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MEETING AT KINVARRA – 1899

Tuam Herald 11th March, 1899 p4

A large and representative meeting of the electors of the parish of Kinvarra was held recently at Kinvarra for the selection of a candidate for the office of County Councillor of the Gort Division and of candidates for the District Councillorship of Kinvara, Doorus, Killinny, and Caherimore.
The Revd. John Moloney, P.P., presided and the attendance included the Revd. Father Davoren, C.C., and Messrs J.W.Brady Murray, John Flatley, William Flatley, Fergus O’Dea, John O’Dea, Doorus, John Quinn, PLG; Moyo Hynes, Ml O’Donoghoe, Martin Corless, Patrick Curtin, John Quinn (Kinvarra) Thomas Greene, (Loughcurra); F Green, P Hynes, PLG; M Brennan, Stephen Leech, Thomas Leech, John Morris, John Fahy, PLG; Thomas O’Halloran, John Finucane, Thomas Fahy, Patrick Hynes, (Croshooa); John Burke, Thomas Burke, Thos. Kavanagh, J O’Connor, Michael Howard, John Tierney, Wm Whelan, A Staunton, P Kennedy, Ml. Kennedy, William Connor, John Devonport, T. Doogan, Ml. Grady, E Holland, F Fox, Wm. Quinn, Michael Mooney, F Lally, T Lally and many others. Among the ladies present were the Misses Hynes, Mrs Cullinan, Mrs Watson, Mrs Johnston, Mrs O’ Halloran, the Misses Joyce and Mrs. O’Donnell.
The Revd. Chairman explained the provisions of the new Act and advised the electors to choose only honest, reliable, and competent men for the several offices.
Mr. John Flatley proposed and Mr. Fergus O’Dea seconded the selection of Mr. Brady Murray as a suitable candidate for the office of Co. Councillor of the division.
Mr. Brady Murray addressed the meeting and after alluding to his services as an active member of the Gort Board of Guardians and other public bodies, and his qualifications as a resident in the district, &c., explained that as a large ratepayer his chief object if elected would be to keep down the Rates, that he would strive to obtain payment of the full amount of the Agricultural Grant to which the Ratepayers and Cesspayers of the Union and Co. were entitled, and that he would use every effort to secure economy and efficiency in the expenditure of public money. so far as consistent with these principles he would advocate the improvement of the roads, and of markets and fairs, the improvement of the dwelling houses of the labouring classes and of the poor both in towns and country, the improvement of sanitary arrangements generally, and the improvements of the Hospitals, Asylums and Dispensaries of the County. He also advocated the extension of the Congested Districts Board, for the development of the agricultural, fishing, and industrial resources of the Union and District. He stated he was in favour of the establishment of a Catholic University and its endowment out of Imperial funds, and that he had been a consistent supporter of the movement for the Redress of Ireland’s Financial Grievances, laying special stress on the Relief of Local Taxation by the Government taking over the Asylums, Hospitals and the Dispensary system.
The meeting unanimously adopted Mr. Brady Murray as their Candidate for the County Council and also recommended the following candidates for the District Councillorship of the several Divisions;
Kinvarra – Mr Michael O’Donohoe, Mr Moyo Hynes, Mr Patrick Curtin and Mr John Fahy.
Doorus – M. John O’Dea, Mr John Quinn, Mr John Halvey, and Mr William Connor.
Killinny – Mr John Burke and Mr Michael Mitchell
Cahermore – Mr Thomas Clayton and Mr Ml. Grady.

On the motion of Mr. J. Quinn, seconded by Mr. Brady Murray, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Revd. Chairman, together with an expression of the deep regret of the meeting at his approaching departure from the Parish which has been in his charge for the last thirty years, coupled with their best wishes for his welfare and prosperity in his new Parish of Ennistymon.

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Galway Election Petition – 1872

Eye to eye
Eye to eye c. EO’D

GALWAY ELECTION PETITION
Nenagh Guardian 24th April, 1872 p.4
At the hearing of the Galway election petition on Saturday, evidence was given as to altar addresses by the Rev.Mr. Forde in Kinvara Chapel. He said those who voted for Trench would be regarded as soupers and renegades. Mr Constantine Sloper, and Mr Tully, Solicitor, deposed to a conversation in a confectionary establishment on Thursday last, in which Father Loftus, in presence of several persons, said that it there was another election the priest would hunt the landlords and their followers before them like chaff.
Evidence then was given as to treating.

One publican in Galway deposed to giving drink and entertainment to voters on the day of the nomination, and again on the polling day, by order of two persons interested for Captain Nolan. On the last occasion he gave dinner to 137 electors, and gave drink to others. In the course of the day Judge Keogh stated that, subjet to what might be said on the other side, he held it proved that Father Loftus was an agent of Captain Nolan’s. Evidence as to looking at people going to chapels and the destruction of pews, was given. The petitioner’s case has closed.

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Biddy Early 1902

Freemans Journal 4th June 1900
Lord O’Brien of Kilfenora was, as everybody knows, more than once a candidate for Parliamentary honours in his native county of Clare. It was, we believe, on the occasion of the death of Lord Francis Conyngham, one of the earliest and staunchest supporters of Isaac Butt in the early agitation for Home Rule, that Mr. O’Brien made a tour of the county and introduced himself personally to the electors. His manner was suave and his speech conciliatory in the extreme. Some of the electors were doubtful as to whether the “man of law” from Ballinalacken was with Isaac Butt or against him. In their perplexity they went to consult Biddy Early, a woman skilled in the suture, who delivered oracles in a sequestered glen between Lough Greany and O’Callaghan’s Mills. Biddy arranged her philtres, put on her sagest look, and deliberately pronounced that the cattle of any man who voted for a recreant descendant of Boru would die of black quarter. Further than this she could not be induced to go. The people were by no means satisfied, for they thought the O’Gorman man bore a much greater family likeness to Brian Boru than the man from Lisdoonvarna.

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Election – 1933

Daily Illinois 29th January 1933
DeValera has majority of 1 seat in new Dail
President Eamon De Valera will have a majority of one seat in the new Dail Eireann which meets two weeks from today. The counting of the final ballots in Tuesday’s general election, completed tonight with the last returns from Galway, assured the tall, gaunt Spanish-Irish president a total number of seats in the lower house of the legislature which will make unnecessary his reliance on labor members, usually steadfast but occasionally doubtful allies.

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Election – 1895

Irish Examiner 12th July, 1895 p6 (abridged)

Irish Women
Members of the Irish Women Worker’s Union on the steps of Liberty Hall c. 1914 National Library of Ireland.

During the next three weeks the nation will be called upon to exercise the most momentous duty which can fall to the lot of citizens, viz., the choice of Parliamentary representatives who shall guide the destinies of the men and women of the country.
Vital interests are involved in the coming struggle, but the question of greatest importance which concerns all sections and all parties (for it deals with special needs of the larger portion of the nation) is the demand for the removal of the political disabilities of women. We trust this is the last General Election at which women will have to stand outside the pale of citizenship.
The Women’s Franchise League most strongly and earnestly appeals to all lovers of justice and freedom to use every effort during this election for the removal of the disabilities which press so heavily on the women of this nation.
Ursula M. Bright, Hon, Sec.

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The Knight of County Clare – 1828

Freemans Journal 14th July, 1828 p.3   (abridged)

Daniel O'Connell   George Hayter National Portrait Gallery
Daniel O’Connell
George Hayter National Portrait Gallery
Wikimedia Commons

The return to the writ for the Election of a Knight to serve in Parliament for the County of Clare was received at the Crown office, London, on Thursday. The following is a copy of the return and the Indenture accompanying it;

By virtue of this writ, to me directed, I did within two days after the receipt of the same, (that is to say), on the 19th of June, 1828, cause proclamation to be duly made for holding an election, to be held at the County Court house of the County of Clare, at Ennis, on the 30th of June, 1828, of a Knight to serve in Parliament for said county.
Sir Edward O’Brien and Sir Augustine Fitzgerald, Bart., two of the said electors of Knights, did then nominate and propose the Right Hon William Vesey Fitzgerald, being a Protestant, as the most fit and discreet person to be elected. James Patrick O’Gorman Mahon and Thomas Steele, Esqrs, two other said electors, did nominate and propose Daniel O’Connell Esq., as the most fit and discreet person to be elected a Knight.  Daniel O’Connell did, at said Court, publicly declare and profess that he was a Roman Catholic, and that he intended always to continue a Roman Catholic.

The poll commenced on the 1st day of July, 1828 and continued until the 5th day of July, when same finally closed.
During the said poll electors did publicly protest against the election of said Daniel O’Connell insomuch as he was, and declared that he intended to continue, as Roman Catholic.
At the final close of said poll 982 electors voted for William Fitzgerald Vesey Fitzgerald, as a fit and proper person o be elected and 2,057 voted for said Daniel O’Connell as a fit a proper person to be elected a Knight to serve for said county.

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Mr Thomas P Corless – 1911

Connacht Tribune 17th June, 1911 p.8 (abridged)

Fair Day, Kinvara c1950s Cresswell Archives
Fair Day, Kinvara c1950s
Cresswell Archives

When the news reached Kinvara on Monday evening that Mr Thomas P Corless, president U.I.L headed the poll for co-option at the annual meeting in Gort, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. A huge tar-barrel was set ablaze in the Square, and from the top of Newtown castle a great blaze could be seen for miles around.

In the patriotic village of Crushoa a similar scene could be witnessed, and Dungora castle had a number of fires lighting on every side, which showed how the people appreciated the act of the District Council.

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Election time – Kinvara – 1923

"Colt Autentica" by Ricce - Wikimedia Commons -
“Colt Autentica” by Ricce – Wikimedia Commons –

Recorder 17th August, 1923 p1

 

Eight persons were wounded in a fight at an election meeting in Kinvarra on the border of Clare and Galway in which revolvers were used.

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Election time – Galway – 1858

Ballot Box Smithsonian Wikimedia Commona
Ballot Box
Smithsonian
Wikimedia Commona

Freemans Journal 18th August 1858 p3 (abridged)

The Galway Freemen Disfranchisement Bill is likely to prove an exceedingly inconvenient and unpleasant measure to its originators and backers. There can be no doubt whatever that glaring and scandalous corruption existed in Galway, especially amongst the freemen, many of whom were accustomed on every occasion of an election to let themselves openly to the highest bidder.
The ostensible object of the Bill is to punish this corrupt abuse of political privileges. It is supposed that its supporters, (amongst whom are the very parties who practised and profited by bribery and corruption in Galway), have other motives for their exertions besides a new-born zeal for public morality.  The House of Commons accepts their zeal for what it may be worth, and puts to them a very simple but effective test.

As it is equally a crime to buy as to sell votes, the House has determined that, while the ignorant and needy freeman is visited with just punishment, the wealthy and educated briber shall not come off scot-free.  They shall not be rewarded for success in debauching a constituency to gain their party triumph.