OughterardandKilannin:TheLandLeague(1879-82)

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MichaelDavitt(1846-1906)

Davitt,founderoftheLandLeague,wasthesonofanevictedMayotenant.Hewasimprisonedforfifteenyearsin1870onchargesofFenianconspiracyinEngland.ReleasedfromDartmoorprisonin1877on‘ticketofleave’,hereturnedtoIreland.

HestagedamassmeetingatIrishtown,Co.Mayo,on20thApril,1879.Thisdemonstrationwascalledtoprotestagainstexcessiverentsandwasattendedbyover10,000.OtherlargemeetingsfollowedandthemovementquicklyspreadfromMayotoConnaughtandthenthroughoutthecountry.

TheIrishNationalLandLeaguewasfoundedinDublinon21stOctober,1879,withC.S.Parnellasitspresident.TheobjectsoftheLandLeaguewere1)toreducerackrentsand2)toobtaintheownershipofthesoilbyitsoccupiers,i.e.tenantownership.

DuringtheLandWar(1879-82),Davittwrotethatthelandlordswere

“abroodofcormorantvampiresthathassuckedthelifebloodoutofthecountry.”

TheLandLeaguewasanon-violentmassmovementbutitusedthemethodsofpublicity,moralintimidationandboycottagainstlandlordsandlandgrabberswhobroketheLandLeaguecode.

Thispopularmovementachievedaremarkabledegreeofsuccess.Withinagenerationofitsfounding,bytheearly20thcentury,mostofthetenantfarmersofIrelandhadbecomeownersoftheirfarmsandthelandlordsystem,whichhaddominatedIrelandforcenturies,hadbeenended.

AnAgriculturalCrisis

Anagriculturaldepressionbeganin1877,whichwasespeciallybadinConnaught.Therewerethreesuccessivebadharvestsandblighthadspreadtothepotatocrop.StarvationloomedinthewestofIrelandandrecalledtheconditionsoftheFamineand‘Black‘47’.Manysmallholdersfacedfamine.

Therewasasteepfallinthepricesofallfarmingproduce,includinglivestock.Evictionsmorethandoubledin1878and1879,andthetenantswereunabletopaytherents.Atthistime,tensofthousandsofpeasantsinthewestofIrelandlivedonthemarginofsubsistence.

Fr.PatrickCoynep.p.,Kilannin

ThereismuchrememberedlocallyaboutFr.CoyneandtheKilannindisputeor‘schism’of1890-95,whenheobjectedtoKilanninparishbeingtransferredfromthearchdioceseofTuamtothedioceseofGalway.Inthisdispute,hewassupportedbyalarge,loyalsectionofhisparishbutlosthiscaseintheend.

Lessmaybeknownabouthimasapatriot,anavowedenemyoflandlordismandaleaderoftheLandLeagueinhisparishandbeyondduringtheLandWarofthe1870sonwards.

Fr.CoynewasappointedparishpriestofKilanninparish,archdioceseofTuam,in1875.ThiswastheyearoftheBerridgeevictionsinGarrynaghry,atownlandinKilannin,duringthecourseofwhichanoldmanhaddiedwhenevictedfromhishome.Aboutthesametime,thewholeofthetownlandofPorridgetownwasevictedbytheagentofRobertMartinofRossHouse,Kilannin,someforlongperiods.Fr.Coynehadthemeventuallyrestoredtotheirhousesandlands.Inaddition,hehadcottagesbuilttoshelterfamilieswhohadbeenevictedfromtheirlandintheparish.

In1878,heestablishedaTenantDefenceAssociationintheparish.Ithad400membersandweeklymeetingswereheld,presidedoverbyFr.Coyne.By1879,ithadathousandmembers.

From1878,Fr.Coynewasleaderofthelandagitation,loyallybackedbyhispeople.Personsevictedfromtheirholdingswererestoredthroughhisefforts,inhisownparishandinneighbouringparishes.ItisprobablethatthestrongandloyalsupporthereceivedduringthelaterdisputeoverthetransferoftheparishfromTuamtoGalwaydiocesewasduetohisactivityontheirbehalfduringtheLandLeagueperiod.

TheLocalLandlords(1876)

RobertMartin–RossHouse.5,767acres.JamesE.Jackson-Kilaguile.1,062acres.RichardBerridge–BallinahinchandOughterard.171,117acres.TheoboldO’Flahertie–Lemonfield.2,340acres.GeorgeE.Burke–Danesfield,Moycullen.2,480acres.JosephFitzpatrick–KnockbaneHouse,Moycullen.1,522acres.

RichardBerridge,whohadbecometheowneroftheformerMartinestatein1872,wasthelargestlandownerinIrelandorEngland.HehadalargeestateinthethreeparishesofthebaronyofMoycullen,ofover80,000acres.DuringtheLandWar,hewasgenerallyanabsenteeandhisestatewasrunbyhislandagent,GeorgeT.Robinson.

MostoftheestateoftheMartinsofRosswasintheparishofKilannin.In1872,theMartinfamilyleftRossduetodebtsanddidnotreturnuntil1888.TheythusavoidedmostoftheagitationoftheLandWar.Theiragentpursuedapolicywhichledtooppositionandevictionsoftheirtenants.

JamesJackson,alocallandlordofKilaguile,wasanagentofRobertMartin,whowasoftenabsentfromhisestate,asheworkedasajournalistinLondonandDublin.Jackson,onhisownevidencetoacommissionin1880,charged40-50percentoverthegovernmentvaluationforhisrents.Hewouldevicttenantswhorefusedtoaccepthisterms.Hesaidthathehadbeendenouncedbythetenant’spriest,Fr.Coyne,forhisharshconducttowardshistenantssince1875.

PublicMeetingsoftheLandLeague(1878-81)

InNovember1878,apublicmeetingwasheldinKilannininprotestagainsttheevictionsthatweretakingplaceintheparish.JohnMoloney,Park,wasthechairman.

Fr.Coynespoke,denouncedtheevictions,anddescribedsomepitiablescenes.

Apooroldwoman,unabletoleaveherbed,wasdraggedoutonamattressandleftontheroad.

Anagedman,sickandfeeble,towhomhehadadministeredthelastritesafewdaysbefore,wasthrownout,coveredwithonlyablanket,tothehorrorofallpresent.Publicsympathywasaroused,ameetingwasconvened;thepeopledefrayedtheentirecostandthepoormanwasreinstatedinhishumblehut.Buttheagentreturnedandservednoticetoquitonhim,notnowforrentbutforpossession.

Fiveotherwretchedfamilies,inarrearsofrent,were

broughtintothecourtsandsaddledwithacripplingloadofrents.Sixtypoliceweredraftedintothepeacefulhamlet.Theentirecostofthefiveoutcastshadbeendefrayedbuttheagenthadreturnedandservednoticestoquitonthem.Theywerestillunderthreatofevictiontwelvemonthslater.

Between1879and1881,anumberofpublicmeetingsoftheLandLeaguetookplaceinKilanninandOughterard,inwhichlargecrowdsfromalloverthecountyattended.Fr.Coyneplayedaprominentpartatthesemeetings.ThereportsofthesemeetingsinthepressandtheresolutionspassedaretypicalofwhatwastakingplaceatLandLeaguemeetingsthroughoutthecountry,especiallyincountiesMayoandGalway,andtheyshowwhattheLandLeaguestoodfor.

ThefactthatMichaelDavitt,thefounderoftheLandLeague,attendedandspokeatapublicmeetinginNovember,1879,justamonthaftertheLandLeaguewasofficiallyfounded,showsthehighregardinwhichFr.Coynewasheldonthelandissue.HishouseinthetownlandofFahy,abouttwomilesfromKilanninChapel,wascalled‘LandLeagueHouse’,wherehelatersaidMassandperformedthesacramentsduringthedisputeoverthetransferoftheparish.

Oneofthemostinterestingaspectsofthemeetings,whichaddedcolourtotheoccasionsasreportedinthelocalpress,werethebands,banners,slogans,menonhorsebackandimitationsofpikemenetc.Thereactionofthepeoplewasgivenas‘AVoicefromtheCrowd’.

InthewestofIreland,thelocalclergygenerallychairedthelocalbranchesoftheLandLeaguemeetingsandwereveryactiveonthelandquestion.

LandLeagueMeeting:TheRentQuestion–TheHarvestAverylargemeetingofthetenantfarmersoftheparishesofMoycullen,OughterardandKilanninwasheldonSunday17thSeptember,1879,afterlastMass.ItisnotclearfromthepressreportwhetherthemeetingwasinKilanninorMoycullenchapelyard.

ThechairmanwasFr.P.Coyne,p.p.andsecretaryoftheKilanninTenantDefenceAssociation.Itwasconvenedtocallonthelocallandlordstoreducetherents,inviewofthedisastrousharvestsafter1877.ThelandlordsnamedwerefromtheparishofMoycullen.

Thefollowingresolutionswereunanimouslyadopted.

-ProposedbyTimothyKyne,Moycullen;secondedbyPatrickO’Flaherty,Kilannin:Thatduetothedisastrouseffectsofthreeconsecutivebadharvests,thetenantsweresoimpoverishedastobeunabletopaytherentsofthemoreprosperousyears.Theyearnestlyappealedtotheirlandlordstogivethemaliberalabatement,alongwitharevisionofahalf-year’srent.

-ProposedbyJohnJoyce,merchant,Oughterard;secondedbyRobertLee:Thattheypledgedthemselvesnottotakeanyholdingfromwhichatenant,infuture,wouldbeevictedbecauseofhisinabilitytopayanexcessiverent,andtheywoulduseeveryinfluenceintheirpowertodefeattheevilofsuchlandlordsbytheforceofpublicopinion.

-ProposedbyJohnMoloney,Park;secondedbyMichaelWhelan:That,ascertainshopkeepersintheparisheshadbeentakingoveratonceholdingsfromwhichtenantshadbeenevicted,theycalledontheseshopkeeperstodesistinfuturefromsuchapractice,andiftheyrefused,theypledgedthemselvestowithdrawtheirsupportfromthemandgivetheirdoingseverypublicity.

-ProposedbyHughDavoren,Moycullen;secondedbyJohnKyne,Moycullen:ThatthecommitteeoftheKilanninTenantDefenceAssociationberequestedtoprocurethegovernmentvaluationandrentofeveryholdinginthethreeparishesinordertobringpublicopiniontobearontheexceedinglyhighrentsimposedonthem[inproportiontotheGriffithValuation].

Therefollowedanumberofmemorials(writtenrequests)tonamedlandlordsbytheirtenants,callingonthemforareductionoftheveryhighrentstheyhadtopay.Theybelievedthattheirdemandstothelandlordswerereasonable.ToEdwardGuilfoyle,Galway,thetenantsofthetownlandsofOwerEastand

West,Laragan,Wormhole,GurthmoreandGurthbegstatedthat,duetothesuddencollapseofthepricesofcattleandotherlivestock,andthesuccessionofbadharvests–thepotatocrophadbeenblackened-andwithacrushingloadofrent,theywerenolongerabletopaytheexhorbitantrentslatelyimposedonthem.

Theycalledonthelandlordtolowertheirpresenthighrentstothatpaidtotheirlatelandlordin1870,inmoreprosperoustimes.Theysaidthattractsofvaluablepastureandarableland,andtherightofsellingturf,whichtheyhadundertheoldlandlord,hadbeentakenfromthem.Theynowfoundthemselvestotteringtowardsruinandalmostonthevergeofdespair,andpleadedforareductionoftheirpresentexcessivelyhighrents.

ThetenantsoffourothertownlandsintheparishofMoycullensentamemorialtotheirlandlord,

G.F.HessianEsq.J.P.Itwaswordedinsimilartermstothepreviousone,pointingoutthattheconditionsatthepresentweretheworstsincetheFamine.Theycalledforanabatementoftheirrents,suitabletothepresentemergency.

ThefollowingisalistofsomeofthetenantsofthetownlandsofFinnaglea,Knockaloughetc.:AnthonyKyne,MichaelFaherty,JohnKealy,MichaelandKateCarr,MatthewRyder,ThomasBarrett,WidowMatthewFaherty,EdwardFaherty,BridgetKeady(widowofPatKeady),PatKing,MarkKeady,ThomasFaherty.

ThetenantsofthetownlandsofKnockranny,CoulaheeandKnockbaunlaidapetitionbeforetheirlandlord,JosephFitzpatrickEsq.,KnockbaunHouse.Theycalledforaliberalreductionoftheirrentstotideoverthepresentcrisis.Theysaidthateventhosewhohadabeasttosellmighttakeittoseveralfairsandnotevengetabidforit.Theirresourceswerenowcompletelyexhausted.Thepetitionwassignedbyalargenumberoftheinhabitantsofthedistrict.

TheresolutionsandmemorialstothelandlordsweresupportedbyFr.Coyne,chairman,andFr.FrancisKennyp.p.,Moycullen.

TheLandQuestion:MeetingatOughterard

“OnSunday12thOctober,1879,themerchantsofthetownandthetenantsoftheneighbourhoodofOughterardheldameetinginthechapelsquareafter12o’clockMass.Themeetingwasconvenedtolaybeforethelandlordswhohadestatesintheparishthenecessityofgivingapermanentreductioninthehighrents,bywhichthetenantsweretaxed,andtorequestaremissionofthehalf-year’srentnowdue.Althoughthedistressandpovertyofthedistrictwasbroughtundertheirnotice,stillnolandlords,withtwohonourableexceptions,hadshownanysympathywiththepoor,orhadshowntheslightestintentionofdoinganythingtohelpthem.Atalltimes,thetenantsherewerepunctualinthepaymentoftheirrentstothelandlordsandveryseldomraisedanycryagainstthecrueltreatmentmanyofthemreceivedfromthelandlords’hands.

Nowthehalf-year’srentisaskedforandtheyhavenorenttogive.Thetwoprecedingseasonshaveplacedthepoorindeeparrearstoshopkeepersandbanks.Today,thetenantsfindthemselvesinaconditionasglaringasthatof1846and1847.Thepotatocrophasrottedandtheharvest(corn)ismostunfruitful.Thebankswilladvancenomoneyandtheshopkeeperswillgivenofood.Howthencanthetenantsbeexpectedtomeetthefulldemandsofthelandlords,inthefaceofsuchhardfacts?

Yet,thepoormanwoulddischargesomeofhisdebtsbybringinghisstocktofairsandmarkets,willingtosellthematapricefarbelowtheirvalue.Atthetwofairsrecentlyheldhere,one-fifteenthofthesheepandcattlewerenotsold.Althoughthequalitywasnotinferiortothatofformeryears,onehundredpoundsdidnotchangehandsalthoughthefairgreenwasneversowellfilledbefore.Therewerenobuyers,nomatteratwhatpricethestockwasofferedtotakethemofftheseller’shands.

Thelandlordsshouldshowthemselvestobethefriendsofthetenantsindistressbygivingapermanentabatementandfullremissionoftheirhalf-year’srents.Alesserreductionwillbeofnouse.Itisonlyfairthatthelandlords,whohavereceivedthefruitsofthetenants’industryinprosperousyears,shouldbearsomeoftheburdeninadverseyears.

Itisnotfairthatwhilehungerstaresthepoormanintheface,thatthelandlordshouldenjoychoicewinesanddaintymeals.Itisnotfairthattherichreclineincushionedcoaches,hurryingofftospendthepoorman’searningsintheremotemetropolis,whilethecaravanoftheUnionshouldbecarryinghistenantstotheworkhouse.Ifthelandlordscutbackthemselvesonmanythingsthatarenotneeded,andwithwhichtheysurroundthemselves,theywouldfindthatthecrumbsfromtheirtableswouldbeasloavestothehungrymouthsofthepoorandwouldingreatmeasuresatisfythejustdemandsofthetenantsgatheredheretoday.”

TheabovewasthereportoftheGalwayVindicatorof15thOctober,1879.ItgivesaveryclearaccountoftheconditionofthetenantsintheneighbourhoodofOughterardandtheattitudeofthelandlordsduringthestartoftheLandLeagueagitation.

Rev.RedmondMcDonaghp.p.,Oughterard,nowmovedtothechairandanumberofresolutionswereadopted.TheresolutionsweresimilartothosethatwerebeingpassedatLandLeaguemeetingsthroughoutthecountryatthistime.SimilarresolutionswerepassedatKilannin,wheremostofthemeetingstookplaceunderFr.P.Coynep.p.

Theycalledforapermanentabatementorreductionoftheirhighrents,duetothreesuccessivebadharvestsandthefallinthepriceofcattleandallagriculturalproduce.Theypledgedthemselvesnottotakeanyholdingfromwhichatenantwasevictedfornon-paymentofrackrents,asthesystemoflandbiddinglargelyledtotheexhorbitantrents.Theycalledonthegovernmenttoprovideemploymentforthepeoplebypublicworks,i.e.landreclamation.

Thetenantsofeachestateintheparishweretosendmemorials,withtheirnamesattached,totheirlandlords,callingforaremissionofthepresenthalf-year’srentandapermanentabatementoftheirrents.

TheproposersofthemotionswereHenryMurphy,Rev.J.Cradockc.c.,HenryFlanaganandJohnJoyce.TheproposersandseconderswerefromOughterardandincludedsomeshopkeepers.

Itisclearfromthereportsandresolutionsofthismeetingthatthetenantsandshopkeepersdidnotwanttogetridofthelandlordsbuttogetajustandfairsystemunderthem,i.e.fairrentsandareductionofrackrents,duetotheeconomiccrisisfrom1877.

TherewereperiodiceconomiccrisesfromtheGreatFamine(1845-50)throughtherestofthe19thcentury,i.e.1859-62,1879-82,1897-98,1904and1912.Theyearsbefore1877wererememberedastheprosperousyears,althoughthevastmajorityofthesmallfarmerslivedinpovertyandatsubsistencelevelallthroughthe19thcentury.

LandAgitation:PublicMeetingatKilannin

TheGalwayVindicatorreportedthat,onSunday,16thNovember,1879,apublicmeetingwasheldinKilannin,avillageinConnemara,Co.Galway,attendedbynotlessthansixorseventhousandpeople.Contingentsattendedfromallpartsofthecounty,includingGalway,Headford,Spiddal,Roundstone,Ballycurran,MoycullenandOughterard.

MichaelDavitt,thefounderoftheLandLeague,attendedandspoke.Themeetingtookplaceinthechapelyardafter12o’clockMass.Fr.Coynep.p.presidedinthechair.Thecontingentsfromthedifferentplaceswereaccompaniedbymountedmenandpikemen.Aremarkablefeaturewasthetollingofthechapelbellatregularintervals,ringingoutthedeathknelloflandlordism.

TheOughterardbrassbandsuppliedthemusic,ofahighquality,withnationalairs.Inthebrakecontainingthemembersofthebandwasplantedahandsomegreenbanner,displayingarichlyembroideredredharp,withtheencouragingmottounderneath“Itwillsoundagain”.Thebannersboresuchmottoesas“ErinGoBragh”,“TheLandforthePeople”,“Downwiththetyrants”etc.

TheKilleenandCloghanowermenmarchedthreeandfourhundredmenstrong,arrayedingreenscarvesandrosettesandcarryingimitationtinpikes.TheBallycurranpikemenwereequallynumerous,theirpikeslanesbeingpaintedgreen.

ItisinterestingtonotethatwhiletheLandLeaguewasbeingformedinMayoduring1879,similarbannersandsloganswereevident.AmeetingwasheldinWestporton8thJune,1879,addressedbyC.S.Parnell.Atthatmeeting,thousandscamefromallpartsofMayotoafieldnearWestporttown.Manyworegreenribbonsandrosettes.Eightyarrivedinabodyonhorsebackandsomeheldaloftbannersproclaimingtheslogans“TheLandforthePeople”,“DownwiththeLandRobbers”etc.

AmongstthoseontheplatforminKilanninwereRev.PatrickCoynep.p.,Kilannin;Rev.RedmondMcDonaghp.p.,Oughterard;Rev.JamesCraddockc.c.,Oughterard;Rev.PatrickMannionc.c.,Spiddal;Messrs.MichaelDavitt;M.J.Tierney,Galway;JohnMoloney,Park;JohnJoyce,Oughterard;JamesFahy,Galway;JohnJ.O’Loughlin,Cashel;PatrickBarrett,AranMór;ThomasJ.Lyons,Spiddal.

Thegovernmentwasrepresentedontheplatformbyashorthandwriter.Theproceedingsweremostorderlyanddecorous.

ThefollowingisasummaryofsomeofthekeyphrasesofFr.Coyneandtheotherspeakers.

Fr.Coynesaidthattheoccasionoftheirassemblyintheirthousandsonthatdaywasbecausetheirvitalinterests,indeedtheirveryexistence,wasatstake.Threebadharvestsinsuccessionhadreducedthem[tenantfarmersandlabourers]toastateofabsolutepauperism.Thecerealcrophadbeendamaged,thepotatocrophadmeltedawayintheearthfromblightandtheirstockwasunsalable.Theyweresunkindebttotheircreditors.Faminewasalreadygrimlystaringmanyintheparishintheface.Tocompletetheirmisery,theirlandlordswerelookingfortheirusualpoundofflesh[rents],withoutmercyorsympathyforthem.

Thecauseofallthisdestitutionandfaminewastheviciousandiniquitoussystemoflandtenureunderwhichtheylivedandwhichmustbeendedbeforeprosperityorhappinesswouldbeachieved.(AVoice:“Itislongwanting.”)Therack-rentinglandlordshadoppressedandgroundthemdowntothedust.Noworseclassoflandlordseverbreathedthefreeairofheaventhanthosewhopossessedthelandsinthislocality.Therentrollofonepropertyintheparishhadbeenraisedwithinthelastsixorsevenyearsbytheenormousamountof150percentandmore.(TheCrowd:Groansandcriesof“Shame!”)

Duringhisshorttimeintheparish,hehadwitnessedthemostcruelevictionscenes.Hehadseenwithhisowneyes,intheparish,apoormanwhodroppeddeadduringanevictionprocessandhislifelessbodythrownoutonthestreetbytheorderoftheagent.(AVoice:“Shame,shame!Itisafact;itisnolie.”)

Fr.Coynenowdrewattentiontocasesofevictionwhichhehaddescribedatapublicmeetingjustayearbefore(November,1878).Althoughtherentwaspaidforthembythepeople,theywereagainunderthreatofeviction.Hecalledontheagenttodesistfromthisthreatandtohavesomesparkofsympathyforthetenantsoverwhomhewasplaced.

Hesaidthattherewerenottwentyfarmersintheparishwhowereabletopaytherent.Sincethelandlordshadrefusedtocometotheiraid,heaskedwhatweretheytodo.(AVoice:“Topaynorent.”)Hetoldthemtoofferthelandlordsafairrent,iftheycould,accordingtothegovernmentvaluationandiftheydidnotacceptthat,letthemdowithoutit.Hecalledonthemtoremainunited,astheyhadathousandmembersandanorganisationalready,intheparish.

Therewasaproposaltoreducethehighrentstothegovernmentvaluationandtoremitahalf-year’srentinthebaronyofMoycullen.

Mr.JohnJoyce,Oughterard,proposedthatnotenantinConnemarashouldtakeaholdingfromwhichanothertenantwasevictedbecausehewasunabletopayanexhorbitantrent,orforanyotherunjustmotive.

Rev.P.Mannionp.p.,Spiddal,proposedthat,sincethepresentviciousandiniquitoussystemoflandtenurewasmainlythecauseofrecurringdestitutionandfamine,itwasresolvedthatitwasnecessarytoabolishthesystemandestablishapeasantproprietaryinitsplaceastheonlyfinalandsatisfactorysettlementofthelandquestion.

Mr.MichaelDavittwasreceivedwithloudandcontinuouscheers.Davitt,whohadfoundedtheLandLeague,spokeatlengthonthelandproblemanditsfinalsolution.Heexplainedthattheso-calledthreeFs[fairrent,freesaleandfixityoftenure],orjointownershipbetweenlandlordandtenant,wasnotacceptableasasolution.Theonlysolutionwastoendthelandlordsystemandreplaceitwithtenantownership.Heexplainedindetailhowthiscouldbedonewithoutanyextracostorsacrificeforthetenantsovertheirpresentrents.

Hesaidthatthosewhosupportedthelandlordsystemweretryingtoturnthetideofapopularmovementandarrestthepopularcryforafreesoil.Thosewhosupportedthelandlordsystemsaythatitwouldrequiremillionsofpoundstobuyoutthelandlords,andnogovernmentwouldprovidesuchsumsfortheIrishfarmers.Theyarguedthatapeasant

proprietarywasunobtainableandthatlandlordismmustremainandthatmanycenturiesmustelapsebeforethemenwhocultivatethesoilofIrelandwouldownit.No-onebelievedthatthepresentgovernmentwouldgivetwoorthreemillionstoenableustogetridofthelandlords,norhadanyoneyetfixedadaywhenlandlordism,bagandbaggage,wouldbebanishedfromIreland.(AVoice:“Tohellwiththem!”)

Thepresentsystemoflandtenurecannotandwillnotbetolerated.Parnellandothermembersofparliamenthadstatedthatpeasantownershipasafinalsolutioncouldbeestablishedwithoutanyextraordinaryadvanceofmoney.Aloancouldbeadvancedbythegovernment,theinteresttobepaidat3¼percentperannum,whichwouldamounttotheformerrent.Underthissystem,inalimitednumberofyears,thefarmwouldbeownedbythetenantand,inthemeantime,thetenantwouldhaveundisturbedsecurityofhisholding.Headvisedthepeopletoorganisetheirstrengthtowinbackthesoiloftheirfatherlandandnevertoceasestrivinguntiltheyhad:

“Landforthehandsthattillit,Landfortheseedtheysow,Landthatisyourswhileyouwillit,Yourswithoutstrikingablow,Ayefromeachrooftopandsteeple,Ifyoubutwillitagain,Landforthelandlesspeople,Landforthechildrenofmen.”

Mr.P.Conroy,Oughterard,askedforthreecheersmoreforMr.Davitt,whohadingreatmeasureemancipatedthetenantfarmers.

ThesystemwhichDavittexplainedingreatdetailwaswhattookplaceinthelaterLandActs,especiallytheWyndhamLandAct(1903),bywhichtenantsbecameownersofthelandbyastate-aidedsystemoflandpurchase,andlandlordismwasabolished.

Rev.JamesCraddockc.c.,Oughterard,spokeatgreatlengthtoaresolution.Hesaidthat,duetotheseriousdistressthatexistedamongthem,hecalledonthegovernmenttocometotheaidofthepoorlabouringclassesandsmallfarmersbyopeningupusefulpublicworksinthedistricttosavethepeoplefromstarvationandruin.

Itwassadlytruethatfaminewasalreadyattheirverydoors.Halfthepeopleassembledtherethatdaywouldnothavefoodtoeatintwomonthstime.Unlesspublicemploymentwasprovidedspeedily,theterriblescenesof1846and1847wouldbeenactedagain.Atthattime,theworkhouseofOughterard,whichwasoriginallybuiltfor900,hadtobeenlarged

tolodge1500.Oneveryside,therearebaregablesandtumbleddownwallsofoncepopulousvillagestobeseen.

Thepeoplehadrightandjusticeontheirsideandwerenotaskingforassistancefromthegovernmentasbeggars,butasoneswithatitletoit.TheannualmillionsdrainedoutofthecountrytoEngland,ifallowedtocirculateathome,wouldtidethemoverthebadharvests.From1800totheFamineof1845,230millionSterlinghadbeenabstractedfromthe

country.EveryIrishmanhadtherightanddutytodemandforthepeopleofIrelandthewealthnowsweptofftoEngland.IfafamineexistedinanyothercolonyofEngland,itwouldbeveryreadytoassistthem,ashadhappenedsomeyearsagointhericefieldsofBengal.EnglandhadnotyetcastoffitsoldspleenforIreland,thespiritofthePenalLaws.

Heagaincalledonthegovernmenttosetonfootpublicworksinthedistricttoservethepeople,asanymoredelaywouldbefatal.

Mr.DavittthenaddressedthepeopleinIrishandaddedinEnglish:“IfIspokeIrishanylonger,Ifearthegovernmentreporter,whoispresentontheplatformtakingnotes,wouldnotbeabletotakedownmywords,butIdon’tcareajotwhetherhetakesdownornot,IwillspeaktohiminhisownvileEnglishlanguage.”

Theproceedingsthenterminatedandthepeoplequietlydispersed.

InNovember1899,MichaelDavittandothermembersoftheLandLeaguewerearrestedandcommittedtoprison.DavittwasarrestedforhavingusedseditiouslanguageatameetinginGurteeninSligo.Asanex-politicalprisoneronticketofleaveforFenianactivities,hehadtobecarefulaboutwhathesaidatpublicmeetings,asgovernmentreportersattended.

Fr.CoyneandotherlocalclergyattendedLandLeaguemeetingsoutsideKilanninandOughterard.On21stOctober,1879,alargedemonstrationtookplaceinGalway,thelargesteverheldinthatpartofConnaught.Mr.C.S.Parnelladdressedthemeeting.PresentontheplatformwereRev.R.McDonaghp.p.,Oughterard,Rev.P.Coynep.p.,KilanninandRev.JamesCraddockc.c.,Oughterard.

VerylargenumbersattendedtheLandLeaguemeetingsatthistime.On13thSeptember,1879,aTenantRightmeetingtookplaceatClifdeninConnemara,where10,000werereportedtohavebeenpresent.

TheRosscahillDemonstration(9thNovember,1880)

OnSunday,9thNovember,averylargelyattendedmeetingwasheldatRosscahill.Theprincipalobjectofthemeetingwastocommemoratethecompletionofthecottagesbuilt,attheexpenseoftheLandLeague,bythetenantsofthedistrict,toshelterseveralfamilieswhohadbeenevictedofftheneighbouringproperty.

Theyarethefirsthousesconstructedwiththisobject,arewelllightedandventilated,andfarbetterthantheusualclassofcottagesofthetillersofthesoilinthewestofIreland.Theyarenotindividualcottages,butonelong,low-roofedbuilding,dividedintoseveraltenements.Thepeopleofthedistrictareproudoftheirundertaking.

Themeetingbeganat3o’clock,withFr.Coyneaschairman.Therewerenopoliceneartheplatformbut,about200yardsoffandconcealed,overfiftyofthemwerestationed,armedwithrifles.PresentontheplatformweretwogentlemenwhohadarrivedinDublinthepreviousSaturdaytowriteabouttheconditionofthecountry,Mr.CotterMorrisonofthePallMallGazette(London)andMr.KingoftheBostonJournal.

Fr.CoynesaidthatthevastassemblygatheredtogethershowedtheirdeterminationfearlesslytoproclaimtheeternalrightofthepeopleofthecountrytoliveonthelandGodhadgiventhem.Organisationandearnestnessintheircausewouldensuretheirultimatevictory.Iftheyhadstooduptothecrowbarbrigade,theirhomesteadswouldnotbelevelled,northeirfiresquenched,liketheevictionswhichtookplacein1849,whenmorethan50,000familieswerehurledoutandcastonthewaysidetodieofstarvation.

LandlordismwasthesourceofallIreland’smiseries.Ithadlevelledsomanyhomesteads,drivensomanytootherlandsortofindahomeinacoffin-lessgrave.Thisiniquitoussystemmustbefoughtandabolished.

Toshowthemhowthissystemhadworked,hegavetheminstancesofrent-raisinginseveraltownlandsintheirownbaronyofMoycullen.Inonedistrict,therentin1870was£57-17s-6¾d.In1880,itwas£140-3s-2d.

Inothercases,therelativerentswere:1870-£57-7s;1880-£1331870-£28-10s;1880-£65-1s1870-£48-10s;1880-£93-10s

Mr.ThomasBrennan,SecretaryoftheNationalLandLeague,spoke.Hesaidthatitwasabsolutelynecessarytoestablishasystemofpeasantproprietorship,astheonlyfinalsolutionofthelandproblem.Theyweretopledgethemselvesnevertoceasetilllandlordismwasabolishedandthetillersofthesoilbecameitsowners.

BeforetheLandLeaguewasestablishedatall,thepeopleofthedistrict,undertheirpatrioticpriest,Fr.Coyne,hadbandedtogetheragainsttheconspiracyoflandlordism.Astherewassuchaspiritamongthepeople,theeffortsofthegovernmenttocrushthemovementwouldfail.Whattheyneededinthemovementwerenotchiefsorlordsbutmenwho,actingdemocratically,wouldbringthelandlordstotheirknees.

InFr.Coyne,therewasnomoredeterminedenemyoflandlordism,orabraverdefenderoftherightsofthepeople.Fr.CoynewouldassurethemthattheLandLeaguewasnotcontrarytoreligionormorality.ItwasnothostiletoProtestantismoranyother-ism,exceptlandlordism.

Theymustfightthelandlordsysteminchbyinchandfootbyfoot,tillitwasdestroyed.Themiserablehovelswouldbereplacedeverywherebycomfortablehomesandthecryofthestarvingchildrenwouldnolongerbeheard.

Thelandlordsthoughttheywerebadlyoffiftheydidnotgettheirchampagne.Theyneverthoughtoftheconditionofthepeople,whethertheyhadenoughIndianmealornottokeeplifeinthem.TheyhadlefthomesdesolateandheartsbrokenanddriveninnocentIrishgirlstoalifeofsin.WhatmostIrishlandlordswereentitledtowastheprisonortheropesforhavingrobbedandmurderedtheIrishpeople.

Inconclusion,hesaidthatthepeopleshouldnotcrouchdownbeforethelandlordsortheiragents:

“Theytalkusdownandwalkusdownwhocrouchtotheircommand,Buttheyellofourdefiancenotyrantcanwithstand.”

Mr.CoadyofRosmucksecondedtheresolution.

Rev.Fr.Craddockc.c.,Oughterard,proposedthattheexhorbitantandunjustrentshadaruinouseffectonthepeopleofthelocalityandhadledtodestitutionandfamine.Theyresolvedthattheywouldpaynomorerackrentsandwouldnotpayahigherrentthanthegovernmentvaluation,pendingasettlementoftheIrishlandquestion.

TheresolutionwassecondedbyMr.HigginsoftheCongbranchoftheLandLeague,andpassed.

Rev.RedmondMcDonaghp.p.,Oughterard,proposedthattheyshouldpledgethemselvesnevertooccupyafarmfromwhichatenanthadbeenevictedforthenon-paymentofarackrent,oranyotherunjustmotive.Theyshouldregardthemanwhowasguiltyofsuchoffencesasafoultraitortohiscountryandanoutcasttosociety,andtheyweretopledgethemselvesnottoholdcommunication,ortransactbusinessofanykind,withsuchanobnoxiouscreature,butrathertoshunhimandtreathimasamoralleper.

Theproceedingsthenterminated.

TherewereseveralmotionspassedatLandLeaguemeetingsinKilanninandOughterardagainstanyonewhotookafarmfromwhichanothertenantwasunjustlyevicted.Suchapersonwastobesociallyostracised.Rev.McDonagh’smotioncalledonsuchapersontobetreatedasanoutcastofsocietyandtobeshunnedasamoralleper.

ThiswasthepolicyusedagainstCaptainCharlesBoycott,agentoftheEarlofErne’sestatenearLoughMask,Ballinrobe,Co.Mayo,in1880.ItwasbasedonaspeechmadebyParnellatEnnison19thSeptember,1880,wherehedenouncedlandgrabbers.Hesaidthatwhenamantookafarmfromwhichanotherhadbeenevicted,heshouldbeshunnedeverywhere,evenintheplaceofworship,andshouldbeisolatedasifhewerealeperofold.

Capt.Boycott,whobecameavictimofthepolicy,whichgaveanewwordtotheEnglishlanguage,wasforcedtoleaveIrelandpermanentlyinNovember,1880.RobertMartin(1846-1906),thelandlordofRossHouse,Kilannin,travelledthecountryin1882indefenceofthelandlordsandlargefarmerswhohadbeenboycotted,showinghissupportforthelandlordsandhisoppositiontotheLandLeaguemethods.

Boycottingspreadtoincludesport.InspiteoftheLandWar,theGalwayHuntwasheldregularlyduringtheseyearsandwasadvertisedonamonthlybasisinnorthandeastGalwayfrom1879to1881.Insomecounties,suchasTipperaryandKildare,thehuntwasstopped,asitwasassociatedwiththelandedgentry,whowereinconflictwiththetenantsatthattime.However,in1882-83themeetsoftheGalwayHuntwerecancelledfortherestoftheseasons.

PublicMeeting,Galway(20thMarch,1881)

ApublicmeetingofthelocalbranchoftheLandLeaguewasheldinEyreSquare,Galway,onSunday,20thMarch,1881.ItspurposewastohearanaddressfromMr.T.P.O’Connor,MPforGalwayborough,inprotestagainsttherecentlawspassedintheEnglishparliamentagainsttheLandLeagueandtheIrishMPswhosupportedit.

Therewereseveralbandswhoplayedmusicandlargenumbersattendedonhorseback,wearinggreenscarves.OntheplatformwereRev.R.McDonaghp.p.,Oughterard,Rev.Fr.Coynep.p.,KilanninandMatthewHarris,MP,Ballinasloe.

Thechairman,Mr.M.J.Tierney,condemnedtheCoercionActspassedinparliamentagainsttheLandLeagueandtheIrishMPs.Thepurposeoftheselawswastodefendthelandlordsystem.

Mr.T.P.O’Connor,MP,saidthat“thebad,wicked,tyrannicallandlordismofthepastwasapproachingitsextinctionandthecoercionlawswereaglassofwhiskeygiventoittokeepupit’scourage.(TheCrowd:Laughterandcheers.)LandlordismmustsoonerorlatergotothewallandtheIrishtenantmustbetheowneroftheIrishsoil.”

Rev.Fr.Coynewasreceivedwithgreatcheering.Hespokeinsupportofthefollowingmotion:

“ThatitwastheopinionofthemeetingthattheverygeneralactiontakenbythelandlordsthroughoutthecountyGalway,againsttheirtenants,gaveevidenceofadeterminationontheirparttotakeconcertedactionincruellyexterminatingallthepeasantrythatstillremainedinthisdepopulatedcounty.TheycalleduponthetenantfarmersofGalwaytostandtogetherandtobetruetoeachother.TheyappealedtotheirbrothersinAmericatosustaintheminthisdreadfulcrisis.“

Fr.Coynesaidthat,withinthelastweek,hisownhousehadbeenthrongedfrommorningtillnight,withpersonscomingtogetcounselandadvicewithregardtothecivilbillsandprocessesofejectmentthathadbeenissuedagainstthem.Nowwasthetimeforthetenantfarmerstoshowthattheywerenotafraidoftheseparchments.

Afriendofhishadsaidthattheyshouldadvisethepeopletopaywhattheycould.Hewouldbeverysorrytogivethatcounseloradvice.Hewouldtellthetenantfarmersoneveryestatetoagreeonacertainrentalandtoofferthat,andiftheyrefused,letthemputthemoutatthepointofabayonet(TheCrowd:Cheers);andifonemanwentandpaidhisrent,lettheothersshunhim.LethimbeexpelledfromtheLandLeague,ifhewasamember.

Mr.MatthewHarrissecondedtheresolution.

MatthewHarris(1825-90)wasoneoftheveryearliestactivistsinthelandagitationinCo.Galway.HefoundedtheBallinasloeTenantDefenceAssociationin1876andenlistedMichaelDavitt’ssupportforlandreforminMayo,whichledtothefoundationoftheLandLeague.HewasMPforEastGalwayfrom1885to1890.

TheLandLeagueafter1881

ThesecondLandAct(1881,Gladstone)gavethetenantsthethreeFs–fairrent,freesaleandfixityoftenure.Itsetuplandcourtstofixafairrent.

TheActsatisfiedmanyofthetenants’demands.ButtheLandLeaguefoughtonfortenantownership.ItwasdeclaredillegalandsuppressedinOctober,1881.Itsprominentleaders,ParnellandDavitt,wereimprisonedinKIlmainhamjailbutwerereleasedin1882.Eventually,theBritishgovernmentyieldedandbeganaprocessoflandpurchase,whichtransferredthelandfromlandlordstotenantsandendedlandlordism.

Sixty-onepersonswereimprisonedinGalwayjailbySeptember,1881,foroffencesassociatedwiththelandissue,i.e.threateningletters,assaults,intimidationetc.TheywerefromallcountiesofConnaughtandincludednumbersfromConnemaraandtheAranIslands.Galwaywasthecountywiththegreatestnumberofagrarianoutrages,orcrimes,duringtheLandWar,evenhigherthanCo.Mayo.Therewereoccasionalmurdersoflandlordsortheiragentsbutthenumberswereverylow,aslandlordscouldgetpoliceprotection.Asnotedelsewhere,duringthe1880s,GeorgeT.Robinson,landagentofRichardBerridge,wasshotatanumberoftimesbutescapedbecausehewas‘armourplated’.Robinsonandhisson,Henry,hadanarmedescortbygovernmentorder.

TheMurderofLordMountmorris

ThemurderofLordMountmorris,alandlordinClonbur,Co.Galway,tookplaceonthe25thSeptember,1880,anddrewgreatpublicity.Hehadasmallestateof300acresandfifteentenants,andhadrecentlyobtainedevictiondecreesagainstsomeofthem.HewasmurderedonhiswayhomefromameetingofmagistratesinClonburandsomethoughtthemurderwasduetohisharshnessasamagistrate.Theattackwascarefullyplanned.Sixbulletswerefoundinhisbodyandthreeontheroadwhichdidnotpassthroughhisperson,sothatmorethanonepersontookpartinthemurder.Threemenwerearrestedafterwardsandchargedwithhismurder.TherewasacontemporarydrawingofthemurderofLordMountmorrisatClonbur,Co.Galway,intheParisnewspaperLeMondeIllustre.

TheMaamtrasnaMurders(1882)

FivemembersoftheJoycefamilyweremurderedinaremoteCo.GalwayareainthePartrymountainson18thAugust,1882.Tenmenwerearrestedandchargedwiththemurder.Fiveoftheaccusedhadtheirdeathsentencescommutedtopenalservitudeforlife.

Threewerefoundguilty,sentencedtodeathandhangedinGalwayjailon15thDecember,1882.Oneofthem,MylesJoyce,protestedhisinnocenceevenashestoodonthescaffoldwitharoperoundhisneck.Twoyearslater,oneoftheprosecutionwitnessesconfessedpubliclythathehadswornfalselyagainstMylesJoyce.

Itisuncertainwhatthemotiveforthemurderswas,orwhethertherewasanyconnectionwiththelandproblem.Oneviewisthattheyweremurderedbecausetheywereoccupyingboycottedland.InIrishMemories,basedonthediariesofVioletMartin,ofRossHouse,andEdithSomerville,itisstatedthattradesmenwhocamefromDublintoworkonKylemore

CastlehadinfectedthemindsofnorthernConnemarawiththeideathatassassinationwasjustifiedforpoliticalpurposes,andthatthemurdersofMaamtrasnadistrictfollowed.

EvictionsandProcessServinginKilannin

EvictionsoftenantsincreasedtoagreatextentduringtheperiodoftheLandLeague,asthelandlordswerechallengedandrefusedrentsbythetenants,underlocalleaders.In1878,192families,consistingof1,015persons,wereevictedintheWestRidingofGalway,whichincludedConnemara.

ThelandlordswhoevictedinthebaronyofMoycullenwereMrs.Kirwan,Carraroe;PatrickBlake,Spiddal;RichardBerridge,BallinahinchandOughterard;andthelandagentofRobertMartin,JamesE.Jackson.TheevictionsofMrs.KirwaninCarraroeinJanuary,1882,aredescribedbyMichaelDavittasthe‘BattleofCarraroe’inhishistoryoftheLandLeague,TheFallofFeudalisminIreland.

ProcessServing

Theprocessserver’sjobwastoservenoticetoquitonatenantwhofailedtopayhisrent.Thenoticetoquitwasalegaldocumentwhichrequiredanytenantwhoreceivedonetogiveuphisholdingonastatedday.Ifthenoticedateexpiredbeforetherentwaspaid,itprovidedthelegalbasisforeviction.Thebailiffthentookpossessionofthehouseandlandforthelandlord.

Theprocessserverwastheenforcerofthelandlord’sright.Abillofejectment(eviction)wouldbepassedinthelocalcourt(PettySessions)fortheevictiontobecarriedout.Thelocallandlordswerethemagistrateswhopresidedoverthelocalcourtsessions.ProcessservingwascommoninthebaronyofMoycullenduringtheLandWarofthe1880s.Theprocessserverwasprotectedbyalargeforceofconstabulary,orpolice.

ThenamesoftheprocessserversinthebaronyofMoycullenandtheDivisionofClifden,Co.Galway,whobelongedtothelocality,were:PatrickHealy,OughterardEdmondNaughton,OughterardLawrenceConneely,MoycullenWalterButler,ClonburThomasMcNulty,SpiddalJohnTully,SpiddalMichaelJoyce,Shanaheela

TheBattleofCarraroe

Atthebeginningof1880,the‘BattleofCarraroe’,asdescribedbyMichaelDavitt,wasfoughtandwon.Itwasthefirstsuccessfulattempttopreventaprocessservingbycrowdresistance.ThepeoplerushedattheconstabularyandFenton,theprocessserver,anddrovethembeforethem,pursuingtheflying‘Peelers’tothedoorsofthebarrack.Althoughthe‘Peelers’usedtheirbayonets,theyweresurroundedandattackedwithstoutblackthornsandstones,andcompelledtoretire.

Thiswasnottypical,asgenerallytheprocessservingwasasuccessbecauseofthegreatforceofthepolice.IntheWestRidingofGalwayalone,107officersand3,300menwererequiredtoprotecttheprocessserversinthefirstmonthsof1880,andtheywerebasicallyasuccess.Thismusthavebeenahugefinancialcost.

ProcessesservedatRosscahill(1880)

TheGalwayVindicatorof14thJanuary,1880,describedasceneofprocessservingontheMartinestate,Rosscahill,Kilannin,Co.Galway.ThereportstatedthattheprocessservingtookplaceontheMartinproperty,threeorfourmilesfromOughterard.Thereweresufficientprecautionstakentoensurethesafeconductoftheprocessserver.

Thereportstated:“TheMartinpropertyisanextensiveone,rangingfromworthlesslandtofertileland.Muchofitisfairlycultivatedbutagoodquantityisbarrenandunproductive.Insomespots,thefarmhousesaredecentinoutwardappearance,well-thatchedandwhitewashed,whileinotherstheyarelittlebetterthanwigwams.

Thereislittledoubtthatthetenantsareunabletopaytheirrentsatpresent.Theholdingsaresmallonaverage.Thepeoplestronglyopposeandcomplainagainsttheseejectmentproceedings.

Theprocessesservedonthispropertytodaywereissuedfromthesuperiorcourts.Aconstabularyforceofabout100men,fromGalway,proceededearlyinthemorningtotheMartinestateunderSub-InspectorSingleton,accompaniedbyMr.Hill,theRM[ResidentMagistrate]ofGalway.TheyweremetbySub-InspectorBull,ofOughterard,andanumberofthemenofhisdistrict.

TheprocessserverwasastrangerbroughtdownspeciallyfromDublin.Hewasaboutthirtyyearsofageandwentabouthisworkinamethodicalmanner.Hecarriedasatchelandpulledoutthedocumentwithoutmuchdelay.Hehadalargestickandputittogoodaccount.Withit,hequicklypushedhomethetackswhichsecuredtheprocessestothecabindoors.

Hissatchelcontainedaboutthirtyejectments,allofwhichhedisposedofinthecourseoftheday.Atthefirsthouseshevisited,hewasallowedtopassunnoticed,butasheproceeded,thepeoplebegantoassembleand,beforelong,hewasconfrontedeverywherebyanexcitedcrowdofbothsexesandallages.Theyassailedhimandhisescortwithallkindsofverbalabuseandmaledictions[curses].

AsthebrigadeadvancedtowardsKilannin,thelittlechapelbellwastolled,withwhatobjectdoesnotappear.Thishadtheeffectonthepoliceofclosingtheirranksandkeepingagoodlookout.Theymarchedforward,preparedtocopewithanyforcethatmightbemusteredagainstthem.

Thecrowdofrusticsgroanedandhooted.Asusual,thewomenessayedtoseizethemanwiththesatchelandmissilessoftandsolidwerehurled.Orderswerepromptlygiventochargetheassailantsandwereaspromptlyobeyed.Thesameperformancewasrepeated

againandagain.Occasionally,astonewasflungfrombehindafenceorotherplaceofvantage,wheneverasquadofmenmovedoffinthatdirectionandclearedallbeforethem.

Thepolicewereparticularlyvigilantinthislocality,astheyexpectedtomeetwithadeterminedopposition.ThestorythatthewomenweretoseizeMr.Hill,RM,anddisablehim,sothathecouldnotcarryouthisworkandorders,andthemenweretoattacktheprocessserverandthepolice,turnedoutnottobetrue.Noorganisedplanofresistanceappearedtohavebeencontemplated.Onlylittlescufflestookplace,duetotheintenseexcitementoftheoccasion.

Afewstoneswerethrownandoneinflictedaseverecutontheheadofapoliceman.Thiswastheonlywoundoftheday.AmannamedJamesWelby,ofPorridgetown,wasdetectedhurlingalargestone.Afterapursuit,hewasarrested,handcuffedandplacedintheranks.Thepeoplewerechasedinalldirectionswhentheirattitudebecamethreatening.

Theprocessserverfinishedhisday’slabourinPorridgetownandleftthefieldhavingachievedhisobject.WelbywasbroughtoffincustodytoOughterard,wherethechargeagainsthimwillbeinvestigatedbyMr.Hill,RM.Thelongcarsoftheconstabularywereguardedbyabodyofmenduringtheday.Atabout4o’clock,theentireforcedroveofftoOughterard,wheretheywillremaintonight.

Tomorrow,thecolumnwillproceedtoMaam,whereanumberofejectmentsaretobeservedonLordLeitrim’sproperty.Thereislittlelikelihoodofanyfurtherdisturbanceofaseriouscharacter.Theoverpoweringnumberofarmedmenthattroopthroughthecountryhastheeffectofdisarmingallopposition.”

Thisaccountfromthenewspaperwaswrittenbyanotherprocessserver,asisclearfromanumberofcommentshemadeinthereport,andreferencestootherprocessservers.Hesaidthattheprocessserverinthiscaseusedalarge,stoutsticktopushhomethetacksonthecabindoors,whereashehimselfusedtolookaboutforastonetopoundthemclumsilyintoplace.

ConditionsintheBaronyofMoyculleninthe1880s

ThereweremanyreportsontheconditionsofthepeopleintheparishesofthebaronyofMoycullenatthetimeoftheLandLeagueagitation.Theywerebasedonlocalreportsoftheclergyandoutsideobserverswhovisitedthedistrict.Allthereportsindicatedthatthetenantswereunabletopaythehighrentsthatwerebeingchargedandthatthemajoritywereindebtandarrearsofrent.

SeveralwitnessestotheBessboroughCommission(1881)statedthattheaveragerentonsmallholdings,manyofthemconsistingpartlyofbogandunreclaimedland,wasintheregionof£1peracreinGalway,MayoandDonegal,i.e.thewestofIreland.

DistressinMoycullen

Rev.FrancisKennyp.p.wrotetotheGalwayVindicatoron21stJanuary,1880,aboutconditionsinhisparish.

Ejections(evictionorders)hadbeenservedonallthetenantsintwopropertiesintheparish,whichweretobetriedatthepresentcourtsessionsatOughterard.

Sevenofhisparishionerswereinjailandhadbeenrefusedbail,foranallegedattackonaprocessserverwhoneverreceivedtheslightestinjury.Thefamiliesofthepersonsimprisonedwereinthemostwretchedconditionandmustdieofstarvationunlessreliefisgiventhem.

Altogetherinhisparish,therewereatleast300familiesindistress,infactinabsolutewant,andthenumberwasincreasing.Nobodyknowswhatwillbecomeofthepoorpeople,unlesspublicemploymentwasgivenbythegovernment.Noamountofprivatecharitywillmeetthepresentdemandforrelief,whichisalarming.

Oughterard

Rev.J.CraddockwrotetotheGalwayVindicatorontheconditionofhisparishon5thMay,1880.

AReliefCommitteewasestablishedintheparish,ofwhichhewasSecretary.Theydependedonprivatecharity.HethankedMr.SimpsonoftheLiverpoolReliefCommitteeforfivetonsofIndianmeal,twocaddiesofteaandfourteencwtofsugar,whichhehadsentforthepooroftheparish.

Hesaidthat351families,outof420intheparish,hadbeenreturnedbytheReliefCommitteeasinneedofrelief,andinafewweekswouldbewithoutprovisions.Almostallthetenantsowedtwotothreeyearsrentandneithertheworkhousenorthelandlordshadanythingtooffer.

AspecialcorrespondentoftheFreeman’sJournalinvestigatedconditionsinOughterardinJanuary,1880.Hewrotethatthetenantshadamassofobligationstothelandlordsandshopkeepers.TheonlygovernmentreliefasyetadoptedwasthattwentyadditionalRedcoatshadmarchedintoOughterardtojointhecompanyofmilitaryalreadygarrisoningthebarracks,toprotecttheSpiddalandCarraroeevictionsattheOughterardsessionsthefollowingweek.

Asanabsolutefact,therewerenotfivepersonsinthewholeparishwhohadpaidthelasthalf-year’srent.Intwotownlandsintheparish,fifty-fourfamiliesowedthree-and-a-halfyear’srent.Mr.EdmondO’Flahertywastheonlylocallandlordwhowasnotanabsentee.Therewassome£14,000dueforfoodtothetradersofthesmalltownofOughterard,of900inhabitants.

Theimpoverishedpeopleweredependantonprivatecharity,whichwasnotadequatetomeettheirneeds,i.e.theDuchessofMarlboroughFund,theDublinMansionHouse

Committee,theLiverpoolCharityandtheNationalLandLeague.Theirtotalcontributionsofarwas£95,whichifdividedwouldgive1s-1d[oneshillingandonepence]perheadtothedistressedpopulation,tokeepthemaliveforfourmonths.

AcorrespondentoftheNationnewspaperwroteon10thJune,1882,aftertheevictionsthattookplace,that“thewholecountryaroundOughterardandCarraroeappearedasthoughaconqueringanddevastatingarmyhadpassedovertheland,leavingruineddesolationbehind.”Sinceprivatecharitywasnotsufficient,whatwasrequiredwaspublicreliefworkstogiveemploymenttothepoor,thereportconcluded.

Publicreliefworkshadnotbeenprovided,orwerenotadequate,bytheearlypartof1880.ASpecialPresentmentSessionsforthebaronyofMoycullentookplaceatOughterardon14thNovember,1879,toprovideemploymentbypublicworks.Themoneywastobeprovidedbytaxesleviedonthebarony.Theysuggestedaschemeofpublicworks,i.e.themakingofarailwayfromGalwaytoClifden,thebridgingofKnockferrybetweenHeadfordandMoycullen,thedrainingandreclamationofthevasttractsofmountaininthebarony,andthecompletionofthehalf-finishedtrunkroadfromCostelloBaytoOughterard.AmemorialwassenttotheLordLieutenantforthesepublicworks,signedbyJamesE.Jackson,JP,onbehalfofthosepresent.

TheLandlordViewpointandtheLandLeague

IrishMemories,byEdithSomervilleandVioletMartinofRoss,waspublishedin1917.ItwasbasedonthediariesandmemoriesofbothandgaveanaccountoftheMartinfamilyofRossHouse,Kilannin,duringthe19thcentury.

DaisyBurke,laterCountessElizabethofFingal,daughterofGeorgeE.Burke,alandlordofMoycullen,Co.Galway,wroteanaccountoftheBurkesofMoyculleninthebookSeventyYearsYoung.

TheBurkeswerethedescendantsoftheDeBurgos,whohadfoundedGalwaycityintheearly13thcenturyandremainedCatholic.TheMartinsofRossconformedtotheStateorProtestantchurchinthe18thcentury.AlthoughDaisyBurkeandVioletMartinofRosswerechildhoodfriends,theyhadverydifferentviewsofthelandlordsystemandhowitended.

TheMartinsofRoss

TheMartinsofRosswereold-fashionedlandlordsofthe19thcentury,whosawthemselvesaspatriarchalandbenevolenttowardstheirtenantsandemployees.Theydidnotraiserentsandbehavedwithfairnesstowardstheirtenants.Theyexpectedgratitudeandloyaltyinreturn.

VioletMartinwasproudofherdescentfromthefourteenGalwayTribes,andthattheMartinfamilyhadlivedatRossforfivegenerations.Shesawnothingwrongwiththelandlordsystemwhich,likemanyofherclass,shedefended.Shewrotethatthemutualdependenceoflandlordandtenantwasakintoahappymarriage.Herdiariesarefullofideasofloyalty,gratitudeandbetrayal.Shesaidthatarrearsofrentweregiventime,ortakeninboatloadsofturf,orworkedoffbydaylabour,andthatevictionswereunheardof.

RobertMartin,hergrandfather,administeredjusticeonbehalfofhistenants,asheheldcourtfromhischaironthefrontlawnofthehouseandsettledtheirdisputes.Althoughhisdecisionshadnotashredoflegalauthority,theywereimplicitlyobeyedbyhistenantsratherthanhaverecoursetothecivilcourts.

TheMartinfamilyneverfullyrecoveredfromtheeffectsoftheFamine,duetodebtsandlowerrents,buttheymanagedtoholdontotheirestate.Theyfailedtocometotermswiththenewpoliticalandsocialchangesfromthe1870sonwards,followedbytheLandLeagueandsubsequentLandActs,whichcompletelychangedtherelationsbetweenlandlordandtenant,andsoonafterabolishedlandlordismbytenantownership.

IntheelectioninGalwayof1872,thetenantsofJamesMartinvotedagainsthiswishesandhiscandidateforthefirsttime.Thishesawasabetrayal,accordingtohisdaughterViolet,fromwhichheneverfullyrecovered.TheelectioninFebruary,1872,wasbetweenLePoerTrench,aconservativesupporteroflandlords,andCapt.J.P.Nolan,aliberalandHomeRuler.JamesMartinwasasupporterofTrench.Uptothattime,itwasamatterofcoursethattheRosstenantsvotedwiththeirlandlord.

ThepollingcentrewasatOughterard,aboutfourmilesfromRoss,andJamesMartindrovethereonpollingday.VioletMartinwrotethat,ontheday,herfatherrangedthroughthecrowd,incredulouslyaskingforthisorthattenant,unabletobelievethattheyhaddesertedhim.Itwasafutilesearchfor,withfewexceptions,theRosstenantsvotedforNolan,ontheorderoftheCatholicpriests.Capt.Nolanwaselectedbyalargemajoritybutwaslaterunseated.

JamesMartinneverfullyrecoveredfromwhathesawasapersonalwoundandbetrayalbyhistenantsratherthanapoliticaldefeat.Hediedafewmonthslater,inApril,1872.InJune,1872,theBallotActenabledtenantstovoteinsecret,ratherthanattheorderoftheirlandlords.

AfewmonthsafterJamesMartindiedin1872,theMartinsleftRossanddidnotreturnuntil1888.TheestatewasindebtandRobertJasperMartin(1846-1905),whohadinheritedit,wenttoLondontoworkasajournalist.Alandagenttookchargeoftheestate.VioletMartinwrotethat,whenRobert,herbrother,visitedRossfromtimetotime,hesawthatanewspiritwasabroad,ariftorseparationhadbegunbetweenthepeopleandthelandlords,andthechangedattitudewoundedhim.In1877,RobertreturnedtoDublin,wheretherestofthefamilylived.

ThelandagitationhadnowbegunandtheLandLeaguewasfoundedin1879.Fr.Coynep.p.wastheleader,andanactiveorganiser,oftheLandLeagueinKilannin,wheretheMartinshadtheirestate.VioletMartinwrotethatrentsbegantofallandthat,after1879,Robertneveragainreceivedanyrents.Shewrotethatrentswerefixedbylandcourtsandthatthefeudallinkbetweenlandlordandtenantwasbrokenforever.

RobertMartin’sSupportforBoycottedLandlords

APropertyDefenceAssociationandanEmergencyCommittee,staffedbyOrangeLodges,wassetupbythelandlordsin1882,todefendthosewhowereboycotted.Thelandlords

thusbegantocombinefortheirownprotectionandtofighttheLandLeaguemethods.ItaroseoutoftheattempttohelpCapt.Boycott,ofBallinrobe,Co.Mayo.HewassociallyostracisedbytheLandLeague.Hisfarmlabourersandworkmenlefthim.Hiscropswereharvestedby50CavanOrangemen,protectedby1,000RICmen,atacostof£10,000.

Thisassociationprovidedlabourersforboycottedlandlordswhoseservantshadleftthem.RobertMartinsupportedthosewhowereboycotted,placinghimselfonthesideofthelandlordsagainsttheLandLeaguemethods.VioletMartinwrotehowRobert,herbrother,wentforthundertheauspicesofthePropertyDefenceAssociationasan‘emergencyman’.Hisbusinesswastovisitboycottedlandlordsandfarmersandtosupplythemwithmen,mainlyfromUlster,i.e.Orangemen,todothefarmwork.Theownersoftheboycottedlandwereunabletogetfoodortheothernecessitiesoflifefromthelocalshopkeepersortradespeople,andhadtoimportsuppliesfromEnglandorthenorthofIreland.

TherewasterroreverywhereandbitterantagonismtowardscertainlandlordsandRobertMartinfacedrealdangerforthefirsttime,inendlessjourneysinoutsidecarswithhisrevolverinhishand.Hemetthestareofhatred,thejeerandsidelongcurse.Hefacedanimminentdeathifhetookthewrongroadwhereamanwithagunwaswaitingforhim.Buthemadethebestofabadbusiness.

WhentheMartinswereabsentfromRoss,anewagentrantheestate.VioletMartinhadsaidthatevictionswereunheardofatRoss.Thisnewagentengagedinevictionsinthe1880s,duringtheperiodoftheLandLeague.Asnotedpreviously,allthetenantsofPorridgetowntownlandwereevictedandaprocessserverhadpostedthirtynoticestoquit,inasingleday,ontheMartinestateinJanuary,1880.

JamesJackson,alandlordofnearbyKilaguile,actedasagentforRobertMartinofRoss.Heforcedtenantstopaytherentshechargedunderthreatofeviction,andwasdenouncedbyFr.Coynefrom1875forhisharshnesstohistenants.

VioletMartinappearstohaveblamedtheLandLeagueandParnellfortheproblemsthattookplaceinthe1880s,i.e.chaos,evictions,outrages,murders,boycottingetc.Shewrote,“Parnellstirringtheseethingpot,whilehissubordinatesstokedthefire.”ShedescribedParnellas“agrim,disdainfulmaster”,unlikeDaisyBurke,ofMoycullen,whoadmiredhim.

VioletMartin,withhermotherandfamily,returnedtoRossHousein1888.Shebroughtbackthehouseaftersixteenyearsofneglect.RobertMartin,whohadinheritedtheestate,diedin1905andVioletMartinin1915.RossHousewassoldtoClaudeChevassein1924.

TheBurkesofMoycullen

DaisyBurke,whogrewupinMoyculleninthe1860s,wasthedaughterofGeorgeE.Burke,aMoycullenlandlord.ShehadadifferentattitudeandgaveadifferentaccountofthelandlordsfromthatofVioletMartinofRoss,achildhoodfriendofhers.Yetsheadmiredherfamily,andherfatherasagoodlandlord.

Sherecalledinhermemoirthatherfatherruledthedistrictas“afirmandjustautocrat”fromhismagistrate’sroom.Rentswereoftenforgivenorreducedandfrequentlypaidinkindbyaloadofturffromthebog.Herfather,likeRobertMartinofRoss,administeredjustice,ashistenantsbroughttheirdisputesandquarrelstohiminsteadofgoingtothelawyersorthecourts.Theytrustedhisjusticeandwisdomandhardlyeverwentagainsthisjudgements.

In1872,shesawherfatherwalkdowntothepollatMoyculleninthemostpatriarchalmanner,attheheadofhisretainersandtenants,tovoteashetoldthem.ThiswastheelectionatwhichJamesMartinofRosssawhistenantsvoteagainsthimforthefirsttime.Shewrotethat,aftertheBallotActof1872,iftheyhadstayedatDanesfield,herfatherwouldhaveneverwalkedtothepollinthesamewayagain.

HeryoungbrotherandsisterhaddiedofdiphtheriaandthefamilywenttoFrancein1875togetawayfromtheassociationoftheirdeaths.ShewaseducatedinFrance.Soonafter,herfatherreturnedtoDanesfield,Moycullen.

Whenshereturned,in1882,shewrotethatthedaysofthelandlordswerealmostover.Shefeltthat,intheend,thelandlordsgotthefatetheydeservedascolonistsandoutsiders.Parnell,whomsheadmired,endedthatchapterinIrishhistoryofwhichshesawthetwilight.Thegoodlandlordsandthebadwentdowntogether,aswasinevitable.Theyhadnogrievance,asnineoutoftenofthemhadchosentoliveascolonists.ShequotedLennoxRobinson,“Theyweremerelyacolonyandcolonistshavenorights.”ShewrotethattheycouldspendtheirrackrentsatCheltenhamorBath,freefromdanger.HerfatherwouldhavediedinsuchaplaceasBathorCheltenham,ashewasneverthesameawayfromDanesfieldandGalway.

Thechildrenofthelandedclasssoondiscoveredthemselvestobelongtonocountry,ascolonists.Bythe1880s,shewrote,eventhegreatestrecluseofthelandlords,lockedwithintheirstrongwalls,mustbeawareofthebatteringonthegatesoutside.AstheNormanTribeshadlivedwithinthewallsofGalway,withtheferociousO’Flahertysoutside,sotheIrishlandlordslivedwithintheirdemesnes,makingaworldoftheirown,withIrelandoutsidethegates.

DaisyBurke,whowasfascinatedwithParnell,calledherselfarebelandapapist.

TheLandActs,from1870to1903,involvedatransferofthegreaterpartofthelandofIrelandfromthelandlordstothetenantsandpeasantclass.Thiswas,ineffect,anagrarianrevolution.ThecrucialmomentinthatprocesswastheLandLeaguestrugglefrom1879to1886,amassmovementthatchallengedlandlordismandendedit.Manyofthelocallandlordssoldouttheirestatesintheearly20thcentury,undertheLandCommissionandtheCongestedDistrictsBoard.

TheFirstWorldWardecimatedtheProtestantlandlordclass.Manyofthem,outofloyaltytoBritain,foughtinthewar.RichardBerridgeJunior(1870-1941),byfarthegreaterlandlordinthethreeparishesofthebaronyofMoycullen,foughtasalieutenantintheGreatWar(1914-18).

DaisyBurkebelongedtothetwilightworldoftheCatholicAscendancyclass,aworldthatwaspassingaway.

Duringthe‘Troubles’of1919-21,the‘bighouse’becameatargetfortheRepublicans.IntheWarofIndependenceandtheCivilWar,about200bighouseswereburntdown.DaisyBurkewrote,inreferencetotheburningofthebighousesbytheRepublicans,that“peoplewhosefamilieshadlivedinthecountryforthreeorfourhundredyearsrealisedsuddenlythattheywerestrangers.”

Fr.CoyneandtheKilanninSchism

Fr.Coynep.p.,Kilannin(1875-99),asaprominentmemberoftheLandLeague,madeamajorcontributiontotenantrightsandtheoverthrowofthelandlordsystem,ofwhichhewasanavowedenemy,inhisparishandneighbouringparishes,fromthetimehebecameparishpriestin1875.

Asalreadynoted,hisworkasaLandLeagueleaderandorganiserinthe1870sand1880sisnotaswellrememberedintraditionastheso-called‘KilanninSchism’,orscandal,whichtookplacemainlybetween1890and1895.Thetwoaspectsmaynotbeunrelated,ashiszealousworkonbehalfoftenantswasmostlikelythereasonwhysomanysupportedhiminhisdisputewithhisarchbishopoverthetransferofKilanninparishfromTuamtothedioceseofGalway.

Fr.Coynegotmuchsupportoutsidehisownparish.JohnJoyce,merchantandshopkeeper,Oughterard,aprominentmemberoftheLandLeagueandattimesSecretaryoftheKilanninTenantDefenceAssociation,remainedloyaltoFr.Coynetotheend.TheGalwayExpress,aProtestantnewspaper,gavedetailedreportsontheKilannineventsandwassympathetictoFr.Coyne.

TherewasmuchneedtoadjusttheboundariesbetweenthearchdioceseofTuamandthedioceseofGalway.InConnemara,alongthecoastwestofGalwayBay,parishesalternatedbetweenTuamandGalwaydiocesesinapatchworkpattern.Besides,MoycullenandOughterardwereinthedioceseofGalway.Torectifythesituation,itwasagreedin1890betweenDr.McEvilly,ArchbishopofTuam(1881-1902),andDr.McCormack,BishopofGalway(1887-1909),thattheparishofKilanninshouldbetransferredfromthearchdioceseofTuamtothedioceseofGalway,theparishofCarraroebeinggiveninexchangetoTuam.

Fr.Coyne,supportedbyanumberofhisparishioners,protestedagainstthetransfer.Hesaidthat,asaTuampriest,hecouldnotbechangedtoanotherdiocesewithouthisconsent,andthathedidnotdesiretobeaffiliatedtoGalwaydiocese,thoughheaddedthathewouldprefertobeunderDr.McCormackofGalwaythantoserveunderDr.McEvilly.Finally,heprotestedagainsttheparishofKilanninbeingtransferredtoGalwayatall,allegingthatthepeopletherewereopposedtothechange,aswellashimself.

Atfirst,Dr.McEvillyofTuamobjectedtorecognisingFr.CoyneasparishpriestofKilanninandclaimedthathewasappointedasadministratoroftheparish,ratherthanparishpriest,whichdidnothavethesamestatus.Infact,duringtheLandLeaguemeetingsFr.Coynewas

sometimesreferredtoasadministrator,butmoreoftenasparishpriest.Onthispoint,thedecisionwentagainstArchbishopMcEvilly.

Rev.E.A.D’Alton,inhisHistoryoftheArchdioceseofTuam(1928),wrotethat,ifFr.CoynehadpeacefullyacceptedthechangeoftheboundariesandthetransferofKilannintoGalway,hewouldhavesufficientlysafeguardedhispositionasaparishpriestofthearchdioceseofTuam.ForthoughhewouldceasetobeparishpriestofKilannin,hecouldnotbeforciblytransferredtoanotherdiocese,withouthisconsent,underCanonLaw,norwouldRomeconsentthatheshouldbe.ButFr.CoynewouldsticktoKilanninand,whenhewasdefeatedunderthisheadatRome,herefusedtosubmit.

AftertheannouncementofthetransferofKilanninfromTuamtoGalway,Fr.CoynewroteseveralletterstoDr.McEvillybegginghimtoalterhisdecisionandpointingoutthathisparishionerswouldneversanctionthechange,buttheArchbishoprefusedtodoso.

Severalmeetingswereheldinthechapelyard,denouncinginstronglanguagethearbitraryconductoftheArchbishopofTuam,Dr.McEvilly.Atoneofthosemeetings,asubscriptionlistwasopenedandfundssubscribedtosendFr.CoynetoRometolayhiscasebeforetheRomanauthorities,ifnecessary.

WhenthematterwasreferredtoRome,Fr.CoyneprotestedvigorouslyandwenttoRomehimselftopleadhiscase.HeremainedinRomefrom1891to1894,fightinghiscasefromonecourttoanotheruntilafinal,irrevocabledecisionwasgivenagainsthim.Inhisabsence,Dr.McCormack,BishopofGalway,tookovertheparishandsentoutFr.Conroytotakechargeofthespiritualandtemporalwelfareoftheparishioners.

AfterthelongdelayinRome,Fr.CoynereturnedandarrivedinGalwayon29thJune,1894.HewasmetbyalargecrowdofsomethousandsofhisparishionersattheGalwaystation,whichshowedhispopularity.HeaddressedthemandreadlettersfromthePapalauthoritiesshowingthathiscasewasreceivingthefullestconsideration.Whenhereturnedtohisparish,hefoundanotherman,Fr.Conroy,inhisplaceandheresolvedthathewouldnotyieldwithoutaneffortandastruggle.InearlyJune,1894,aPontificalDecreewasissuedfromRomeagainstFr.Coyne,andanordertopresenthimselftohisbishop.Fr.CoynewassuspendedfromKilanninparish.On14thJuly,1894,aletterfromDr.McCormack,BishopofGalway,wastobereadatOughterard,MoycullenandKilanninparishes,statingthatFr.CoynehadbeencanonicallysuspendedandcallingonhissupportersinKilannintoendthescandal.

AfterhisreturnfromRomeinJune,1894,thefriendsofbothclergymenmetatthechapelonthefollowingSundayand,wereitnotfortheinterventionofalargeforceofpolice,aseriousdisturbancewouldhavebeentheresult.ForseveralsuccessiveSundays,Masshadtobecelebratedunderpoliceprotection.

On8thFebruary,1895,Fr.CoyneandhissupportersseizedKilanninchurch,andonthefollowingSundaytherewasaconfrontationinthechapel.Fr.Coyne’sfriendsbuiltupthechapeldoorswithmasonryandfirmlysecuredthewindowsand,beforeMasscouldbe

celebratedagain,thedoorshadtobebrokenopenbyapartyarmedwithcrowbarsandpickaxes,whileprotectedbypolicewithfixedbayonetsandloadedrifles.

ThusFr.Conroy,appointedparishpriestbytheBishopofGalway,hadusedforcetoejectFr.Coyneandhissupporters.Fr.Coynethenhadrecoursetothecivilcourts.InoneofthesupremecourtsinDublin,learnedlawyerswereemployedforsomedayswiththeprovisionsofCanonLaw.Thecivilcourts,however,coulddonothingtogiverelieftoFr.Coyne,norwouldheyieldtoanydecisionunfavourabletohim.

OughterardPettySessions

AfterhisreturnfromRomeinJune,1894,Fr.CoynehadbeencelebratingMass,performingmarriagesetc.,athisresidencein‘LandLeagueHouse’inFahytownland.Onthe18thOctober,1894,heperformedamarriageceremonythere.Intheentryinthemarriageregister,itwassaidtohavetakenplaceinKillaninRomanCatholicchapel.

AcaseagainstFr.CoyneinthisconnectioncamebeforeOughterardPettyCourtSessionsonJanuary6thand19th,1895.Mr.W.H.Flanagan,DistrictRegistrarofMarriages,saidthatanerroneousentryintheregisterbookofmarriagesneededtobecorrected.NeitherFr.Coynenorthewitnesseswerepresentatthefirsthearing.

On19thSeptember,Fr.Coynewaspresentandhesaidthatthemarriageceremonyreferredtohadtakenplaceathisresidence,wherehehadbeencelebratingMasssincehisreturnfromRome.ThecourtheldthattheceremonyhadnottakenplaceinKilanninchapelanddirectedthattheentryintheregisterbecorrectedaccordingly.

Confrontationbetweenbothsides

InSeptember,1895,therewasnopeaceintheparish,thecongregationofwhichwasdividedprettyevenly,oneportionattendingthehouseofFr.Coyne,wherehecelebratedMass,performedmarriageceremoniesandbaptisedchildren,andtheotherportionattendingKilanninchapel.

Inordertoputastoptothedivisionintheparishandtheattendanceatrivalservices,Fr.Conroyp.p.calledtogethertwopublicmeetings.ThefirstwasheldonSunday,6thSeptember,1895,andprovedafailure.TheothertookplaceonSunday,14thSeptember,whichwaswellattended,therebeingexcursiontrainsfromGalwayandOughterardtoKilannin(Ross).

ThisreportwasgivenbytheGalwayExpress,whichwasfavourabletoFr.Coyne,anditstatedthatlargeplacardswerepostedupforthemeetingcallingontheRomanCatholicsofthesurroundingparishestoassembleintheirthousandstodenouncetheKilannin‘Jumpers’,hereticsandschismatics.

Whenalargecrowdhadassembled,thereportadded,headedbyFr.Conroyandanumberofotherpriests,itwasdecidedtoholdthemeetinginfrontofFr.Coyne’shouse(‘LandLeagueHouse’),buttheappearanceofFr.Coyneinanadjacentfield,surroundedbyabout400able-bodiedpeasantswithdeterminedcountenances,soonmadethemaltertheirplans.

Therecouldhavebeenabloodyconfrontation.TheyretracedtheirstepsandheldthemeetinginfrontofFr.Conroy’sparochialhouse,withFr.Conroyinthechair.

Resolutionswerepassedcallingonthetruebelieverstohavenodealingswiththe‘Jumpers’,hereticsorschismatics,andrecommendingthatneitheryoungmennorwomenofthefaithshouldmarryorspeaktothoseoftheothersectionoftheparish.TheadherentsofFr.Coynenowarrivedandthelatterresolutionwasreceivedwithderisiveroarsoflaughterandtheproceedingswereconcludedamidstshoutingandyelling.

InMarch,1896,Fr.RedmondMcDonaghp.p.,Oughterard,denouncedFr.CoyneandhischurchsupportersinnearbyCollinamuckchurch.Fr.McDonaghwasanactivememberoftheLandLeagueagitationandheregularlycontributedtomeetingschairedbyFr.Coynefrom1879to1882.

Fr.CoyneclungonforafurthertimeafterhewassuspendedbutgraduallyceasedtointerferewithFr.Conroy,whohadbeenappointedbytheBishopofGalway.Helivedat‘LandLeagueHouse’,wherehecelebratedMasstotheendofhisdays,loyallysupportedbymanyofhisfollowers.InMarch,1899,Fr.JohnConnollywassenttoKilanninandhealedthesplit.Fr.Coynediedon4thOctober,1899.

References

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