Here is an item relating to Rockite organizational activity in Cratloe in August, 1846 at a moment when a second failure of the potato crop is imminent.
Paddy M'Kew is a contemporary synonym of the term Captain Rock. The man in question had come from Nenagh where he had earlier killed a process server.
He was denounced to the police by the parish priest of Cratloe, Father Bourke. I am quite interested in hearing of such activity in the Meelick or Cratloe areas.
A Paddy M’Kew. A miscreant, whose name afterwards turned turned out to Molony, was observed about fortnight since in the neighbourhood of Cratloe wood, whose habit for some days was going into several houses in the neighbourhood, and making equiries concerning the inhabitants, which he used to note down. He endeavoured to make the acquaintance of several of the young men of the neighbourhood, but failed, and used to retire to the wood towards night. [Limerick Reporter, August 8, 1846].
Captain Rock in Cratloe in 1846
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