The Gaelic Union,
FOR THE
PRESERVATION AND CULTIVATION OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE.
REPORTS OF PROCEEDINGS.
Recent Meetings of Council.
An important Meeting of the Council of the Gaelic Union for the Preservation and Cultivation of the Irish Language was held on Wednesday, 11th October, at 4 p.m.
Rev. J. J. O’Carroll, S.J., occupied the Chair.
There were also present the following Members of Council:—Rev. John E. Nolan, O.D.C., Hon. Sec; Mr. Michael Cusack, Hon. Treasurer; Mr. Thomas L. Synnott, Secretary Home Rule League; Mr. R. J. O’Mulrenin, Mr. Michael Corcoran, Mr. John Fleming, Mr. John Morrin, and Mr. David Comyn.
The following resolutions were unanimously adopted in accordance with notice—Proposed by Rev. John E. Nolan; seconded by Mr. John Fleming; and Resolved—“That a Provisional Committee be appointed to make arrangements for the publication of the proposed Irish [ 31 ]Language Journal. The Committee to consist of Messrs. Cusack, Comyn, and Morrin.”
Proposed by Mr. John Fleming; seconded by Mr. R. J. O’Mulrenin; and
Resolved—“That the Irish Language Journal, to be published by the Gaelic Union, be known as the Gaelic Union Journal;” and
Resolved—“That Mr. David Comyn, a Member of this Council, be appointed Editor of the said Journal.”
Several considerable donations were handed in for the “Journal” Fund, amongst others:—Rev. Euseby D. Cleaver, M.A., £10; Michael Cusack, Esq., £5; D. C. O’Keeffe, Esq., £6.
The Council being anxious to have as many subscribers enrolled as possible before issuing the first number, has extended the time for distributing the circulars, and filling up the accompanying forms to the 30th inst.
The Council of the Gaelic Union met on Wednesday, 18th October.
Mr. John MacPhilpin presiding.
There were also present the following Members of the Council:—Rev. Maxwell H. Close, M.A., Vice-President; Mr. Michael Cusack, Hon. Treasurer; Rev. John E. Nolan, O.D.C., Hon. Secretary; Rev. J. J. O’Carroll, S.J.; Messrs. Thomas L. Synnott, John Fleming, John Morrin, M. Corcoran, and David Comyn.
After important correspondence had been read relative to the progress of the branches and local associations connected with the Gaelic Union, the following resolution was proposed by Mr. John Morrin; seconded by Rev. John E. Nolan; and unanimously
Resolved—“That a Literary Committee be appointed to conduct the Gaelic Union Journal, said Committee to consist of the Editor, Mr. David Comyn; the Rev. J. J. O’Carroll, S.J., Examiner R.U.I.; and the Rev. M. H. Close, M.A., M.R.I.A., F.R.G.S.”
Several donations and subscriptions for the journal were handed in, which were referred to the Provisional Committee for the business management of the journal appointed last week, viz.:—Messrs. Cusack, Morrin, and Comyn.
It was also decided to keep all transactions relative to the journal entirely separate from the funds of the Gaelic Union, and the Committee was empowered, during the ensuing week, to receive estimates in accordance with the arrangements already agreed upon, and was requested to present its report on the subject to the Council at next meeting.
Besides the encouragement recently received, the Council feels confident of the success of the Gaelic Union Journal, and of its vast utility to the movement. Members of the Council have for some years past conducted “Gaelic departments” in several important weekly journals with excellent effect.
A Meeting of the Council of the Gaelic Union was held on 25th October.
John Fleming, Esq., in the Chair.
There were also present—Messrs. Cusack, Comyn, Morrin, Synnott, the Rev. J. J. O’Carroll, S.J.; Rev. M. H. Close, M.A., M.R.I.A.; and Rev. J. E. Nolan, Hon. Sec.
Donations for the contemplated Gaelic Journal were received from the Very Rev. the President of the Carmelite College, Terenure; Michael Kennedy, Castlederg, &c. Amongst the many subscribers announced were—His Grace the Archbishop of Cashel; their Lordships the Bishops of Ross, Cloyne, and Cork; the Earl of Gainsborough; Lord and Lady Clermont; Lady Constance Bellingham; Miss E. Skeffington Thompson, London; Miss Thomson, Ravensdale; the Superiors of the Monastery of St. Patrick, Galway; the Carmelite College, Terenure; Rockwell College, Cahir; Very Rev. Dean Quirke, and many other of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Cashel.
The Journal Committee received instructions to report to next Meeting of Council the exact number of subscribers, and the amount of donations to defray the preliminary expenses of the journal. About 13,000 circulars have already been distributed by post and otherwise. The Report of the Gaelic Union Journal Provisional [ 32 ]Committee having been read and adopted (see below), the following resolution was proposed and carried:—
Proposed by the Rev. M. H. Close; seconded by Rev. J. E. Nolan, and
Resolved—“That the title of the journal to be published by the Gaelic Union be changed from the Gaelic Union Journal to The Gaelic Journal.”
On account of the numerous applications for circulars and subscribers’ forms continuing to be received, the time for such applications is further prolonged to the first of next month.
The meeting adjourned to Wednesday next, at four o’clock.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
To the Council of the Gaelic Union.
Gentlemen,—Your Provisional Committee appointed at the meeting of the Council, held on Wednesday, the 18th instant, beg to submit their Report as follows:—
In accordance with the instructions which they received, your Committee duly made the necessary arrangements to invite from the various printing establishments (in a position to do so) estimates for Printing the Garlic Union journal. The Members met at No. 4 Gardiner’s-place, at eight o’clock, p.m., on the 24th instant, for the transaction of business: present, Messrs. Cusack, Comyn, and Morrin. Rev. Father Nolan, O.D.C., was also present, and gave us the benefit of his sound advice and experience.
Having compared and carefully considered the several estimates submitted, your Committee unanimously decided to recommend to the Council that the estimate of Mr. Dollard, Dame-street, be adopted.
The question of the supply of paper for the Gaelic Union Journal having also come up in connection with the estimates, your Committee decided upon strongly recommending to the Council that home manufactured paper be used in preference to paper not made in Ireland; and to further recommend that the firm of Messrs. Browne and Nolan, Nassau street, be asked to supply the paper for printing the journal, provided that they can supply such homemade paper upon equal terms with any English or Scotch firm both as regards quality and price.
Lastly, your Committee decided to recommend to the Council the advisability of having the new journal published by the Gaelic Union itself.
John Morrin, Hon. Sec. to Committee.
Michael Cusack, Hon. Treasurer, G.U.
David Comyn, Editor G. J.
The usual weekly meeting of the Council of the Gaelic Union was held at 24 D’Olier-street, on Wednesday, 1st November.
John Fleming, Esq., in the Chair.
There were also present—A. K. O’Farrell, Central Secretary National Teachers’ Association; John Morrin, Thomas Synnott, Michael Cusack, and Rev. J. E. Nolan, Hon. Sec.
A letter was received from R. Guiton, Esq., Cork, giving an account of a lecture on “The Irish Language, and why Irishmen should study it,” delivered under the auspices of the Cork Branch of the Gaelic Union, by Rev. J. Hayde, St. Patrick’s Reformatory, Upton. A large and appreciative audience attended, and frequently applauded the rev. lecturer.
The Gaelic Journal Committee reported 444 subscribers to the journal, and £35 2s. 6d. received for Reserve Fund. Rev. R. Sladen, P.P., Modeligo, Cappoquin, contributed £1, and Rev. P. Moriarty, Brosna, £2. In consequence of the foregoing and further promises of support, the Journal Committee have decided on going to press on the 6th instant. Application for subscribers’ forms is extended to the 10th of this month. Literary communications for the journal should be at once addressed to the Editor.
After having expressed their warm thanks to Eugene O’Sullivan, Esq., Abridge, England, for his successful canvass for the journal, the meeting adjourned to the 8th November, at 4 p.m.
His Grace the Archbishop of Cashel, Patron of the Gaelic Union, has addressed to Rev. John E. Nolan, O.D.C., Hon. Sec, the following letter in reference to this journal:—
“The Palace,
“Thurles, 19th Oct., 1882.
“My dear Father Nolan,—I wish to become a subscriber to the Gaelic Union Journal, which I am glad to learn is soon to make its appearance amongst us. I trust, and indeed, I feel assured, that it will be a great success. May I take the liberty of suggesting that instead of the Gaelic Union Journal you would call it simply the Gaelic Journal. The reason is obvious.
“I am, my dear Father Nolan,
“Your very faithful servant,
“☩ T W. Croke,
“Archbishop of Cashel.”
Dollard, Printer, Dame-street, Dublin.