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CSO/RP/CA/1828/12

Memorandum of a meeting by unknown author entitled 'Proceedings of the Aggregate Meeting of Catholics', held at the Church of St Teresa, Clarendon Street, Dublin, chaired by Lord Killeen [Arthur James Plunkett, 9th earl of Fingall], with verbatim transcription of speeches. Gratitude of assembly formally expressed to Secretary Nicholas P [Purcell] O’Gorman for his ‘most zealous, earnest and strai[gh]t forward manner’. Motion also passed to express the ‘affectionate gratitude’ of the association to Sir Francis Burdett [5th Baronet], who had argued in favour of the catholic cause at a recent debate in the House of Commons and won a ‘valuable’ vote from the son of the Lord Lieutenant [William Paget, son of Henry Paget]. Referring to the debate, Killeen asked ‘why has our cause always triumphed by discussion? Because it is founded on reason, justice and truth’. Lengthy debate surrounding the wording of a resolution passed to express the gratitude of the association for the favourable outcome of the recent debate, namely that the ‘triumph’ felt by catholics was not a triumph over their protestant countrymen, but over ‘that principle that has darkened the Country for ages’. [Daniel] O’Connell also spoke at length in the form of a ‘catechism’ on the current state of catholic affairs in Ireland; following ‘seven centuries of desolation and oppression’, he declared that Ireland had ‘arrived at the morning of freedom’. Remainder of proceedings refer to debate surrounding the holding of simultaneous meetings around Ireland on Sunday 15 June. Various counterarguments put forward outlining that such a ‘mighty’ tool had served its purpose in demonstrating catholic unity; that it should not be overused by the association; and that in light of the current political environment it could be perceived as an act of intimidation. Motion eventually carried, as well as motion put forward by O’Connell to write to the clergy for their cooperation in adopting the resolutions passed at the meeting. Decided that a 14 day meeting be convened in a fortnight, and meeting adjourned.

20 May 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/13

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Lawrence White Esmonde Esq, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Requisition read by Secretary [Patrick] Costello, calling the meeting for the purpose of discussing the ‘legal and constitutional measures as may be best suited to the honour and interest of the Catholic body in the present most critical and arduous posture of public affairs’. Requisition contained 28 signatories: John Archibald; Roger Hayes; Thomas Fuin; Pat Costello; Thomas Cloney; John Brown[e]; FW Conway; Peter Loughnan; Maurice O’Connell; Christopher Fitzsimon; John Redmond; Edmund O’Mara; Michael Staunton; W Hutchinson; Daniel O’Connell; Thomas Steele; Richard [Lalor] Sheil; H Bridgeman; Richard Walsh; John Lawless; Stephen Coppinger; Pierse Ronayne; Thomas L Behan; Joseph Burke; James Dillon; John Ennis; Dr WH O’Connell; and G O’Connell. Noted that admission to the meeting cost 1s. [Remainder of item not present].

4 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/14

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Adjourned Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Pierse Ronayne Esq, with verbatim transcription of speech by [Daniel] O’Connell concerning 33 Irish members of parliament who voted against catholic interests during a recent debate [in the House of Commons]. He proposed the rejection of most of these members, but noted that not all of them could be rejected as some ‘represent their own money and one of them represents the Bishop of Armagh [Lord John George de la Poer Beresford, Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh]’. He commented further that there was ‘little chance’ of the association gaining the support of the bishop. He also noted four counties in which opposition was strongest, including Antrim, Cavan and Fermanagh [remainder of item not present].

5 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/15

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Adjourned Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by John Lawless, with verbatim transcription of speech by Secretary [Stephen] Coppinger concerning the recent misrepresentation in the ‘Catholic Journal’ of a speech made by [William] McDermott at a catholic meeting in London. Coppinger explained that he had defended McDermott’s character at a meeting the previous Wednesday. He declared that ‘there was not a more public spirited, independent or estimable Catholic in Ireland’, and noted that McDermott had since written to the editor. [Remainder of item not present].

11 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/16

First 2 pages of a memorandum [fragment] providing eye-witness account of a meeting of the ‘New Catholic Association’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [Thomas] Steele, with verbatim transcription of speech by [John] Lawless stating that it was ‘one of the most interesting days on which we have ever assembled’, and calling on attendees not to interfere with reporters present, as ‘there would be no necessity for our meeting unless the Gentlemen who take the trouble to report, and generally speaking with great [accuracy] what is said by us, [have] sufficient room, and all [the] opportunities that men performing a duty to the public [have a right] to enjoy’. Letter received from Maurice James, Fellow of Corpus Christi College in Oxford, enclosing a subscription of £5 ‘so long as the need shall last and no law forbid’. [Remainder of item not present].

14 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/17

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Adjourned Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, with verbatim transcription of speech by Chair William McDermott concerning letter received that morning from Eneas MacDonnell. Writing from Kilmainham prison, MacDonnell stated that although he was currently in a position of ‘irritation’ rather than influence in the eyes of parliament, he argued that it was ‘not a little hazardous to recommend any popular act that would expose our injured and sensitive countrymen to the action of such excitement at the present moment while smarting under such recent afflictions’. [Remainder of item not present].

16 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/18

Memorandum [fragment] providing eye-witness account of a ‘Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, concerning a requisition appearing in the morning newspapers entitled ‘County Clare Election’ calling the meeting for the purpose of discussing ‘the intended contested Election’. Noted that the meeting ‘was intended to be private… and that the nature of the proceedings to be adopted were not meant to be divulged’. Meeting continued in private session.

20 Jun 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/19

Memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Richard O’Gorman Esq, with verbatim transcription of speeches. Requisition read by Secretary Mr Lynch, calling the meeting for the purpose of considering ‘such constitutional measures as may lead to the advancement of the great cause of civil and religious liberty’. Letter received from Daniel O’Connell (referred to as ‘The Liberator’ by [Rev Francis J] L’Estrange) concerning the upcoming election in County Clare. He reported: ‘I am just twenty four hours out of bed – such a day was never known – I spoke to upwards of five hundred thousand persons from time to time – I have every reason to be satisfied that victory is certain’. L’Estrange claimed that an agent of [William Vesey] Fitzgerald [2nd Baron Fitzgerald and Vesey] had stated that his heart was broken as he could not ‘get one single freeholder to vote in his favour’. Both [Stephen] Coppinger and [JA] Curren lamented the lack of information received from Clare on a matter of ‘such mighty importance’, while [Michael] Staunton reported that he had written to numerous innkeepers in Ennis instructing them to spare no expense in communicating the progress of the election to Dublin. Also outlines subscriptions to the catholic rent, including lists of names, locations and amounts, including those submitted by Sir Francis MacDonnell; Eneas MacDonnell; James Dillon, a catholic church warden in Clara, [County Offaly]; Rev Campbell, Saggart, [County Dublin]; and an initial sum of £100 submitted by Mr Lyons from County Cork, who stated that the North and South parishes of the county would be meeting in the coming days, and that he expected several more hundreds of pounds to be collected as ‘nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of the people of Cork on this new light thrown on Catholic affairs by the Clare election’.

1 Jul 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/20

First 2 pages of a memorandum providing eye-witness account of a ‘Adjourned Separate Meeting of Catholics’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by Bartholomew Corballis Esq, with verbatim transcription of financial report by [Michael] Staunton, noting donations such as: £3 for the patriotic fund ‘for carrying on the Clare contest’; £2 10s in rent from a group of 40-50 mechanics and labourers; and £8 from Rev C Hickey, parish priest in Doon, [County Clare]. Also refers to a proposed election in County Galway, involving James Daly who was ‘about to be elevated to the Peerage’ [1st Baron Dunsandle and Clanconal, new creation 1845]. [Remainder of item not present].

3 Jul 1828

1828

CSO/RP/CA/1828/21

Memorandum of meeting entitled 'Proceedings of the Adjourned Chapter of the Order of Liberators’, held at the Corn Exchange, Dublin, chaired by [A] Carew O’Dwyer, who read the proceedings of the previous meeting. Meeting adjourned until Wednesday 19 July.

4 Jul 1828

1828