The Tuam Herald, Saturday, March 27, 1909 Tuam, Co Galway ---------- PITHY PARS. - Personal, Parochial Provincial and Particular Canon John J. Brenan is son of the late J. Brenan, by Miss Conway, daughter of the late Samuel Conway, esq. of Claremorris. His Hon Sec and Treasurer of the Associated Catholic Charities of London, and was for 24 years at our Lady of the Rosary, Marlebone Road, London. He is a member of the Westminster Chapter from 1901, and is now Rector of Our Lady's Grove Toad, since 1908. ---------- Dr. John Bligh, J. P., for Liverpool, and one of its leading doctors, was born at Castlehackett, near Tuam, in 1840. He was educated at the Queen's College, Galway, where he had for fellow-students, Lord MacDonnell, Sir Andrew Reed, Dr. John Conway, R. N., and T. P. O'Con- M. P. Dr. Bligh is an M. D. M. Ch. Of the Queen's University, and was the first man in Ireland to take the degree of Master in Surgery. He is physician to the Mount Pleasant Training College, and to the Sisters of Charity. hE is a keen student and reader of Irish. In 1876 he married Frances Mary, daughter of Frederick Harris, of Liverpool. With his elder brother, Dr. A. M. Bligh, he has been for a generation the promoter of Irish and Catholic works in Liverpool, "giving priceless services without price" to the clergy and poor. His father was Patrick Bligh, Esq., of Castlehackett; and his other brother the late Matthew Bligh, Esq, of Castlehackett, was well known in these parts. His widow lives at Castlehackett. ---------- His Honour Judge Matthia McDonnell Bodkin, K. C., was born in 1850 at Eastland House, Tuam, son of the late Dr. Thomas Bodkin. He was educated at St. Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, and at the Catholic University, Stephen's Green. He was Gold Medallist of the Dublin Law Students' Debating Society; sat in Parliament for North Roscommon in the Nationalist interest retiring in 1901. Besides having had a busy practice at the Bar he has contributed largely to journalism,; is the author of novels, including "Pat o' Nine Tails," "White Magic," "The Rebels," and in earlier days was a successful athlete. He married in 1885 Arabella, daughter of Francis Norman, of Dublin. ---------- Father William Bodkin, S. J., was born in 1867, educated at Stonyhurst, took his Divinity course at St. Brunos; went abroad for a year and then returned to Stonyhurst to teach; entered the Society in 1884; established and directed the Catholic Grammar School, Leeds, succeeded Father Pedro Gordon as Rector of Stonyhurst in 1907. His father was James Bodkin, R. M., son of the late John Bodkin, Esq. M.P., of Kilclooney. ---------- The "Colleen" is a new claimant for Irish favour, and judging from the numbers we have seen, it well deserves support. It is a high class publication, containing matters of interest for its readers. ---------- In the pages of that pleasant publication, the "Irish Packet" for last week, we notice a sweet poem on "The Sea" from the pen of Mrs. Anna K. Ruttledge, "Bank" House, Clifden, a well known writer of poems and stories. ---------- As we announced some weeeks ago, the County Galway Hunt (The Blazers) point to point races have been fixed for the 30th March, over a fine sporting course, that of Gurranes, which up to a few years ago was the annual scene of the Tuam Races. A light weight, welter, ladies', and a farmers' race for £15, second to receive £3 cut of stake presented by the members of the Co. Galway Hunt for horses the bona fide property of farmers under £100 valuation residing in the hunting district.