Page:The Gael Vol XXII January to December 1903.djvu/127

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PROCESSION of enormous dimensions, organized by the Gaelic League, with the object of marking the opening of the Irish Language Week and stimulating public interest in and support for its work, took place through the streets of Dublin on Sunday, March 15th last, being witnessed by immense crowds all along the line of route. The procession was marked by the utmost orderliness and splendid organization, and occupied two hours passing any given point.

The pictures given herewith are reproductions of snap-shots taken by our Dublin correspondent and show the procession passing through O'Connell Street.

Afterwards most of the processionists and a large number who had been sympathetic spectators of the scene assembled at Smithfield, where a public meeting was held, at which an address In Irish by Dr. Douglas Hyde was delivered. The proceedings, both at the immense street parade and at the public meeting, constituted a splendid testimony to the success of the work and organization of the Gaelic League.

The desire to make St. Patrick's Day a National holiday has been growing apace during the past year particularly. The Gaelic League have been busy propagating the idea, and bringing it to its present advanced position. The business people were asked to close their shops and offices, and most of them complied cheerfully with the request.

The majority of the shops closed, thus throwing those which remained open into unwonted prominence. It must be said that there existed some doubt in the minds of some of the business people as to which was the better course to adopt.

There was no very definite program to go by, and it was not difficult to understand the attitude of vacillation which some of the traders in the city held. On the other hand, there were many large business concerns whose managers never hesitated as to the right course to pursue. They fell in at once with the suggestion to make St Patrick's Day a holiday in the fullest sense of the word, and the feeling is growing that before the next anniversary comes round, even without the force of the Act of Parliament, which will soon be passed, the whole population will agree to make the day a general and a national holiday.

 HE occupations or avocations of the most prominent Gaelic Leaguers in Ireland are as follows: Mr. J. P. Craig is professor of Irish in St Eunan's Seminary, Letterkenny; Mr. James J. Ahern, B.A., is professor of Irish and mathematics in the De La Salle Training College, Waterford; the Rev. Dr. Michael O'Hickey is professor of Irish in Maynooth College; Mr. J. J. O'Kelly teaches Irish at Newbridge College; Mr. Osborn J. Bergin is tutor of Irish at the Queen's College, Cork.