The Leinster Express September 11th, 1875
"On Saturday afternoon, a fete was given by the Earl of Portarlington to
about 500 young people, the children of his lordship's Queen's County tenantry.
The fete was of annual recurrence during the lifetime of the late Countess of
Portarlington. Emo Park and all its surroundings is one of the things the county
is proud of, and at this period it is in all its autumnal beauty. Under the
influence of fine weather, it was a treat indeed to behold the magnificent park,
the portion of which selected for these festivities was in the centre of a large
opening in the fine old timber close to the Emo village entrance.
Two large marquees, tastefully decorated with flags, flowers and evergreens,
were erected. The principal tent set apart for the local gentry and ladies who
visited the fete, was very handsomely laid out. At the head of the table was
a banner bearing the arms of Lord Portarlington, with the motto 'Vitae via Virtus'.
The hearty Irish words Cead Mile Failte were inscribed on a side screen and
were rendered into brief English 'Welcome' on the other side. The second tent
was capable of accommodating a large number of people, and the tables were loaded
with an abundance of good things.At each end of the tent were beautifully executed
scrolls, on which were inscribed 'Long live the Earl of Portarlington' and 'Long
live the House of Portarlington'. Mr Ennis, the gardener, expended some of his
skill on the decorations with an excellent result.
The children were first treated to tea, cake and fruit etc, and after them many
of the tenantry refreshed themselves in a like manner. Sports, foot-races, games
of a great variety, swings, and dances - the inevitable fiddler having been
secured - were enjoyed during the remainder of the evening. Occasionally the
exuberant feeling of the people manifested itself in ringing cheers for the
noble entertainer, as he moved amongst them with a gracious word for everybody.
The band of the Queen's County Royal Rifles was in attendance, and played a
well-selected programme.
When darkness set in and the dancing was over, Messrs Lawrence of Sackville
Street, Dublin, gave a brilliant display of fireworks. A very handsomely designed
piece of pyrotechny concluded the day's amusement, and in letters of varied
coloured fire, "Safe Home" reminded everybody on the ground that earthly
pleasures must always have an end. The people then made the park ring with their
cheers for the Earl of Portarlington, and dispersed to their homes in good order."