St. Patrick’s day. Turned out rather unsettled, with showers, rather discouraging for many, as crowds were going to Dublin, Fräulein Engelmann and Irmah also. Heard Mass at 9.30, and then went to High Mass at Cathedral. Pembauer’s Mass was sung. It is a beautiful work, really devotional and mystic, and the choir sung it gloriously. The organ, built now about two years, is a wonderful instrument. ((A new organ was installed in the cathedral in 1924 by the renowned Walcker organ builders of Ludwigsburg. Due to the collapse of the German economy after the war, Fleischmann senior was able to negotiate terms with the firm which the cathedral could afford. The organ was shipped to Ireland during the civil war; a strike in Cork prevented its being unloaded; a year later it was discovered undamaged on a Belfast quay.)) Went to Arthur for dinner, and afterwards cycled to see some castles. We visited one tower or castle every week last Spring, and it was very interesting. This was the first excursion this year, and we went to Ballincollig Castle, Kilcrea Castle, a stately, well-built, and well-preserved keep, and Kilcrea Abbey, formerly a monastery, and now quite in ruins, though very interesting. Came home dead tired, but delighted. It is incredible, but there will no longer be a procession on St. Patrick’s Day in Cork. The last was an ex-soldiers’ one! Not even that much honour to their glorious saint!
