1894-95-3 22 7 



28 March, 1895. 



This evening an entertainment of Irish music and readings 

 was given in the large hall of the Y.M.C.A., Wellington Place, 

 and, though the weather was of the most wintry character, 

 there was a very large audience. J. St. Clair Boyd, M.D., one of 

 the conductors of the Celtic Class, read the following report: — 



In presenting the third annual report of our Celtic Class, I 

 have to record an increasing interest in the study of Irish and 

 an increase in the number of our students. The members have 

 this year been divided into an elementary and an advanced class. 

 The former meets in the Club's rooms on Monday evenings, 

 at 7-30, and has been under the care of George Gibson 

 and myself; our average attendance at this class is 16, one- 

 third being ladies, and to give an idea of the people who study 

 with us, I may say that the class includes doctors of law and of 

 medicine, clergymen, teachers, students, a number of officers 

 from H.M.'s Customs, etc., etc. The elementary class has this 

 year had the advantage of Professor O'Growney's " Simple 

 Lessons in Irish," which is superior to anything heretofore 

 published for beginners; we have read the 1st Book of these, 

 and, in addition, have finished reading the 1st and 2nd Books 

 published by the " Society for the Preservation of the Irish 

 Language." The advanced class meets after the other at 8-30, 

 and is conducted by P J. O'Shea; it numbers about 7, all fluent 

 speakers of Irish, in addition to the 16 from the elementary 

 class, who invariably remain for it. Our largest attendance for 

 the Session of our combined classes was 33 — the advanced class 

 read Keating's History of Ireland, and did exercises and con- 

 versation. I may here say that the study of Irish has been 

 most interesting and fascinating for us all, and that we fully 

 appreciate the kindness of our Irish-speaking members who 

 assist and encourage us in acquiring this fine old tongue. 



I am sure P. J. O'Shea must feel proud of the success of 

 this movement which he originated in connection with the 

 B.N.F.C, and we are all delighted at the great impetus which 



