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CSO/RP/CA/1827/6

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by William B Mahon Esq, with verbatim transcription of speech by [Daniel] O’Connell stating that ‘the particular state of the public mind’ during the preceding week accounted for so few letters having been received, such as those from Dr Kelly, Newry, County Down, in acknowledgement of 500 copies of an unnamed ‘address’; Rev [Peter] O’Reilly [Reilly], County Cavan, requesting further assistance for forty shilling freeholders in the area; and Thomas Hughes Esq, Downpatrick, County Down, stating that ‘a great deal of good’ had been done by the circulation of the address. [Remainder of item not present]. Also first 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held 2 days later at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Capt James O’Gorman [Mahon], noting contributions from 2 speakers. O’Connell read a number of letters concerning the plight of the forty shilling freeholders in counties such as Cavan, Kilkenny and Westmeath, and moved that these along with a letter received the week previously from O’Reilly, County Cavan, be referred to the finance committee. Also refers to census return from County Galway relayed in ‘very minute detail’. Mr Brett, Secretary to the Committee of Independence Dundalk, offered his thanks for the relief of the ‘gallant’ forty shilling freeholders of County Louth, which he claimed saved them from the vengeance of their ‘intolerant’ landlords, and shielded them from ‘the vindictive feelings of those who regard them as mere serfs’. [Remainder of item not present].

28 Apr 1827-30 Apr 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/7

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’ [incorrectly dated 1825], held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [John] Lawless, summarising letters read by the Secretary, identified only as ‘Mr Be–’. Letter received from P Kenny from the parish of Slieverue, County Kilkenny, regretting that ‘the collection of the Rent throughout the Country was not forwarded by that class of society to which the benefits of Emancipation would most accrue and from whom cooperation might be expected.’ Kenny argued that the decline in subscriptions was a result of the apathy of collectors, as well as ‘the lukewarmness of the Irish Gentry who acted as if they did not wish to be Emancipated.’ Also letter from Rev [John] Sheehan lamenting that no practical steps had yet been taken to protect the forty shilling freeholders from the ‘revenge’ of the Beresfords in County Waterford. [Remainder of item not present].

14 Jul 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/8

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Nicholas Mahon, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Mahon suggested that no business be done and the meeting adjourned until a later date as a mark of respect to the recently deceased [George] Canning; he described the loss of such an ‘illustrious Statesman’ as a ‘great national calamity’. Canning eulogised at length by various speakers such as [A Carew] O’Dwyer, who stated that he possessed ‘the Aristocracy of Soul [and] the nobility of genius’; and [John] Lawless, who described him as ‘one of the greatest advocates for the claims of the Catholics’ and commented that he had witnessed panegyries to him in the House of Commons from ‘the greatest Fanatics lamenting that they had not such a man associated with them’. Subsequent debate refers to a resolution that the association should formally express its regret on the death of Canning, as well as their gratitude to him in respect of his services for catholics only, and not in respect of civil and religious liberty in general as the assembly was anxious not to ‘offend’ dissenters, as it was noted that while Canning was an avid supporter of emancipation, he was considered to be opposed to the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts, at least until emancipation was secured. Motion passed, and decision made to print the resolution in newspapers in Dublin and London.

11 Aug 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/9

First 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Joseph] Burke, summarising documents read by Secretary [Edward] Dwyer. Details results of census in Fermoy, County Cork. Letter received from Rev Patrick O’Neil, stating that the collection of the catholic rent was infused ‘with a new spirit’ following the recent exertions of a Mr McGrath. Also letter from John McNamara, Moher, County Clare, stating that the Clare Liberal Club had taken up the matter of collecting the new catholic rent, and appointed parochial collectors to report on their progress. Subscriptions received from Rev Coppinger [?William Coppinger, Catholic Bishop of Cloyne] and James Allen, Secretary of the New Catholic Rent Committee in County Waterford, who also reported proceedings of a special committee meeting held on the previous Thursday evening. [Remainder of item not present].

25 Aug 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/10

First 4 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Rev [Francis J] L’Estrange, noting contributions from two speakers. Summarises letter from Rev John Sheehan, County Waterford, thanking the association for ‘half of a twenty pound note’ recently sent to him and promising an increase in the collection of the catholic rent after ‘an abundant harvest’ in the area. [A Carew] O’Dwyer argued against the ‘positively disastrous’ appointment of a new Lord Chancellor of Ireland [Sir Anthony Hart], whom he described as ‘a superannuated old woman’ who was ‘utterly incapable to discharge the functions of the office’. He stated: ‘we have had too much to do with these old Gentlemen in petticoats – we have just got rid of an odious nuisance [Thomas Manners Sutton]… when men identified with the Interests of Ireland are overlooked have we not cause of Despondancy’. [Remainder of item not present].

1 Sep 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/11

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Dominick] Ronayne, with verbatim transcription of speeches. [Frederick W] Conway argued against suggestions that catholics should abstain from petitioning parliament as it would ‘hurt their cause’ – he stated that following the recent appointment of Lansdowne [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd marquis Lansdowne, as Home Secretary], it had become more ‘incumbent on the Catholics of Ireland… [to] press their petition for Emancipation without consideration or regard to any other consequences’. Letter received from Rev Peter Reilly [O’Reilly], County Cavan, detailing the census return for his parish, the poor financial circumstances of the area, as well as the prosecution of forty shilling freeholders by the Adams family. Also letter from James Allen [Secretary of the New Catholic Rent Committee], County Waterford, regarding a dispute between the freeholders in Graigueshoneen, their landlords the Beresford family, and their agent Mr Tandy. Also letter from [Edward] Dwyer to [Robert] Logan, Catholic Bishop of Meath, and Rev O’Sheehan [Sheehan] of Youghal, County Cork, requesting copies of depositions outlining ‘the abuses of the Irish Society’. Remainder of proceedings relate to [A Carew] O’Dwyer’s suggestion that a speech by Rev Montgomery, a ‘Presbyterian of the North’ and a catholic sympathiser, be printed and published at the expense of the association. O’Dwyer highlighted Montgomery’s arguments for civil and religious liberty, as well as his arraigning of ‘those who are advocates for the indiscriminate circulation for the Scriptures and… select from them what Doctrines they please’. Conway objected and stated that while he agreed in principle with the speech, he did not wish to ‘put an authentic seal’ on its tenets. Word received during the meeting that Montgomery’s speech was already in circulation, and motion was withdrawn.

8 Sep 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/12

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Frederick W] Conway, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Rev [Francis J] L’Estrange stated that the growing phenomenon of the ‘New Reformation’ in Ireland was both worrying and controversial – he indicated that as a clergyman, he wished everyone to have liberty of conscience, but was opposed to such ‘pretended reformers’ who were creating bad feeling between catholics and protestants and ‘swindling them out of their money’. L’Estrange referred to a recent debate in the House of Lords on this topic between the earl of Winchilsea [George Finch Hatton, 10th earl of Winchilsea], the Marquis of Lansdowne [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd marquis Lansdowne] and Lord Clifden [Henry Welbore Agar Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden]. Motion passed to establish a committee to write to the catholic clergy to gather ‘authentic’ information on this issue. Lengthy speech made by Mr Casserly referring to the ‘delusive dreams of ideal freedom’ of the Irish catholics, which was eventually cut short by the Chair. Vote of thanks passed for Rev Stennett and Rev Coppinger [?William Coppinger, Catholic Bishop of Cloyne] for their subscriptions to the catholic rent, and their continued zealous support of the catholic cause. L’Estrange proposed the appointment of a committee to report on the best means of securing burial grounds for catholics ‘without their remains being liable to insult’, and stated that [Daniel] Murray [catholic archbishop of Dublin] was willing to consecrate the area once a suitable plot had been found.

15 Sep 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/13

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Michael] Staunton, summarising letter from Rev Thomas Power, Booterstown, County Dublin, submitting subscriptions from various members in the area to the sum of £5 ‘to that patriotic body… whose noble exertions for the Salvation of the Country the Pen of the Historian would direct its attention to with marks of approbation’. [Remainder of item not present].

29 Sep 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/14

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Frederick W] Conway, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Secretary [Edward] Dwyer noted that [A Carew] O’Dwyer was due to speak on communications received from [Robert] Logan [Catholic Bishop of Meath], and Rev Sheehan [O’Sheehan, Youghal, County Cork], but was not present to do so. Majority of proceedings relate to letter received from William Winter, Loughrea, County Galway outlining a recent event in the area. A local soldier, Thomas Shepy, had become seriously ill and sent for his protestant clergyman, Rev Medlicott. When Medlicott was not available, at Shepy’s request, his wife Eliza sent for a catholic clergyman, [Thomas] Coen, Catholic Bishop of Clonfert. Coen, after seeking permission from both Shepy’s commanding officer and his wife, administered to the soldier, but after a time informed him that he could go no further unless Shepy was a member of the catholic faith. When Shepy confirmed that he wanted to remain a member of the established church, Coen wished that his health would soon be restored and departed. Winter reported that in the days following this event, an ‘infamous and libellous article’ was published in the ‘Galway Independent’, claiming that Coen had ‘tortured the Dying man by his intreaties’. Hearing of this, Winter stated that Shepy, who had since fully recovered, wrote a letter to the editor of the paper to clarify the true version of events, and to express his gratitude to Coen. Winter requested that this document be published in the Dublin newspapers at the expense of the association, however the attendees voted that it was unnecessary, as ‘any attempt to cast aspersions on such a man as Doctor Coen should be only passed over in contempt’. Also letter from Rev England, Passage West, County Cork, enclosing subscription of £2. O’Dwyer noted that England was a brother of the [catholic] Bishop of Charleston [John England], who originally suggested the introduction of the catholic rent. Also report received from the Burial Grounds Committee, stating that it was in the initial stages of its investigations.

13 Oct 1827

1827

CSO/RP/CA/1827/15

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association', held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Sir Thomas Esmonde [9th Baronet Esmonde], with verbatim transcription of speeches. Outlines subscriptions to the catholic rent, including lists of names, locations and amounts, as well as those from the O’Connell family in Kerry. Census return received from the parishes of Timoleague and Kilmalooda, County Cork. Rev [Francis J] L’Estrange explained that the law [Burial (Ireland) Act, 1824] had necessitated the allocation of separate grounds where catholic burial rites could be performed without ‘vexations’. He reported the findings of the Burial Grounds Committee, stating that it had the full support and cooperation of Daniel Murray, catholic archbishop of Dublin. He outlined that at a committee meeting on 23 October chaired by Murray, it was decided that any surplus funds remaining after the establishment of new burial grounds would be donated to a ‘Model School’ for national education. He also clarified that any new burial grounds allocated would not be designated solely for catholics, but that ‘the members of every Sect shall have the same right of Burial… and the Clergymen of their respective Churches shall have the same right of officiating which we claim for ourselves’. Motion of thanks to Murray passed unanimously. Further explanation of the particulars relating to the burial law in Ireland provided by [Daniel] O’Connell, who commented that it had been ‘ludicrously enough called the Easement Burial Bill’. O’Connell also expressed his anger at the way in which Lord Plunkett [William Plunkett, 1st Baron Plunkett] was appointed successor to Lord Norbury [John Toler, 1st earl of Norbury] as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Notice given by O’Connell of a vote of thanks to Eneas MacDonnell for his defence of the catholic religion in response to claims made by a group of ‘Biblicals’, and to [Michael] Staunton, for printing MacDonnell’s letter in his paper. Also notice given of motions to discuss the recent emigration report at future meetings, with a comment by O’Connell that ‘Ireland instead of being overpopulated has not one third of what she is capable of supporting’.

27 Oct 1827

1827