Song of Welcome to the Archbishop of Cashel
From the Children of the Presentation Convent, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry On the occasion of his
Laying of the corner stone in the O’Connell Memorial Church 1st August 1888
Papal approval for the construction of the Daniel O'Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross was secured from Pope Leo XIII, in January 1884. He gifted a block of travertine weighing over 4 cwt. which had stood for nearly 2000 years in the vaults of the mansion of San Clemente in Rome as the cornerstone for the building along with the following proclamation. ‘We highly approve the project of building a new temple in that place in which the great champion of the Catholic religion, Daniel O’Connell, was born, and we most willingly in the Lord bestow the Apostolic Benediction upon you and upon all who contribute their aid and assistance to it.’ He also presented a Sidonian marble from the Catacombs of St. Domitilla, Virgin & Martyr inscribed with the Papal Approval. The cornerstone was laid on behalf of the Holy Father by the Archbishop of Cashel on 1st August 1888. The Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross was designed by George C. Ashlin and completed in 1902 with the first Mass said on December 14th by the Rev. Fr. J. O’Sullivan.
Source: Máire Bean Uí Shé (Private Collection)
To the West, to the West, where the ocean rolls free,
A céad míle fáilte our hearts give to thee;
To the old and the young, to the grave and the gay,
Our worthy Archbishop is welcome today.
How heartfelt our joy is, ah, words cannot tell,
To see the Archbishop we all love so well;
The friend of our country, the friend tried and true,
To whom our most grateful affections are due.
Chorus
To the West, to the West, where the ocean rolls free,
A cead mile failte our hearts give to thee;
To the old and the young, to the grave and the gay,
Our worthy Archbishop is welcome today.
To the West, to the West, where the strong breezes sweep,
In their wild, headlong courses across the broad deep.
Where the heath-covered hills stand in stately array,
Our much lov’d Archbishop is welcome today.
We greet thee with gladness, we greet thee with song;
We offer a homage of love pure and strong;
A prayer that thy spirit may longer to see,
The land of your heart’s love “Great, glorious and free!”
Chorus
To the West, to the West, where an old ruin shows,
The spot where the mighty O’Connell arose.
To check the bold strides of “the powers that be”
A whole-hearted welcome we give unto thee.
Our brave Liberator! Oh, would he were here!
How gladly he’d join in the grand Irish cheer.
Which bursts forth from thousands in high jubilee,
Awak’ning the echoes from hilltop to sea.
Chorus
To the West, to the West, so far, far away,
As Leo’s Vicegerent you come here today,
To lay in this temple the now famous stone,
He sent from the house of St. Clement’s in Rome.
We cherish this mark of his Fatherly love,
And promise a life-long affection shall prove,
Hath the faith we profess is as pure and as strong,
As the faith of our Fathers in Cashel and Cong.
Chorus
To the West, to the West, to our bold rock-bound shore,
We pray that your Grace will return once more.
To devote to God’s service this grand, noble pile-
The O’Connell Memorial - the Gem of the Isle.
Long, long may you live; may you taste even here
The joys that await in a happier sphere.
May the griefs of dear Ireland, that press upon thee,
Be banished forever from centre to sea.
Chorus