CHAPTER XXIII.

THE GAELIC REVIVAL—­THOMAS DAVIS—­CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY—­ANGLO-IRISH LITERATURE—­THE IRISH DRAMA—­DRAMATISTS AND ACTORS.

One effect of the disturbance in political work caused by the split seemed to be the impetus given to existing movements which, so far as politics were concerned, were neutral ground.  Chief amongst these was the Gaelic League, which from its foundation advanced by leaps and bounds and brought to the front many fine characters.

Francis Fahy was one of the first Presidents of the Gaelic League of London, and there is no doubt but the Irish language movement in the metropolis owes much to his influence and indefatigable exertions.

I first made his acquaintance over twenty-five years ago, when he was doing such splendid Irish propagandism in the Southwark Irish Literary Club, of which, although he had able and enthusiastic helpers, he was the life and soul.  He has written many songs and poems, which have been collected and published.  What is, perhaps, one of the raciest and most admired of his songs, “The Quid Plaid Shawl,” first appeared in the “Nationalist” for February 7th, 1885, a weekly periodical which I was publishing at the time.  Several stirring songs of great merit by other members of the society also appeared in its pages.  Indeed, the members came to look upon the “Nationalist” as their own special organ, and ably written and animated accounts of their proceedings appeared regularly in its columns.  I also published a song book for them, compiled by Francis Fahy, chiefly for the use of their younger members.

An active Gaelic Leaguer, who did much for the success of the movement in London, was William Patrick Ryan.  He wrote a “Life of Thomas Davis” for “Denvir’s Monthly,” a sort of revival of my “Irish Library.”  This book was very favourably received by the press.  The “Liverpool Daily Post” gave it more than a column of admirable criticism, evidently from the pen of the editor himself, Sir Edward Russell.  In it was the following kindly reference to myself:  “Our present pleasing duty is to recognise the labours of Mr. Denvir—­efforts in such a cause are always touchingly beautiful—­as an inculcator of national sentiment; to illustrate the genuine literary interest and value of the first booklet of his new library; and to wish the library a long and useful, and in every way successful vogue.”

Another active man in the language movement in London, whose acquaintance I was glad to renew when I first came to the metropolis, is Doctor Mark Ryan.