He wished well to his Protestant fellow-countrymen, and hoped that in the bright future which lay before Ireland men of all creeds would be united in working for the common good of their country.
These sentiments were not received with vociferous applause.

The audience was perfectly well aware that something much more to the point was coming, and reserved their cheers.

Father Fahey did not disappoint them.

He proceeded to show that the appointment of the new station-master was a deliberate insult to the faith of the inhabitants of Clogher.
'Are we,' he asked, 'to submit tamely to having the worst evils of the old ascendancy revived in our midst ?' He was followed by the dispensary doctor, who also began by declaring his freedom from bigotry.

He confused the issue slightly by complaining that the new station-master was entirely ignorant of the Irish language.
It was perfectly well known that in private life the doctor was in the habit of expressing the greatest contempt for the Gaelic League, and that he could not, if his life depended on it, have translated even Mr.
O'Reilly's advertisements; but his speech was greeted with tumultuous cheers.