Blair Collection > Gaelic journal > Volume 1, number 1

THE GAELIC JOURNAL.
199
Irish people (even if there only remained the Irish Na-
tional Teachers to remind them) would peimit such a
patriotic undertaking to languish for want of supporters
and subscribers. True, the subscription is sixpence per
month, but he who cannot spare tliat amount for such a
purpose "will never set the Liffey on fire," much less
the "lordly Shannon," or the "pleasant waters of the
River Lee." We make no doubt that many a copy will
also find its way towards "Lough Neagh's Banks," and
away "'mid the grey mountains of dark Donegal," that
youthful lovers of the old language will be found buried
in the pages of the Gaelic Journal. We have observed one
suggestion in the columns of our contemporary, the
Freeman, which, by-the way is loud in its praises of the
progress made by tlie G.xelic Union, viz. — that the next
number of the Journal should begin a series of lessons in
the Irish language. We are aware that it was not an
easy matter to do this in the first number, but such will,
in all likelihood, be expected, whether as a continuation
of the published series of "Easy Lessons," ur independent
of them. But in any case we are quite certain that the
right thing will be done, and we join the popular chorus
in wishing the GaeUc Journal a hearty welcome and many
" Happy and prosperous New Years."
The '• N.íiTTON."
Many of our readers will be glad to learn that the first
number of the long-expected Gaelic Journal has at last
made its appearance. The publication is one highly cre-
ditable to its founders and conductors. It is well pnnird
on good paper, and its contents are varied and instructive.
We have Gaelic prose and Gaelic verse, English prose
and English verse, on Gaelic subjects, and several mi^cel-
laneous articles. Amongst the productions in the verna-
cular Mr. John Fleming's essay on the "The Irish Lan-
guage in the Nineteenth Century," Mr. 0"Neili's Russell's
paper on "The State of the Irish and other Tongues in
the United States," the first two chapters of a new bio-
graphy of Dr. MacHale by Canon Bourke, and the Rev.
J. J. Carroll's poem, entitled "Brian Boru before his
Last Battle," are worthy ol particular attention, but will,
of course, be best appreciated by those who have an ac-
quaintance with the Irish language. Of the contributions
in English, Father O'CarroH's essay on the Ossianic
poems, the essay on " The Teaching of Irish," and Miss
Tynan's verses entitled "Resurgam," will all be read with
pleasure and profit We cannot omit calling special atten-
tion to the fact that Mr. David Comyn has been
chosen editor of the Journal ; and in conclusion we heartily
join in the hope that gentleman expresses that the enter-
prise on which he and his colleagues of the Gaehc Union
have so bravely embarked, will not be allowed to fail for
want of adequate support from the Irish public.
The "Weekly Freeman and Irish Agriculturist."
The appearance of the new venture of the Gaelic Union,
entitled the Gaelic Journal, ought, if properly supported,
to form an epoch in the history of the modern literature.
The names of the writers are a guarantee of good work,
and the quality of the articles contained in the first num-
ber of the journal corresponds to the reputation of the
writers in the field of Celtic learning and literature. The
first article by Mr. Flemmg, a veteran Irish scholar, on
the Gaelic in the 19th Century is written in very classical
Irish, and contains a very interesting discussion of the sub-
ject as well as of All Hallow E'en observances. The Rev.
James O'Carroll, well known both as a general linguist,
and especially as a Celtic scholar, contributes a monologue
in Iri^h blank verse, with a translation both elegant and
smooth. The writer, known as "An Chraobhin Aobhinn,"
contributes a short poem on the new venture, and a longer
one on the death of the late Archbishop of Tuam ; while
Canon U. J. Bourke hasthe two first chapters of his Irish
life of the same dignitary in a revised form. This is au
entirely different work from the English life. A poem on
the Iiish revival, by " Leath Chiunn," and a very interest-
ing letter, by O'Neill Russell, on the present state of the
Irish and other languages in the United States of Ame-
rica, complete the list of contributions in the Irish lan-
guage. In addition, we have reviews or criticism in Welsh
from the periodical " Vr Haul," and a very friendly notice
in Scotch Gaelic. Among the articles in English is the
first of a series on the Ossianic Poems, by the Rev. James
O'Carroll, a subject formerly so warmly debated by lite-
rary men, and which the writer bandies with the sure
grasp of thorough knowledge. The article on the teach-
ing of Irish, which is anonymous, contains some very
home truths, to which consideration is seldom directed.
The poem entitled " Resurgam " has already appeared
elsewhere, and it is the only portion of the journal not
quite novel. The remarks of the editor on the contents of
the journal, and those of Mr. Fleming on the article in the
London Times, contain much information not genei'slly in
the possession of the mass of our people, and therefore
the fresher and more interesting to all those who have any
concern for them. The arlicles quoted from the Times and
Jersey Obsen'er tend to show, if nothing else, at least the
amount of ignorance of the English press of Irish subjects.
The reports of the Gaelic Union, which conclude the
paper, show the practical efP.rts of that society in the
cause of modem Celtic literature. We think that, every
Irishman who cares for the language of his country, whe-
ther he is fortunate enough to understand it or not,
should lend a hand in support of the effort now being made
in such a spirited and disinterested manner to revive that
veneraljle tongue still spoken by nearly a million of our
people, and the purest and best representative of tlie pri-
mitive Indo-European language of these countries — a lan-
guage beautiful in itself, and ende.rred to us by its asso.
We welcome the first appearance of the Gaelic Journa
with our warmest thanks to the Irish scholars who have
brought it forth with such bright promise of a long and
prosperous life. In its pure green cover it looks hand-
some and happy, as though it were confident of a length-
ened existence. We earnestly hope that its career will be
the fulfilment of its auspicious advent. The type in which
its truly Irish ideas are arrayed is clear cut and beautiful.
The articles are lucidly written in the best and purest
Gaelic, and easily read by students of the language. There
are also some English compositions in the page>. A sweet
pathetic poem by Miss Tynan is admirably suited for the
initial number. The editor's words express our own con-
clusion after glancing through the pages of this patriotic
venture of Irish literature : " It will be strange, indeed,
if this journal should be allowed to languish and die."