Athenry and the 1798 Rebellion by Ronan Killeen

In 1775 the American colonists had successfully rebelled against British rule, while in France the monarchy had been overthrown by the Revoultion of 1789.
   In 1798 the revoultionary organisation - United Irishmen were inspired by theses acts and were responsible for Ireland's insurrection in 1798. The Society of United Irishmen held its first meeting in Belfast on 18 October 1791, a gathering summoned by Samuel Nielson, Theobald Wolfe Tone and Thomas Russell. All three of the founders were Protestants as so was James Napper Tandy, who helped host the society's second meeting in Dublin a few weeks later.
   Not all members thought alike, in any case, Wolfe Tone arguing passionately for universal sufferage, to include Roman Catholcs, as a means of presenting a genuinely 'United' Irish front against English domination, whilst other Protestants remained uncomfortable about the idea of mobilizing a mass electorate of papists.

Sheer sectarian prejudice played its part but many genuinely radical Protestants would have wondered how progressive politics were to be advanced by electorates brought up from birth to slavish obedience to its parish priests. For most of this era these issues were brought at the Society’s meetings and in the columns of its widely read newspaper, the Northern Star.
   In 1793 the Convention Act was enacted which was to outlaw quasi-parlimentry gatherings while the Gunpowder Act prevented the legal import of guns, such as legislation, it was subsequently argued, compelled the society to choose between extinction and plotting in secret. 
   In 1795 the clergyman-turned-agent William Jackson came to Dublin to test the reaction among radicals there to the idea of an invasion on the part of his French revolutionary masters, he little realized that his travelling companion, John Cockyane was an English spy. Tone had said enough to the unguarded jackson
to covince the authorities that he and his fellow United Irishmen were a real threat: The United Irishmen Society was suppressed and Tone himself was forced into exile:

'I...sought for aid wherever it was to be found'-Wolfe Tone

Tone would eventally tell the military court which tried him, and he may indeed to some extent had been driven by desperation. From the middle of the decade, the society had nowhere to go but towards armed insurrrection: by the middle of 1796 it had completed its reinvention as an oath-bound revoultionary organization.

  The planned French invasion of  that year had been foiled which smashed the 33 feet long fleet of Admiral Hoche which was fatal blow for the plans of the United Irishmen. At the beginning of 1798, the Society of United Irishmen could boast some 280,000 members and a small expeditionary force was sent by the French came late.
    The famous Wexford uprising in paticular was to some extent 'peasants revolt' and involved secterian massacres of which the UIS would have never approved of. In Dublin and Kildare the rebellion went ahead in spite of the opposition of important sections of a divided leadership.
   Volunteers in Ulster also rose spontaneoulsy in support of their fellows in south-east Leinster, exasperated by caution of their nominal chiefs, while 2,000 rallied to the revolutionary banner of General Humbert in the west and were massacred. The insurrection of the '98 failed.

Was there one in Galway? Apparently so, according to Patrick K. Egan's article 'Progress and Suppression of United Irishmen in the Western Counties in 1798-1799'  in the Journal of Galway Archaeological and Historical Society.
   Three men from Athenry Mathias Kinnamore, Micheal Kinnamore and John Higgins committed the crime of houghing and carrying away the flesh of cattle forcebly. Their trial was on the 6 March 1799 and there sentence was to find security for 7 years. They were the lucky ones compared to the rest of men who were executed in the Loughrea, Gort, Galway and Tuam areas and others who were given 5,000 lashes!
   I remember being up in the National Archives of Ireland last year and when I was looking through the rebellion papers I found that a Luke Conway was arrested for taking an illegal oath in 1798 (The United Irishmen?) at the Athenry Post Office.
 

    

Thirsty Athenry 1934 by Ronan Killeen

Hansberry's Hotel. It is still a pub but the hotel is not in use.

Connaught Tribune  report  9 June 1934

THIRSTY ATHENRY

     _______  

Public House to Every 35 Persons

     _________

At Galway Circuit Court on Tuesday before his lordship, Judge O'Donnell, Mrs Mary Hansberry applied for a hotel licence in respect of her hoter at Galway-road Athenry. Mr. T. J. Connolly, B.L. (instructed by Mr. Hogan and Shields, solisters appeared for the applicant.

   Mr. R. J. Kelly, S.S. who appeared for the State, opposed the application on the grounds that there were already sufficent licensed premises in Athenry. Mr. Connolly said the hotel premises in Athenry. Mr. Connolly said the hotel premises had been extended considerably during the past twenty five years and were now a very respectable hotel equipped with all modern convienences and had adequate accomadation. Its old world appearance made it attractive to visitors and an exencsive trade was done. There was a demand by many visitors for drink with their meals and the present application rose from their demand.

Mr. Robert Powell B.E., proved plans of the premises and the applicant gave evidence as to improvements to be carried out to the premises during recent years. Superintendent Murphy, Athenry said the population of Athenry was 1,033 and there were 29 licensed premises in the town -a ratio of one public house to every 35 persons.

   His Lordship: They must be very thirsty people (laughter). The witness added the applicant was a very decent woman who carried on, what was in his opinion, the best business in the town. - His lordship granted the application. [sic]



Athenry Western Sack and Bag Factory by Ronan Killeen (Revised 2018)

On Tuesday 28 May 1935 the Athenry Western Sack & Bag Factory was officially opened by Mr Gerald Boland TD who was Minister for Post and Telegraphs. The road that led to the building was decorated with bunting anda large crowd had come to see him with the Gardaí giving him a guard of honour under Chief Superintendent Clenton, Ballinasloe, and Garda Kelly, Athenry.

 

The Big Launch 

 

On the platform were Mr Weir, MD of the factory, TD’s Stephen Jordan and Sean Broderick; JJ Ruane; Haley B Murtagh and C.Taylor; directors of the company, Dr C Foley; RM Burke; Tohermore, Tuam; R Collins Superintendent of the Agricultural College

Athenry; Rev Mr North Bombfard, M Hession, Mayor F Carr, Newtown; Mr Bowes Daly of Dunsandle, and Dr Tom Powell

.
Mr Weir said he was proud and happy to see the fruits of their labour of the past eighteen months realised in the shape of  hand some factory and he expressed the hope that the undertaking, though small, would help in the promotion and growth of other industries. On behalf of the directors and shareholders of the company he welcomed the Minister. Larry Lardner then read a public address of welcome from the AIDPC (Athenry Industrial Development Promotional Committee).

 

The sugar beet factories had required one million sacks for pulp and another million for sugar, and the Government could induce the companies to give orders for the sacks to the Athenry Western Sack & Bag Factory. Indeed Minister Boland was happy that the

Minister for Industry and Commerce would do all he could to induce the directors of the sugar company to place their orders with the Athenry factory.

 

Political Unity

Both Mr RM Burke and Mr Broderick stated that they were glad to see support given by all political parties joined together and supporting industrial revival. Mr Jordan, said it was through Mr Weir’s technical knowledge, expert advice, and sound judgement

that the factory had been established. They also had to thank the Government for helping them with the loan and the promptitude with which local capital was subscribed.

Mr Ruane was confident that if the people of Athenry stood together, as they did in promoting the factory, and forget politics;they would have everything as a centre of distribution that a small town wants to make a success of any industry.

After the public address the Minister and visitors were then shown inside the factory and saw about forty girls at work at different sewing machines it cutting, make-up and stitching of bags. The factory had a capacity of turning out a million bags each year and there was a genuine

feeling that Athenry was finally getting some much needed and much deserved industry.

 

Sthe Irish Times on 18 October 1952 included a photograph of these women which was included in an article ‘Energy and enthusiasm to one man are helping to revive a forgotten town’. The names of those women, pictured below left, were N Higgins, Peggy Hanley, W Holian (forewoman), Annie Hanley and Kathleen O’Toole.

Above photo sources Connacht Tribune 1st June 1935 and Irish Times 21 July 1962 clipping courtesy of the South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society

Galway Blazers:Fatal Accident in the Hunting Field 1901 by Ronan Killeen

Galway Express  Newspaper 23rd November 1901

On Tuesday the meet of the Galway Blazers was held at Knockbrack, the residence of Capt. H.T. Hall. Having found a fox a run was made across towards Castle Ellen, the residence of Mrs.Lambert. At the back of Castle Ellen House a very sad accident took place, which unfortunetly has resulted fatally. It appears Mr.Ormond, who recently  crossed from England for the hunting season, and was staying with his brother-in- law, Captain Preston at Moor park (Moorepark) was coming at pretty stiff pace, and was about taking a wall at the rear of Castle Ellen House.
   The horse which was a fine well spirited animal came along very well until clost to the wall when it instantly bolted,, with the result that Mr.Ormond was thrown over the horse's head and came with his own head and came with his own head against the wall. The injuries were of most serious nature, and from his first great doubts were entertained of his recovery.
    He was at once taken to Castle Ellen House although in an unconsious condition, and Doctors Quinlan and Mansel were soon in attendance and did everything that medical science could suggest but death took place early wednsday morning. The greatest sympathy is expressed by all in the locality here at the sad berevement of Captain and Mrs Preston of Moorepark. Although not long in the neighbourhood of Athenry they have made themselves very popular by their genial manner. Mr.Ormond was only 22 years of age.

John J Killeen

Above: John J. Killeen (Date of photo unknown)

This is an ancestor of mine John J. Killeen, who is supposed have been born in Athenry 1841? He emigrated to America and joined the US Navy. In 1873 he became a Chief Boatswain. He died in  Everett, Massachuttes 1907. That's all I know

The Case Of Stephen Jordan: Hissing the King and his allies 1915 by Ronan Killeen

Picture: Mr. Quinn, Frank Hynes and possibly Stephen Jordan on the right.

Photo from The-Quinns-of-Athenry.

On the 27th November 1915 in the Irish Times a Unionist paper at the time it was reported...

In the King's Bench Division; Dublin before Mr.Justice Gibson and Mr.Justice Kenny, in the case of Stephen Jordan, Shoemaker, of Darla (Davis) street, Athenry, who on prosecution brought against him on summons by District Inspector Collins under the Defence of the Realm (consolidation) Regulations, 1914-1915, fir hissing photograph's of the King and his allied crowned heads, and cheering for the Kaiser and his allied crowned heads at a cinematograph exhibition in the Athenry Town Hall on the 12th of June last.
   He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour, by the magistrates at Athenry Petty Sessions on the 25th June last, and also in the cases of in which Leo Egan, John Cleary and Michael Regan were convicted at the Petty sessions for aiding and abetting Jordan's hissing the photograph's mentioned, and cheering the Kaiser and his crowned heads, and were ordered to give bail for good behaviour in twelve months, or in default to be imprisoned for one month.

Mr. T.F. Ward (instructed by Messrs. John C.Conroy and Son) applied to have the conditional orders granted by Mr.Justice Ross quashing the convictions made absolute on the ground that if the petty sessions court was illegally constituted, in much as one of the magistrates adjudicating of the High Sheriff County Galway, Mr.Frank Shawe-Taylor, of Moor Park, Athenry.*
    The other magistrates were Messrs Kildare, R.M. Samuel Taylor, and W.G. Moriarity. The statute 7 William IV. c.13 prohibited a High Sheriff from exercising the office of the justice of peace for the county of which he was High Sheriff during his term.
   It appeared that the objection was not taken at the Petty Sessions proceedings, as the fact referred to was not known to the defendants’ representatives until afterwards. The conditional orders had been already absolute in the King's Bench office. The court granted the application, making the conditional orders absolute, and quashing the convictions.

I will be talking about Frank Shawe-Taylor when I get to the Irish War of Independence in a couple of months.

Athenry Land League Part 2: Peter Broderick in Galway Jail by Ronan Killeen

Above: Peter Broderick's Arrest Warrant 1881

An article that was written in the Galway City Tribune by John Flately on 3rd January 1997.




"The Protestant church is tolling a very sweet peal, the Catholic churches also, all seeming to mock us in out lonely cages" - Peter Broderick





In 1881 November 9th, the gates of the Galway Jail were thrown open and Peter P. Broderick of Athenry was hurried inside as prisoner, a political suspect, suspected as principal of inciting to boycotting under the Act previously passed that year 'FOR BETTER PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PROPERTY IN IRELAND'.

Broderick was a shopkeeper and farmer. He was hurried in the Governor’s Office where the Warden showed the warrant to the Governor back to the Constable and from the Constable to the Chief Warden. In the office the charge was read, entered in a 'huge book’ and a receipt of Broderick's delivery signed and given to the constable.



In the office with two chief wardens, distinguished by the gold braid on their caps and the glittering crown on their coat collars-as well as a clerk, registered Peter Broderick's name, age, complexion, colour of hair, eyes, appearance and all the 'hue and cry' evidences. His height was measured at five feet eight inches. He handed over his possessions, two one pound notes and a penknife.

Chief Warden Number One searched for other possessions but found nothing else. Then followed the last act in the day’s drama, Peter being marched from the office to his cell, a trip that took him through the whole house. His first impressions were "The repeated banging of doors, clinking of keys and martial tread of office bearers". The gas was burning in his cell the bed prepared and he was locked in.

He looked around and measured the cell, sixteen feet long by five-and-a-half feet wide, the bed was placed on a kind of camp stool or folding bedstead. It comprised a straw mattress, two sheets marked in large letters 'Galway Gaol', two blankets and a quilt-all except the fibre mattress were prison property.



Peter Broderick got a warm reception form the other prisoners. Their comments were consoling: “You here too. Good God, isn’t this too bad”, “Bad luck to them that sent you here”. O’Beirne of Ballinamore (possibly another prisoner) went and found ‘something to cheer Peter up’ and Peter was in better fettle.A few minutes before eight o’clock the warden commanded “All in”, and in they filed back to the cells.

Prisoners on two occasions during Peter sojourn there brought up with the authorities the need to sheet the sides of a shed in the yard. After a few days of the arrival at Galway Jail Broderick received from home a consignment of personal items indicating social expectations of the time.

• Two pairs of cuffs,

• Six Collars

• Four Collar studs

• One Razor

• Strap

• Tooth Brush

• Soap

• One handkerchief

• Holy Water

• Beads

• One pillow

• Two pillow cases

• Blankets

• Sheets

• Counterpane quilt and a table cover



He made an inventory of this a week later. Isolation from the world outside, from the everyday bustle of life in Galway was almost total. An old factory whistle and the Angelus Bell ringing at 6 a.m. awakened the prisoners. Church bells pealing in early and mid-morning gave Peter the disting impression there was rivalry between the churches in the town.

"The Protestant church is tolling a very sweet peal, the Catholic churches also, all seeming to mock us in out lonely cages" . On Sunday 22nd January 1882, Peter heard the Galway Band in the distance today, but no attempt was made to approach our quarters, as it would probably be an infringement on the loyalty of the serfs.



One the 6th of December 1882 the Warden visited Peter at breakfast wanting to know what he would have for breakfast. the following day. The choice was limited to stir about and coffee, for one week. At supper the Warden asked about his preference for the coming week, tea or cocoa. In both cases he opted for the first alternative.

The following morning Peter returned from exercise (in the dark) to find 'a bright culinary utensil of gigantic proportions was laid on the table. The weapon for onslaught on the stirabout-a big iron spoon-a pan filled almost to the top with stirabout and a saucepan of milk was the inviting repast for a cold morning.

'As I attacked my skilly. I really began to feel a foretaste of prison life. The stirabout was pretty fair but abounded with salt'.

He didn't like it and turned to the cocoa with a bit of bread and butter (got in on the previous day). He observed in the refuse collected that "almost as such made its way back to the cookhouse as came from it."

For dinner that day there were 'two big pieces of coarse bread and wretchedly strong and a pint of coffee. was in his opinion 'equally as good in every was as that supplied from outside'. He was hopeful

: "All in all the fare (Prison fare) was not so bad as an outside world believes it to be. I expect (D.V.)* to be able to rough it.



By mid-December Peter was arranging for breakfast to be served from outside. Others did the same. The outside supplier was Mrs.Mason. Visitors came virtually daily and the prisoner had the choice of seeing them or not. They were welcome in nearly all instances, through Peter refused to see a certain gentleman for quite a while.

On February 7th 1882, he was visited by two men and 'felt very indifferent towards their attention'. On February 13th a woman from kilconnell visited giving Peter 'the usual santimonious consolation'. On Monday, February 20 he read in the Galway Observer that he was "Careworn and thin from confinement". The following Sunday, February 27th at Mass in Galway Jail, Fr.Creaven the celebrant 'commented strongly on the necessity of fasting'. (Sic)



Peter Broderick wasn't the only man put in jail at the time.



Martin Connelly, Athenry, Farmer was in Galway Jai

R.T. Kelly, Athenry, Farmer was in Kilminham Jail



Athenry Land League Part 3: Also coming soon.

Athenry: Samuel Lewis and the Corporation Book Of Athenry by Ronan Killeen

First some of you  may ask "Who was Samuel Lewis?".  It is unSamuel Lewis was a topographer which comes from the word topography. Topography is were the configuration of a surface and the relations of man-made and natural features are recorded by someone. The reader will probably get a better understanding by reading the next piece of the article...

Here is what Samuel Lewis wrote about Athenry in 1837;

I have to explain two words first

Portreeve - A portreeve, or 'port warden' is a historical British political appointment with a fluctuating role which evolved over time.

Burgess - Burgess is a word in English that originally meant a freeman of a borough (England) or burgh (Scotland). It later came to mean an elected or un-elected official of a municipality, or the representative of a borough in the English House of Commons.

"The Portreeve, Brugesses, and Freemen of the corporation," and consisted of a "a portreeve and an unlimited number of burgesses and freemen; the above [Elizabeth's I] grant empowers  them to appoint a common clerk and "all other nessary tenants as Trim used", but only inferior officers are a serjeant-at-mace, craner, pound-keeper, two appraisers, and, a bellman, who are appointed by portreeve".
The portreeve and about twenty burgesses were elected  annually while the limits of the borough comprehended the town and a surrounding the agricultural, called the "Liberties".
The town returned two members to the Irish Parliment until Act of Union  came into  effect on 1 January 1801. £15,000 was paid in compensation to the trustees of the marriage settlement of Theophilous Blakeney... (see previous article).

The Corporation Book of Athenry, which one volume of it, was in the possession of Rev P.Delaney parish priest of Carna, in  October 1988. This lists the proceedings of the corporation from 1781 to 1840.

In 1837 Lewis wrote that the portreeve;

...who has the power to appoint a deputy, is a justice of the peace within the borough and its liberties, clerk of the market, and sole judge of the borough court. The town or portreeve's court shield is held for all please, real and personal, to an unlimited amount, as often as business requires, which of late has been but seldom, and generally on a Monday, not in any fixed court-house or place, but in different parts of the town...
The market, with a fair in October, was granted  to Sir W.Parsons, Bart., in 1629, and is on a Friday, but is only indifferently attended; and fairs for sheep and cattle are held onMay 5th, July 2nd, and Oct 20th, of which that in July is the largest. A constabulary police force is stationed here (This is obviously the Royal Irish Constabluary of Athenry) - Samuel Lewis.

This system of agriculture in the parish of Athenry, which comprised of 1,954 statue acres, was then somewhat improved and there was a considerable quantity of unreclaimed bog. The Catholic parish was co-existence with that of the established church and the town cotained a Catholic church, a plain slated building. About 330 children were educated between the parochial school and four private pay schools in Athenry , while another 170, or so, were educated in three schools at Monivea and Newcaste.
In 1831 1,319 people lived in 250 houses in Athenry. By 1986 the town  could boast a population of 1,642,   790 males and 852 females.

Theophilous Blakeney of Abbert by Ronan Killeen

Theophilous Blakeney of Abbert served as a member of parliament for Athenry from 1766-1776 and from 1783-1799. During the intervening period he became M.P. for Carlingford. As a captain in the Royal Sussex Regiment he saw service in Quebec and Staten Island in 1761; in 1772 he was a Surveyor General for Connaught; and in 1773 was appointed High Sheriff .
He married Margaret Stafford of Gillstown, County Roscommon in 1782. Theophilus died in 1813 and was succeeded by his son, John Henry Blakeney. The Blakeney's replaced the Bermingham's as Athenry's premier family when Thomas, Lord Athenry, the first and only Earl of Louth, who died in 1798.





















Something short pre- New year 2011 eh?

Christmas Special: Athenry Concert in 1901 by Ronan Killeen

Christmas Special...

This month I am quite happy to set a lighter tone to Athenry Local History. Northgate street nowadays is a street of stores and pubs but I bet not everyone from Athenry knew that there was actually a hall on Northgate Street (I certainly didn't!). We will begin...
   On the 10th of January 1902 The Tuam News reported about a concert that took place on December the 26th and 27th 1901. An annual concert for a charitable cause (The article does not state what the charity was for!)


"The very spacious hall at Northgate Street, was suitabily prepared for the occasion, and, as a variety of entertainment aswell as (a?) concert was part of the programme, stage and scenery were to suit were tastefully arranged.
   As benefiting the move in preservation of Mother Tongue, the boys of the Athenry National School rendered as opening item "An Chruit re scar," the Harp, harmonized in our own language an astonished as well as pleased the audience. The precision in pronunciation of our own Gaelic, aswell as the thorough harmony throughout was most gratifying, the audience showed their appreciation by repeated encores.
   "Through the Last Glimpse of Erin" was very sweetly song by Miss.Dolan. That splendid son "Bantry Bay" was done justice by Mr.P. Kelly, and Miss Ryan, whose sweet singing has been heard at local concerts rendered "Killarney" in admirable style. "When shall day break in Erin," that favourite new song was sung by Mr.T.Higgins in splendid style and loudly applauded.


The comic element was well kept up with the "Galway Militia", (local Comic), John F. Kelly and "Crockery Ware" by W.P. Higgins. Both acquitted themselves well . Miss Barbra Leonard, Miss Delia McDonagh and Miss Alice Nolan rendered their songs with taste and after duets with Misses Mahon and Nolan, and Mr and Mrs Graham, the singing with glee by female school children was rendered in the very taking style.
   Variety entertainment was opened by (a?) stump speech by John F.Kelly and indeed Athenry audiences know how inimitable he is in this role. With a blend of local monstrosities he fairly convulsed those present.
  
A feature of the night entertainment very much appreciated was the stepdancing of Messrs. W.P Higgins, T.Monaghan, and P.Keane. The Irish jig was certainly tipped in style of the highest praise.
The entertainment was brought to a close with the laughable farce "The Irish Doctor," in which the leading parts were taken by Messrs.Kelly, Mahon, Lardner and Nolan, must successfully. Altogether the entertainment was most enjoyable. The pinaforte of accompaniments of various songs were tastefully executed by Miss May Kelly, Mrs. Broderick and Miss Dolan.


- Correspondent.


Well Readers that it is it until sometime in January so..............


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL,


KIND REGARDS,
                               Mr.Ronan Killeen

Athenry Land League by Ronan Killeen

Below is a preview of my next article for ALH seeing as the  Irish Land League is my
favourite topic there will be a lot added to this article in the future. This is just a preview for the moment....

By 1870 Ireland had assumed an appearance of economic, social and political stability unknown since the famine the eighteenth century. Despite the famine catastrophe, the residual rural population had preserved much of its familiar way of lip while achieving unfamiliar prosperity.
   Destitution was no longer sufficient to exhaust the capacity of the poor law system; emigration continued to ameliorate underemployment by removing surplus population.
   The depletion of the poorest classes and the optimism of those more privileged had weakened social animimosis while Gladstone’s 1870 Land Act had offered the promise of further and more effective state interventions in the troubled relationship between landlord and tenant.
   Ulster Protestants were beginning to relish the Victorian Sensation of Progress, while the growing Catholic middle class and the Catholic Church attained a new respectability in Irish Social and Political life.....

On the 7th of Febraury 1880 in the Galway Vindicator  newspaper, it was reported that  a public meeting was held in Athenry on Sunday for the purpose of establishing a local branch of the National Land League.
   There was a large attendance. A substantial platform was erected in the chapel yard  and the Athenry Brass Band at the beginning and termination of these orderly proceedings discoursed in the practiced style some likely, soul stirring airs.
  Among those present at that meeting were: - Very Rev. Cannon O’Brien, P.P. , Rev P. McPhillip C C, Patrick Egan-Secretary Land League, Richard J. Kelly, Tuam, D. McDonagh, J. McPhyllin, P. Naughton, P.Hennelly, Michael Fahy, T.R. Kelly, P.C. Kelly, A. Keary, P.P. Broderick, M. Nolan, M. Hennelly, P.L.G. , P. Callanan, L. Lardner, J. Shaughnessy, J.Fahy, J. Donohue, M. Culkin, P. Mahon, P. Murphy, T. Coyne, & C & C.

   On the motions of Denis McDonagh, seconded by Mr. Hennelly. The chair was taken loud and continued applause by the Very Rev. P.J. Cannon O’Brien. The very Bev Chairman, in addressing said:
“My respected fellow townsmen, parishioners, and friends, I have to thank you very much indeed for the honourof thus promoting me to the proud position of President of the Athenry Tenant’s Defence Asscoiation, which is to be engrafted on the great Irish Land League.
I accept the enviable post with more than ordinary promptitude and pleasure because I believe the work which that league is resolved to do to be a work which that should enlist the best sympathies, and secure the most strenuous co-operation for every man to feel for, or an intellect to understand or inexpressingly calamitous, distressful, and degraded state into which our ill-starred sountry is flung down by the despotic felonious murderous system of feudal landlordism wherewith we and our fathers for many generations have been cursed and cumbered on our native soil.


Yes! my friends this atrocious Landlordism should force every tongue in Ireland legally to denounce, and every hand in Ireland constitutionally to destroy it utterly and forever from our midst.
   Need we go back to the bloodstained records for the unnumbered evils and humiliations and sufferings which it caused again and again in the olden times to all the Celtic and Catholic classes in this misgoverned land? Most assuredly not.
   No! We have unfortunetly at our very doors, yes, within our very thresholds, in Athenry, at this melancholy moment, bitter, sadly thrilling evidences of the widespread, woeful, wicked, consequences of this adominable system.

The feudal landlordism it emphatically is which as already brought this county of Galway into the ghastly presence of famine and fever, and the many unspeakable miseries that ever follow in their fatal wake – this fendal lanlordism it is that now leaves our labourers, standing idle in the market place, where there is no one to hire them –our artisans straving, our farmers in despair, our small tenants perishing, our shopkeepers despondent, and our merchants pauperized-this  feudal landlordism it is that has drawn the black pencil of poverty across the face of this unhappy province.

This feudal landlordism it is that has prostrated her energies, paralyzed her spirit of enterprise and annihilsted her propriority - this feudal landlordism it is that has shorn her-as Sampson was once shorn of his strength and consigned her to be helplessly kicked and scuffed, and jeered at, and spit upon by every contemptous philistine at his arrongant will - this feudal lanlordism, it is that now day after day, alas, presents before us the sad and sickening spectacle not only of decrepit husbands, and shrivelled wives and famishing widows, and half-naked children; but evcen stalwart men and youthful  maidens coming in their hundereds to our relief depots, and piteously craving for for the miserable beggar's dole-this feudal landlordism it is that has made our country at this moment, as oft she was before a by-word for sorrow, a parable of wretchdness, and a medicant for aims at the dorr of every nation under Heaven!

This, in fine, is the feudal landlordism, of which may be truly said, as was cloquently said of the alien robbers in Peru - that "Wherever it moves in anger desoultion marks its progress, and wherever it pauses in amnity afflictions mourns its friendship".
No wonder, therefore, my friends, that such a ruthless and ruffian system should come at last,  to be repudiated by equity, to be rejected by justice, to be renounced by reason, and to be reprobated by argument.
   Yes! reprobated and undefended by every argument save one, that proveriably notorious argument of tyranny. The savage argument, of bayonets and brute force. Yes, thank God, despite of that barb-rous argument, despite of the death bearing rifles and menancing revolvers.
Now, put forward with such a promising parade, and pomp and glistening bravodo in its behalf; despite of the fact that it is formally propped up. This destestable feudal landlordism is manifestable tottering to its near and inevitable destruction.

For everyone to that hath eyes to see the palpable shadows of the fast and surely coming events, its doom is already written on the wall; it is already written on the wall. It is weighed in the balac es of principle alike and policy, and found wanting - tis cruel couse is already well-nigh run, and its crimeful days are numbered.
   Even as Rome of old fell beneath the load of own long culminating corruption, so shall feudal landlordism in Ireland fall under the overwhelming burden of its long accumlating inquities-like Richard's- the very weight of its own guilt shall crush it.
Well, you will, my friends, naturally ask me, if this is so, what need have we of a Tenant's Defence Association at all?
   The awnser is not far to seek. It is the duty of every honest man to hasten by all legitimate means, the disappareance of such a mischievous and maligant monstrosity (from?) amgonst us. No, I hope to convience you that there is no constitutional means better calculated to effect this blessed purpose. To accomplish this desiderated end, than the action whic is to be taken by the Tenant's Defence Association with which our Athenry Branch commences to be joined today.
        Feudal Landlordism, is as I have said, doomed to die without any very long delay. But trust me, my friend, that like many a noxious evenomed animal, it will "die hard". Knowing even as he, mentioned in the Scriptures knew of himself, that it "hath but a short time," work refreshed, as it were a redoubled  wrath and energy.
   Now nothing that I can concieve of, , will more effectively stay in its hostile hand, and neutrailize, as far as may be, its work of wickedness , than what the Tenants Defence Association, acting strictly with in the lines of legality intends to do. The chief reason why landlordism wrought almost without raising a little finger of effort. or closing a single farthing of money, much lamentable ruin among the tenantry of Ireland hitherto, was, that with a priarie, hunter's skill, it separated and singled out its victim from the heard.
   But aswell as an imbecile infant strive against a giant in the furious falness of his rage, as a poor individual, isolated tenant contend successfully against against this landordism. So, of course, it goes without saying, that the poor isolated tenant  was worsted; that down went his homestead before the levelling crowbar; and that out went himself and his wailing wife and shivering waste.
   Again,and again, and again for countless times was this same cunning plan of inexpensive inhumrnity adopted by landlordism against other haples tenants. More than that: comparatively speaking and as a rule all these dees of desolation were done without, what landlordism so much dreads, any special knowledge or notice on the part of the general public. Now thanks to the defence association, landlordism can never again hope to enjoy either of these, its olden advantages.
   No more can landlordism victimize the tenants as it did in the days of yore. Every tenant who is a member of this Defence Association, and he can become an enroled member for a trifiling-a nearly nominal  sum- will Land League