Category Archives: Clare

Munster News, Limerick & Clare Advocate : Extracts

The Munster News and Limerick and Clare advocate
Wednesday August 24, 1887

Sheriff’s Sale 
Robert Conway Dobbs Plaintiff
John O’Brien, Defendant
Farm of land at Knockgreen, Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick rent £220 a year.
H.S.J. Massy, Sheriff for the Co. of Limerick.


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The Allen, Larkin & O’Brien Memorial Committee called in all collecting cards with amount collected on them by 1st Steptember.

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Old hay, Rye grass and Clover for sale. : S. E. Collis, Tieraclea, Tarbert.

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The Proclamation Debate.
The debate on the Proclamation of the National League, which will come on in the House of Commons on Thursday night next, on Mr. Gladstone’s motion for an
Address to the Queen asking her to reverse the process will be one of the most important for this country that has ever taken place in any assemblage in
England……..

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Father Shannon and the drought (River Shannon in drought)
”How long has you on this planet my man?”
”Well, I was born in the year 1799, sir.”
Then you are 88 years of age. Now, tell me did you ever see the Shannon so low during all that time?
Well, sir, I know it well ; I was thirty years boss of a canal boat and I ought to know, and I never saw so little water in the river before.”

The scene of the foregoing conversation was the south bank of the Shannon at Killaloe ; the day, Sunday last, and the speakers a very old country man, and the citizens of Limerick who related the occurrence to us. He was expressing his wonder at the state to which the mighty Shannon was reduced all the way down
to limerick, and he could have applied his words to its condition for many miles below the city as well. It is so shallow at Killaloe, and at places near Castleconnell that it is really almost possible to walk across dry shod. At Limerick, about Corbally and below, between the bridges, there are also
extraordinary shallows or complete absence of water ; but still farther down is a more astonishing result of the drought, for at one point of the river about a mile below the quays, the mud has so silted up, that if it had consistency enough to bear, a person might walk from one bank to the other. Of course this
is entirely the result of the continued dry weather, the falling away in the quantities water in the upper stretches of the river and complete drying up of some of its tributaries. It is more remarkable at present than before as the Spring tides strip to such a great extent, and when they are now coming in they rush up headed by a (boar) at a rate that sweeps mud and everything else before them at a furious pace. During the first hour of the tide on Saturday and Sunday, the water must have risen nearly nine feet at the quays, but when it had fully ebbed again the beds and banks cleared as before. We read in an old history before us that as far back as 1667 Father Shannon conducted himself in a somewhat similar style and a poetic record in its pages says :-
“A drought excessive came, it was so great.
The Shannon from the city did retreat,
The Mayor and many more upon dry ground,
Outside the walls on foot did walk around”

There would be no difficulty in accomplishing this feat now, for as many years beyond the ambit which was then marked by ramparts, there is no water whatsoever. So little is there to oppose the incoming tide, that within the past week salt or brackish water ran right up to Sarsfield bridge ; and the same
old history tells us that this occurred in 1723 when “there was so little rain that year that salt water fish came up to the quay and ling was taken between the two towers” That was as far up as Thomond bridge. Sixty two years later than that the history in 1785 “The summer of this year was so remarkably dry
and warm there was scarcely any water in the Shannon between Baal’s Bridge and the new bridge, in which place numbers of eels, flat fish and salmon peale were taken by boys out of the bed of the river” But that was before the day of gas, for when they began to make it at Watergate and let the tar run in to the
stream they so poisoned its bed that all fish forsook it. The most serious results though are the accumulation of mud which the uprushes of the tide have left abreast of the quays. There are now some four feet of water on the sill of the Floating Dock, whilst outside the pier-head the mud has formed a bar right across to the north shore. It is hoped that the winter floods will sweep the hundreds of thousands of tons of mud away to the depths from whence it came, but to look at it now this seems scarcely possible. The Harbour Engineer calculates that some couple of millions of tons of mud have shifted up stream since the first of June. No doubt he is right, and it will require large outlays and hard work with the dredgers to get the channel back to its normal condition.
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The Waterford and Limerick Railway Company held their half yearly meeting on yesterday at Waterford on which Sir James Spaight, Chairman presided. He was able to show a satisfactory state of affairs since last meeting……
It was a feather in the Chariman’s cap, that he was able to speak of the struggle with the Midland Company about the Ennis and Athenry line….
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We publish the programme for the military tournament to be held in the Market’s Fields in support of Barrington’s Hospital. The dates now fixed for the attractive display are Friday and Saturday, 16th and 17th September, the change being made in order not to interfere into the preparations for the Gaelic Sport. The military too, engaged in the exhibition have entered into the necessary practice for the different events in the warmest spirit, and are determined to make the entertainment one of the best of its kind. The grounds will be prepared for the occasion in the most satisfactory manner, and we anticipate large attendances, and good results for the hospital.

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The next of the Market’s Trustees’ New Fairs will be held on Friday, 6th September. The most elaborate arrangements will be made for the accommodation of
sellers and buyers, in the extensive grounds……………..

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Mr. Ryan of Robert Street, returns his sincere thanks to Mr. Murphy, M.P., for payment in full of his account for grates supplied to the West Clare
Railway…………

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The “boar” came up with a rush on Monday, and drove one of the tug boats anchored in the Poel, from her moorings and into collision with the dredge boat.  No material damage occurred to either, and they swung clear as the tide rose. There was no-one on board the tug to look after her safety.

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At Roxboro on Sunday the Hurling Tournament was continued.  In the match between the South Liberties and the Plan of Campaign Clubs, the former won by two goals to nil. In the match between the Treaty stone and Fedamore the former gained a victory by three goals and four points to two points and a forfeit point.

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The Jesuit Fathers
The Provincial of Jesuits has sanctioned a number of changes in the missions of the fathers which have considerable interest for the citizens. It has been decided to form or rather restore the Missionary Society of the distinguished Order in Ireland, and so the following Rev. gentlemen have been appointed for that purpose, to reside at Miltown Park, Co. Dublin :
Rev. Father Ronan, Rev. Father Vincent Byrne, Rev. Father Naughton and Rev. Father O’Farrell. The two latter Rev. Gentlemen are natives of Limerick as our fellow citizens generally may know. Rev. Father Ronan so long associated with the Church of the Sacred heart in Limerick and the College at Mungret, for the improvement of which he undertook such an arduous but very successful mission in America, will be greatly missed in this City, where he has endeared himself to numbers of its residents. Rev. Father Hughes, S.J., (Cr)escent House, will replace father Ronan at Mungret; and father Daly and Father Flynn of
the Crescent also are removed, the first to Clongowes and the second to Galway College.
The important positions vacated by these gentlemen will be filled by Rev. Father Head, S.J., from Mungret College ; Rev. Fathre Fottrell, S.J., from St. Bueno’s, Wales ; and rev. Father Wheeler, S.J., from Miltown Park.

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The Sacred Heart College
The College re-commences its scholastic business on Thursday, September 1st, when the students are expected to resume their work,……………

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Augustinian Church
Sunday next, the 8th august, being the Feast of St. Augustine, the great Doctor of the Church will be a day of Special Devotion and plenary Indulgence in the
above Church…..

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The panegyric of the Saint will be preached…..by the rev. T. Hammeraly, O.P.
Sermon in the evening by Rev. E.A. Selley, O.S.A., Cork.
Benediction : Most. Rev. Dr. O’Dwyer, Lord Bishop of Limerick.

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September 4th being the Feast of our Mother of Consolation
Sermon: Rev. J. Locke, O.S.A., Rome.

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Death of the Rev. P. O’Carroll, P.P., Croagh.
Again we have the duty of recording the death of one of the respected Priests of this
Diocese, in the person of the Rev. Patrick Carroll, .P.P., Croagh. The Rev. gentleman
was educated at Mayooth, and was since his ordination on the Limerick Mission. He has
been ailing for some time, but his death was not anticipated. He was connected with
some of the oldest and most respected Catholic families of this city and county, by whom
he was held in great affection, and by his parishioners and general acquaintances no
Clergyman could be held in higher respect. He was a zealous and self sacrificing Priest
– a most reliable guide in spiritual matters, and a safe adviser in temporal affairs.
He will be remembered by the poor of Limerick Union particularly with feelings of the
deepest gratitude for the devotion with which he exerted himself on their behalf, during
his connection as one of the Clergymen with the workhouse here. The Office and High
mass will be solemnized tomorrow (Thursday), 25th, inst., at Croagh Patrick Church, at
eleven o’clock.

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The Osequies of the Late Rev. D. Quin, P.P.
The internment of the late Rev. Father Quin, P.P., took place on Monday at Kilcoleman
Church. The edifice was filled to suffocation by relatives and friends of the deceased
Clergyman, and the keenness of sorrow manifested shows how greatly he was regretted.
From some of the estates in the locality the tenantry came in bodies to the funeral to
manifest their sorrow for one of the best friends they had in the whole district, as his
services to the farmers were inestimable. The Lord Bishop, the Most Rev. Dr. O’Dwyer
presided at the Offices and High Mass. The very Rev. Father Mulqueen, P.P., V.F., was
celebrant at the Mass. Rev. Dr. Hallinan, C.C., Deacon ; Rev. M. McCarthy, C.C., Adare
Sub-Deacon ; Rev. J. McCoy, P.P., Bulgaden Master of Ceremonies.
Chanters: Rev. T.R. Shanahan, P.P., and Rev. J. Bourke, P.P. There were about sixty
Clergymen in the choir, including very Rev. Archdeacon Halpin, P.P., V.G. ; Very rev.
Dr. Hammond, P.P., V.G.
The chief mourners were : Rev. J. O’Shaughnessy, C.C. ; Mr. J. O’Shaughnessy, J.P.
nephews of deceased ; and Mr. P. Murray, J.P., first cousin. Amongst the general body
of the laity were Mr. John White, D.L. ; Mr. Robert Hunt, J.P. ; Captain O’Leary, Mr.
James Meade, Mr. Stephen Pegum, Glin ; Dr. Hayes, J.P., etc. etc.

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New Steel Gates at the Docks
A very interesting and at the same time critical operation in connection with the Docks,
was successfully (…..t) through on the evening of Saturday and Monday last, vis. – the
removal of the old gates (which had been in use since 1852) and the fitting of the new
ones recently completed in the Graving Dock, and the work reflects the highest credit on
the Harbour Engineer (Mr. W. J. Hall, B.E.) under whose personal supervision it has been
carried on…………..
The old gates were built in their berths between two coffer dams, and could thus be
adjusted with the greatest accuracy. They took 14 months to complete and cost £5,520
and weighed 56 tons each. The present work will cost about £2,670. The Contractors are
essrs Cincaid & Co. of Greenock. The mechanical details of construction were arranged
by Mr. alex \b. Wilson, Constructing Engineer of Holywoo(?d). The Contractors are
represented by Mr. J. Millar who had the entire charge of the work while Mr. Thomas
Leech acted as Clerk of Works on behalf of Harbour Commissioners………

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The Queen Street Houses were sold today at the Mart62 William Street, by Mr. Joseph P.
McNamara, Auctioneer, for £362 and fees to Mr. Buckley, Thomas Street.

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Todd & Co., placed large orders with Irish Manufacturers for delivery in August and are
now showing the Goods in Great Varsity of Styles and Fabri(cs)
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This Day’s Telegrams
Special Critical News & other telegrams to
The Munster News
Today

The Clare County demonstrations
Telegrams from Mr. Dillon, M.P.
From our Ennis correspondent
Ennis, Wednesday – the following telegram was received by the Secretary of the Ennis
Branch National league – from John Dillon, Dublin to Patrick McInerney, Ennis.
Must adjourn meeting to Sunday 4th September……….
It is expected to be one of the largest meetings ever in Clare.

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Election of the O’Gorman-Mahon today
The O’Gorman-Mahon Nationalist was elected today without opposition for the County
Carlow.
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Newcastle West National League
Special Meeting today
(special telegram)
The Newcastle West Barnch of the National League had a special meeting today. The very
Rev. Dr. Hamond, P.P., V.G., presided. It was resolved :- “That this branch having heard
that since their last meeting Mr. John Morrison’s farm at Farren has been grabbed by
parties who above all others should not injure Mr. Morrison, we condemn such a
proceeding as being the greatest defiance and insult to our national programme, at a
time with the league is in the throes of difficulty. We call on the neighbouring
branches to support Mr. Morrison in his present position”

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Parliament
House of Commons Today

……….
Mr. Gladstone’s Motion
Mr. Gladstone read the terms of his motion asking the House to allow the proclaimation
against the National League to continue in force in the absence of Information
justifying it.

House of Commons – yesterday
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to Mr. Cox, said that £5,000 assigned for the
encouragement of horse and cattle breeding in Ireland would be paid to the Royal Dublin
Society, whose show now being held at Ballsbridge was he was glad to say likely to be a
special success in consequence of the prospect of assistance to be given by the
Government.
Mr. Smith, replying to Mr. E. Robertson’s demand for the production of evidence on which
the Government had decided to proclaim the national League as a dangerous association,
said it was not the intention of the Government to lay on the table any further papers
on the subject.
……….

 

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To be continued.

We have weekly copies from this newspaper up to 26th October, 1887 and extracts will be added to this page on a weekly basis.

Old Irish Newspaper Abstracts

We do have some old newspaper abstracts on this website (which can be found here) and I always remember one day as I was copying some material in the National Library in Dublin laughing to myself because life had not changed that much.  The bit I was transcribing was advising people to take their keys out of their front doors because thieves were just able to walk into houses.  The thing is, the paper had been published in the 1830’s, and then it was about 2006, and only that week my mother had begun to bring her car key into the house at night instead of leaving it sitting in the car.  My mother was a medical Doctor and getting called out at night was a regular thing so leaving her key in the car saved her the trouble of having to look for it when called out.


Ireland Old News – a newspaper site giving ‘abstracts’ from Old Irish Newspapers. Came across this website earlier today (I had forgotten it!)  and I am or was the 399248th visitor since the year 2000.

Ireland Old News

We tend to forget the things that so many people have done, especially in this day and age of advanced technology.  Many of you don’t remember the days when the Irish Census returns were not on the internet, many of you don’t know about the days when you had to go to the Irish Civil Records office to get the references for births, marriages and deaths.  Today, we can get those references if they exist on the internet (for the most part).  We all forget so easily about how it was so hard back then and about what we owe to the dedicated people who transcribed material and put it up on the net for the rest of us to see.

Ireland Old News contributors:
Cathy Joynt Labath who I believe did most of the transcribing and who created the website.
Jim McNamara (and I think he told me recently it was 1999 we first met) and
Brian Magaoidh who I am still in contact with.
Alison & Kathryn who I knew through lists.
Dennis Ahearne (RIP) who contributed so much to people researching their Irish ancestry.

Some examples of the earliest years covered for any county – extracts from other newspapers are included on the site, I’ve just taken the first extract for any county as an example.

The Armagh Guardian, Dec 3rd, 1844
Cavan Herald, July 14, 1818
Ennis Chronicle (Co. Clare), 1793
Corke Journal, 1756
Londonderry Journal (Derry) 1772
Ballyshannon Herald 1832 (Donegal)
Dublin 1705
The Enniskillen Chronicle & Erne Packet 1813 (Fermanagh) Connaught Journal, Galway 1823
The Kerry Examiner, 1847
The Kildare Observer 1915
The Kilkenny Independent 1826
The Leitrim Journal & Carrick-on-Shannon Advertiser 1868 The Limerick Chronicle 1769
The Drogheda Conservative, or Meath, Louth, Monaghan and Cavan Advertser 1837
The Ballina Chronicle, 1849 (Mayo)
The Meath Chronicle 1899
The Northern Standard, & Monaghan, Cavan and Armagh Advertiser 1839
The Midland Tribune, 1901 (Offaly/King’s Co.)
Roscommon & Leitrim Gazette,, 1822
Sligo Champion, 1887
The Clonmel Advertiser, 1818 (Tipperary)
The Strabane Morning Post, 1812 (Tyrone)
Jackson’s Oxford Journal 1804 (Waterford)
Belfast Newsletter (Antrim & Down) 1749
The Bray & South Dublin Herald, 1916 (Wicklow)
The Newry Commercial Telegraph, 1813 (Co. Down)

Irish National League: Carrickerry and Shanagolden Branches, 1887

Irish National League.
Shanagolden Branch


Meeting for electing officers and committee. Mr. D. J. Hishon, Central Branch, conducted the election by ballot. The result was as follows:
Very Rev. J. Mulqueen, P.P., VF., President
Rev. T. O. Kelly, C.C., Treasurer
E.J. O’Sullivan, Hon Sec.
Committee
Messrs. William O’rien, PLG
L’ OBrien PLG
P. Madigan, PLG
William Hishon, junr.
J. Creaghan
W. Larner
M. Gearon
M. O’Connor
E. Eyre
M. Creaghan
T. Enright
T. Cahill
P. Murray
M. Leahy
J. O’Reilly

Irish National League.
Carrickerry Branch
The Rev. J. Ambrose presided. The case of Maurice Culhane whose cattle were seized on by his landlord, was considered, when it was proposed by Denis Lynch and seconded by Denis Liston ; “That having considered the case of Mrs. Widow T. Culhane and her treatment at the hands of her landlords, Mr. Alexander Tallis Yielding and Mrs. Hugh Yielding (the wife of Mr. Hugh E. Yielding of Newpark, Croagh, in the county of Limerick), we respectfully ask the committee of the Kilcoman branch of the League to afford us an opportunity for a consultation with a view to bringing public opinion to bear upon the landlords for their action in accumulating costs to the amount of £18 upon a rent of £25, in seizing only £50 or £60 worth of cattle to satisfy same.”
“That the Rev. Chairman be deputed to communicate with the Kilcolman branch to arrange time and place of proposed conference which he very kindly consented to do”
Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Gaelic Athletic Association, Football, 1887

Football:
Thomas Davis Football Club, Ennis V. Cratloe, Newmarket on Fergus Football Club, a bye at Ennis on Sunday, May 1st.


Second Ties:
East Clare at Tulla, on Sunday 8th
West Clare at Ruan, on Sunday May 15th
Ennis at Crusheen, on Sunday May 22nd
Final Ties at Ennis, on Sunday June 5th.

The following resolutions were put from the chair and unanimously adopted :
“1st – that we the members of the County Committee G.A.A., recommend the several branches of the Association in the county, to arrange as far as possible amongst themselves branches of Temperance Associations, as we believe that habits of intemperance are fatal to the development of the athletic powers of the people. And also that the revenue derived by the Government from the sale of intoxicating drink would be better spent in developing the resources of the country, a consummation of which the G.A.A. in the county, to arrange as far as possible amongst themselves branches of Temperance Associations, as we believe that habits of intemperance are fatal to the development of the athletic powers of the people. And also that the revenue derived by the Government from the sale of intoxicating drink would be better spent in developing the resources of the country, a consummation of which the G.A.A., have in view. “
“2nd – That we request that these clubs throughout the country who have not yet been affililated to lose no time in doing so as the time for entering the County Championships has been extended to the 15th April, in order to give those clubs an opportunity of affiliating and competing.”
3rd “That we call upon the affiliated clubs of the country to decline in competing with non affiliated ones after the 15th of April next, under pain of expulsion from the G.A.A.”

Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Gaelic Athletic Association, April 1887

Gaelic Athletic Association
A meeting of the Clare Co. Committee was held at the Town Hall, Ennis, on Sunday, March 27th, Mr. Edward Bennett in the chair. Also present – The O’Donnellon Blake Foster, Mr. J. Moran, Mr. P. McInerney and Mr. P. Ahern, Hon Sec. At the suggestion of the Chairman it was decided to divide the clubs entered for the County Championship in divisions, in order not to bring two teams too great a distance to meet each other. There were 25 entries, 22 for hurling and 3 for football, which were drawn as follows:
East Clare” :
O’Gonneloe 1st team, v. Scariff Independent H.C.
O’Gonnelloe 2nd team v. Robert Emmet Branch (Tulla)
Smith O’Brien Branch (Killaloe) v. Daniel O’Connell Branch (Feakle)
Wolfe Tone Branch (Bodyke) v. Glenoniera
To hurl at Scariff on Sunday April 17th.


West Clare
Kilkeedy v. Ruan
William O’Brien Branch (Killamona) v. Fionn mac Cumhaille Branch (Kilfenora)
Rath and Kilnaboy v. Canon
To hurl at Corofin April 24th.

Ennis District:
Crusheen v. Davitt Branch, Inch
A. M. Sullivan’s Branch, Ennis v. Barefield
B. Thomas Davis branch, Ennis v. Wolfe Tone branch, Kilmaley
C. Leamb Deargaboo branch, Dysart v. Drumquin
D. To hurl at Ennis, on Sunday May 1st.

Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Limerick Amateur, Athletic and Bicycle Club, 1887

Limerick Amateur, Athletic and Bicycle Club
The annual general meeting was held on Monday evening, March 28th, at the Fire Station. The meeting was very large and influential. The annual report read showed the club to be in a sound position, and their sports justly popular. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
President: Alexander W. Shaw, J.P. ;
Vice-Presidents : R. De Ros Rose, J.P. ; Wyndham Gabbett, J.P. ; A. Murray, C. B. Barrington, J.P. ; M. E. Conway, J. Matterson, J.P. ; R. Fry.
Hon Treasurer : W. L. Stokes.
Capt Bicycle Club C. O’Connell
Hon Secretary: W. E. Frost.
Committee: Messrs. C. H. Gubbins, McNamara, Meade, Sterling, McAdam, B. Murray, Rowland, King, T. Ewart, Tidmarsh.
The annual ports were fixed to take place on or about June 6th.


Football
The Star and Shannon Rugby Football Clubs have played off for premiership in a field off Farranshone. The match when decided – as a dispute arose during its progress, will finish the Rugby junior club contests, which went on weekly during the past four or five weeks. The two clubs named have had drawn matches on two occasions, and the result was looked forward to with much interest on Sunday last. The Star were evidently in best form, and played finely throughout, but the spirited opposition of the Shannonites did not permit of any marked play. A try was gained for the Star by O’Shea, but it was disputed owing to his having touched a spectator when passing in to ground the ball. For the Shannon club, Fitzgibbon subsequently gained a try very cleverly, off which a goal was kicked just as time was called. The dispute was referred to the committee of management.

Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Tithe Rent Charges, National Teachers Act, 1887

Tithe Rent Charges


The Clerk read the resolution of the Nenagh Board asking to have tithe rent charges applied to local rather than to Imperial purposes. Mr. Maunsell proposed the adoption of the resolution. Mr. Hewson said it was a very good and proper resolution. At the time of the dissolution of the Protestant Church in Ireland the tithe rent charge was seized by the Government. They had all to pay it to the Government the same as they did before. It was o be spent in the parishes where the clergymen resided, and the butcher and the baker got their portion of it, but now, it was carried off and they did not know what was done with it.
The resolution was adopted.

The National Teacher’s Act.

A letter was read from the Commissioners of National Education, asking for £70.4s.6d in addition to the £447 already received to complete the payments of the National School Teachers.

Mr. Hewson: I move that the communication be marked read
The Clerk: You might as well say at once that the Board can’t pay it, it is heavily in debt.

Rathkeale Poor Law Union, Election of Chairman, 1887

Once again in this newspaper extraction you will see that the journalist does not use the same spelling for a name in all instances, e.g. Pigott and Piggott


J.P. = Justice of the Peace

Rathkeale Board of Guardians
Election of Chairman
The usual weekly meeting of the Guardians of the Rathkeale Union was held on Wednesday, Mr. Patrick Cahill, Chairman, presiding. The other Guardians in attendance were : Messrs. B. Hewson, J.P. ; D. M. Maunsell, J.P. ; Joseph Casey, J. P. ; Carroll Nash, Cornelius Curtain, Robert Pigott, Edward Cussen, John M. Switzer, Thomas Lynch, Patrick Madigan, Edmond O’ Connor, Michael Naughtin, Timothy Foley, Thomas Lyons, Denis Scanlon, Daniel Ranahan, William O’Neill and Thomas Lyons.

Election of Chairman, etc.
The first business taken up was the election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Deputy Vice-Chairman for the opening year.
Mr. Joseph Casey proposed the election of Mr. P. Cahill, as Chairman and spoke in high terms of the manner in which he discharged his duty during the last year, and the peace and harmony that prevailed at the Board since he was first elected to the position.
Mr. Casey’s proposition having been duly seconded and there being no opposition.
Mr. Cahill was declared elected unanimously.
Mr. M. Naughton proposed the election of Mr. R. Pigott to the Vice-Chairmanship, and it having been seconded by Mr. T. Foley, the proposition was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. C. Curtin was elected to the position of Deputy Vice Chairman, having been proposed by Mr. T. Lyons and seconded by Mr. Daniel Ranahan.
The three Chairmen are Nationalists, and this is the first year in which no opposition has been shown from the Conservative members of the Board.
Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate, April 2, 1887

A letter was read from the Mother Superioress of the Sisters of Mercy, Charleville, calling the attention of the Board to the unfinished state of the new building in course of erection, for the Sisters of Mercy, at present occupying an unsanitary dormitory in a part of the house. She considers the work is too long in hands, and threatens to withdraw the nuns from the hospital if they be allowed to pass another winter in their present apartments.


The matter was referred to the Clerk of Works who reported that the work would be finished in a fortnight.

Notice of Eviction
The Right Hon. Wm. Charles Evans Freke, of Glastoe, Uppingham, Rutlandshire, in Englnd, surviving trustee of the estate, plaintiff.
John C(?)amis of Ballygrennan, in the county of Limerick, Defendant.

Mr. O’Gorman : They are getting pluck now. Coercion is coming.

The Election of Medical Officer
The Clerk read a telegram received in the last day from the local Government Board, stating that they would sanction Dr. Clery’s appointment to the Dispensary, provided he resigned that of the Workhouse.
An uninteresting discussion arose as to whether Dr. Clery’s letter on the last day was an absolute resignation of the Workhouse appointment, the condition implied therein having been fulfilled by the telegram from the Local Government Board.
Mr. O’Sullivan looked on it only as a conditional resignation, and also thought the telegram conditional.
Mr. Weldon expected to have a formal resignation from Dr. Clery today.
Mr. Daly thought that Dr. Clery had not yet resigned.
Mr. m. J. Condon asked if Dr. Clery’s resignation were accepted on last Board day, what was to prevent them from accepting it now, and giving an opportunity to the Local Government to sanction it by this day week.
Mr. Hogan held they had not Dr. Clery’s legal resignation or his legal sanction for the other appointment from the Local Government Board.
Mr. Meagher proposed the following resolution:-
That this board respectfully solicit the Local Government Board to refuse to accept the appointment of Dr. Clery to either the Kilmallock Dispensary District or the Workhouse Hospital on account of the utter disregard he has repeatedly shown to the resolutions of the Board.” (some laughter)
Mr. O’Donnell: (ironically) : That is a good sensible one
Mr. Meagher : The new board will have the privilege of electing the officers that will satisfy them for the coming year. I think it is right to make a fair start as we have been kept at bay so long by one individual.
The Chairman: I would never feel myself justified in receiving this resolution even though it had been seconded, because I don’t believe it is a correct element of facts.
Mr. Meagher got no seconder for his resolution, and subsequently withdrew it, but asked the Press to state the fact that the Chairman refused to receive it, the latter again remarking that the facts were incorrectly stated in it.
In reply to some observations of Mr. Weldon’s that Dr. Clery had been badly advised by his friends.
Mr. P. D. Cleary stated that he had no conversation whatever with Dr. Clery as to the course he should pursue. The reason he (Dr. Clery) did not think it necessary to send in a further letter of resignation was owing to the fact that advertisements inviting candidates for the vacant workhouse appointment, having been inserted in “The Munster news” it was naturally supposed that his former letter was regarded as quite sufficient.
Finally, it was decided on one motion of Mr. Clery to accept Dr. Clery’s resignation on his letter of the last day, and to appoint a medical officer to the Workhouse on next Thursday, Dr. Clery acting in that capacity in the meantime.

The concentration of the report of the special committee was postponed to next day and the Board adjourned at a late hour.
Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Kilmallock Union Board, April 1887 – Kilmallock Union Financial Management, April 1887 – Arrest of Father Matt Ryan – Miscellaneous Munster, Limerick & Clare News, April 1887

The Arrest of Father Matt Ryan

 The Arrest of Father Matt Ryan


Mr. Edmond Mitchel said that he had a resolution to propose in reference to a military display recently in Hospital for the purpose of dragging away from them their beloved Pastor, or to baton, bludgeon or stab him.

Mr. McGrath : They did not take him away from you.

Mr. Mitchel : No, thank God, we were able to carry him ourselves. The resolution I beg to propose is : “That we the Guardians of the Kilmallock Union, in meeting assembled, tender to the Rev. Father Matt Ryan, the patriotic curate of Hospital, our deepest sympathy in his prison cell, and we at the same time condemn in the strongest possible language the action of the Government in arresting him. We also express our condemnation of the unnecessary display of force on Monday last in Hospital by the police authorities evidently for the purpose of exasperating the people ; we congratulate the latter for the forbearance they exhibited under such provoking circumstances.

Mr. Condon : I think he belonged to Herbertstown more than to Hospital (laughter). Any honours he has gained it was in Herbertstown he gained them.

Mr. Clery: I think Mr. Slattery’s name should be put in that resolution.

Mr. Mitchell : We are in the habit of having such men as Mr. Slattery, but it is a very new thing to have priests taken from us. It is reviving the penal days again.

Mr. Condon: I think , Mr. Chairman, you could amend that a little by putting Herbertstown to the front or Campaign Hill (laughter)

The Chairman: I suppose with Mr. Condon’s suggestion the resolution is passed unanimously. There is very little good in these things, but at the same time we are only doing our duty as a National Board.

Mr. Gubbins: I was saying we should ask the farmers of Kilmallock Union to pay no rent while those Priests are in gaol.

Mr. Mitchell: I think that would be a matter for themselves a great deal. I’d be a great extent in sympathy with that.

Mr. Condon: I believe they are never very fond of paying rent (laughter)

The Chairman: If you like to add it to the resolution I will receive it at any rate, whether it is legal or not.

Mr. M’Grath : Of course it is legal.

Mt. Mitchell: It might do more harm than good under the present circumstances. It might only be made a handle in the House of Commons.

Mr. O’Gorman : It will come to that at any rate. I think there ought to be added to the resolution something about the noble minded man who has thrown up his position rather than do the dirty work of the Government. I am satisfied to give £1 subscription, provided a testimonial is raised to him.

The Chariman: I never saw people more willing to subscribe to a testimonial than they are to one for this policeman.

Mr. Mitchell: What I’d wish to add to the resolution is that on account of the oppression to which the o’Grady tenantry are subjected, a subscription be made throughout Ireland to maintain them during their struggle.

The Chairman: The National League have promised that. I heard Mr. O’Brien is promising.

Mt. Mitchell: It is not right for us to be too hard on Wm. O’Brien and John Dillon.

The resolution as it stood was then adopted.

Taken from “The Munster News and Limerick and Clare Advocate”,
April 2, 1887

Kilmallock Union Board, April 1887 – Kilmallock Union Financial Management, April 1887 – Arrest of Father Matt RyanMiscellaneous Munster, Limerick & Clare News, April 1887