The Executive Committee

The usual weekly meeting was held on Tuesday the 7th inst., the Rev. M. P. Hickey, D.D., M.R.I.A., in the chair, and there were also present—Miss O'Donovan, Miss Borthwick; Messrs. Barrett, Keawell, Pearse, Casey, Hogan, O'Finn, and O'Donoghue.

With reference to a collection of Irish songs and airs, which it is in contemplation to produce for the League, Mr. W. H. Grattan Flood wrote suggesting that it should consist of from twenty-five to thirty really good old airs, with the original Irish words where-ever practicable.

They should be given in chronological order from the I3th century down, with a prefatory note stating the author, the composer, and other interesting particulars. To make the book more generally useful, both the staff notation and the sol-fa system would be employed, and a moderately easy pianoforte accompaniment would be added. Mr. Flood also wrote that a branch of the League would be established in Enniscorthy after Lent, and meanwhile he is himself conducting a free class.

The Rev. John Hayde, St. Peter's, Cardiff, in forwarding a further subscription for An Claíomh Solais, wrote:— “When this paper is well established I shall send something for a Text Fund. This, as Professor Rhys and other competent authorities point out, is a great need.. With regard to good text books for schools, even the Welsh are much behindhand. The scholars of Jesus College, Oxford, and others trained or inspired by Professor Rhys, are now fast supplying a long felt want.

I think you have done wonders, considering the many and terrible difficulties you have had to surmount, and the many which are still in the way. If we could only get some of our well-meaning, but short-sighted countrymen, and especially some of the clergy, to see that the bitterest enemies of the Irish language movement are so because they are the enemies of true Irish nationality and welfare, your cause would soon be won.”

The Liverpool branch forwarded its affiliation fee, and the usual monthly reports were sent in from the O'Growney (Belfast), Blackrock, Eyeries, Killfarboy, Kilmihil, Lacken, Letterkenny, Limerick, and Liverpool Branches, all of which were of a very encouraging character. Programmes of Gaelic celebrations on St. Patrick's Day were received from the Blackrock, London, and Newry, and Belfast branches, and were viewed with much satisfaction.    

The following subscriptions were received:—Rev. Lawrence O'Byrne, GC., Bray, £1 ; Francis Heron, M.D., Blackrock, £1. The Hon. Mary Spring-Rice, Mount Trenchard, Foynes ; Miss Helena Walsh, Loretto Convent, North Great George's-street, Dublin ; Rev. L. Oiliyrne, CC., Bray ; Louis J. Walsh, 61 North Strand-road, Dublin ; George Clancy, 21 Grantham street, Dublin ; and Christopher O'Growney, 21 Lower O'Connell-street, Dublin, were elected members.

Miss Margaret Fox, 7 Upper Camden-street ; Patrick Doherty, 61 -North Strand-road; John Doherty, 61 North Strand-road, and Daniel J. Boyle, 60 Shelbourne-road, Dublin, were elected associates: A resolution, of which notice had been given at the previous meeting, was passed, appointing a publication committee to take charge of the production of Intermediate texts and Irish books, pamphlets, and similar publications of the League.

Attention having been drawn to the defective methods of teaching Irish used in some localities, it is proposed to treat this subject in the early numbers of An Claíomh Solais. The accidence of the Irish Grammar which is being drawn up by members of the Committee is now in a forward state; the manuscript is completed, and will shortly be ready for the Press, and the book will be issued before the beginning of next school year. Having transacted other formal business the Committee adjourned until Tuesday the 14th.