parents placing and the progress of boys. should remember that Irish is the language of Sgoil na Rinne, and that no student passing through its courses can fail to acquire a sound spoken and literary knowledge of his mother tongue. Communications should be addressed to Padraic O Codhla, Sgoil na Rinne, Dungarbhain.
(Continued.) The season of peace and good-will is with us ; but there is no peace for the wicked. The enemies of Irish cannot be given a moment's rest. There must not be either delay or compromise, and it is both refreshing and encouraging to notice the awakening of the country and the re-awakening of the League. From the outlines of the latest meeting of the Coisde Gnotha given in AN CL.A.IDHEA}IH, it would appear that a fresh and· systematic appeal to the people is afoot. This is precisely what was wanted, and it is upon the method and form of the appeal that the writer is prompted to offer a few suggestions. In a recent number of the CLAIDHEAMH, Fear Troda stated that the Ard Fheis had already formulated its irreducible minimum demand, and "that this is before the country!" The Ard Fheis demand is. not before the country, and it never has been. Is Fear Troda living in such a fool's paradise as to think that the representative bodies. of the country have at any time had, or indeed yet have, more than a distant and hazy idea of what the League wants-proximate or remote. If he be, it certainly proves that he is a greater enthusiast than he is a statesman. Only a small minority of the real representatives of the people realize, or even know, the main object of the League. The vast majority of them confound the League with the Industrial Revival or with the Sinn Fein policy, Dr with both. They do not read the Irish-Ireland Press. Thev are busy with multitudes of things, including newspapers, and they are filled with the importance of their own particular spheres of development. It has never yet been driven home to the municipal bodies of Ireland that the League is a X ational Movement indigenous. to the soil and determined, toit]: Ireland's Ize]p, to supplant English by Irish i11 the country generally. The material as well as the sentimental reasons for restoring the language have not yet reached the masses of the people. The prevalent idea abroad is that the League is. a hobby for people with leisure and cussedness, but that there is no practical reality in its programme, and therefore no sufficient reason for taking an active part in its propaganda. To dispel this idea, there must be great method put into the League's madness. The re-opening campaign must be an all-Ireland one-universal and uniform. The piecemeal and spasmodic efforts must be .superseded, and All-Ireland-as opposed to sections of it-must be got at the back of the League in a demand for compulsory Irish in the X ational Schools. Fear Troda wants " details " of a policy. I take it that his demand is for definite and precise proposals. The suggestions that a deep convic-
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Books for the New Year. · For songs and ballads in Irish and English we recommend "Signal Fires," by "Brian na Banban," which is published by Ua Faolain agus a Mhac, at a shilling. For information about the Gaedhealtacht we recommend Feilire na Gaedhilge, which is published by the Gaelic League at threepence. It contains full particulars about the Irishspeaking population of the Gaedhealtacht. Our advertising columns contain particulars of big reductions in the prices of many Gaelic League publications. "Conan Maol's " " Eire " can be had for sixpence. Robinson Crusoe is being reduced to rs. od. The poets, including Eoghan Ruadh and Colum · Bhalais, will be sold in future for less than the cost of a song. Seanfhocla Cuige Uladh will be only rs. The splendid Leightheoir Gaedhealacht will sell at 6d. The famous Eachtra Lomnochtain will cost only 6cl. The reductions will be made on and after January rst. We have received "A Hamper of Humour" which contains a number of amusing sketches written from the Irish point of view. It is published by Messrs. M. H. Gill and Son at rs. 6d. The same firm has sent us a copy of Mr. Boyle's play, "The Family Failing." i:>HOTOGRAPHY._:)
FINNERTY' S, The Old (Irish) Firm, Still Leading, Still the Best
Studio: 46 HENRY STREET, ,
DUBLIN.
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. FOR. I
Plumbing, £igbting and H�atina. CLAIDHE.A�IH
1�. 1912•
tion urges me to offer wil l an:-wer the det ·1 · .1.�..:, .u : :, asxed for b y F ear T r0da : · I. I �ug-:,::est that the Le.ieue _._ ... " �� • u, '-once ,, d ,·1se t }1e . t>� abandonment · t the se't:· ..ni�' projected . _ . . · u. d epu t anons to the ); .irional Board-b··c3."'-e the., (Ire . ,... • �" scct1_011al. have only a small fraction ot the co'untn· ��hmd them. and are. therefore. destined failure. 2: That the League call .l nublic meeting in the capital at as early. a dare as possible for tl1e purP_?S� of advocating Compulsory Irish in the � ational Schools. �· Tha� t?e League organise and address a senes of sjrnjl ar meetinzs a ll over the country
to
4· �hat immediatelt after the completicn� of the senes �f meetings the League prepare a manifesto showu�g. the threatened extinction of the languag:e, g1nng the reasons and means for its n.;st?rat10n, and reviewing the deplorable state of Xational school. education generallv, adding a form of . resolution (previously adopted by the League) m favour of Compulsory Irish. as from IJt . January, r9151 for all standards in all Natwnal schools. 5. That. copies of this manifesto be sent to every _Chairman and Secretary of everv Public Body m Ireland .. together with a request. that the appended resolution be adopted by the particular
bodv. . 6. That,
directly the voice of the country is. gathered, . th� League invite a Conference of Irish educati-omsts representative of all classes. creeds. and bodies. for the purpose of forrnulatino a N ational School programme in substitution fo� the present one-the League's special function at the Confereno- being to ensure proper provision for Irish. 7 · That the X ational Board be then called upon, in the name of Ireland, to adopt such progr:amme . . 8. Th�t.as r�gards (6) the new programme contam provision (mcludin.g reasonable remuneration) f°.,r the teachmg of I:1sh during r9r3 and 19r4 b J -o?e teacher to his colleagues in the same locality, and ±:or th� employment of the League's own teachers m ass ist mg to qualify the National teachers generally. (This could be done bv means of evening and Saturday schools.) · GUAIRE.
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THE GRADUATES AND THE GOVERNING ' BODY.
The Graduates of the National University are empowered by Statute to appoint six members of the Governing Body of the Dublin College. The staff of the College, who also are empowered to appoint a certain· number of Governors, are attempting to force on the graduates four of their own body and two student representatives, Messrs. Davitt and Arkins. A number of the College staff who are just now showing the symptoms of an attack of whiggery, have managed to exclude from the secret card every candidate possessing even an elementary �nowledge of Irish. Not a single Gael has got their support. Some Dublin graduates, none of whom are acquainted with Irish, have issued a circular in Irish and English, asking the support of graduates for Messrs. Davitt and Arkins who it is stated, have been nominated by th� students. Now, the Irish language, since the foundation of the Gaelic League, has been honourably associated with unselfish efforts for the reform of Irish education and for the advancement of other good and patriotic causes. We regret that a number of young graduates of the National University should have utilised Irish in an endeavour to deceive a section of the public regarding Messrs. Davitt and Arkins. T�e circ_ular was undoubtedly intended to deceive Irish-Ireland graduates, for neither Mr. Davitt nor Mr. Arkins has any knowledge of Irish. The staff has now thrown over both gentlemen, for it was found that the majority of the students did not want them. The students are supporting two other candidates one of whom is Padraic O Tuathail, M.A., �ho is an old worker in the Gaelic League and who may ?e trust�d. to s�and by the National language in the University. The graduates who wish to be represented by representatives who may b� trusted to stand by Irish-Ireland should w1th:hol� all promises of support until the official list of candidates is published.
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December
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