Hi Sheila,
In November 1882, Parnell had recommended "M J Kenny", the nephew of the Rev. Kenny, Parish Priest of Scariff, to replace Lysaght Finigan. M J Kenny, who had been living in Manchester, gave a very long speech, followed by a long speech by Mr. Redmond, M.P., followed by this short resolution:
The Chairman said the resolution now to be proposed to them was -
That, acting upon the recommendation of Mr. Parnell, we adopt M J Kenny as the national candidate, and pledge ourselves to make every effort to secure his triumphant return.
Mr. Michael Considine said the nation called upon them to adopt the candidate recommended by Mr. Parnell. Mr. Considine bore in his hand a Clare Volunteer Flag of 1782, and its production was greeted with immense cheers.
The Freeman's Journal, Dublin, 6 November 1882
Michael G. Considine was a much more controversial figure in the late 1850's and appeared to have mellowed considerably by the 1880's. The speech from my last posting that was printed in the Irish American on 24th of July 1858 appears to have been his stump speech that he had used previously. And upon further review, this speech was reported in British newspapers such as the
The Morning Chronicle of London whose article of 2nd of July 1858 was entitled "A New Irish Grievance - A Russian Gun".
In February 1858, Michael Considine had used the same lines about Mullacmast and Drogheda to protest the placement of a Russian gun in Ennis in a speech that was reported in the
New York Tablet on 13 March 1858. He comes off as a real defender of the working class, telling "them that the poor shoneens of Ennis should not look on the meeting of the trades and working class as a thing inferior because they were working men. The working class should come out like men, legally and constitutionally, and do their own work, and not let themselves be made footstools to those gentlemen to get to power who are daily betraying them." He then goes on to sarcastically thank the "borough member for sending a Russian gun to their town as a British trophy" (
The New York Tablet, 13 March 1858). His June 1858 speech (the one reported in July) was more bold and actually named the borough member as J.D. Fitzgerald and the audience cried "burn his effigy!". And that is exactly what happened on the 14th of March 1859.
THE REPRESENTATION OF ENNIS.
EXTRAORDINARY DEMONSTRATION, PROCESSION WITH TAR BARRELS, BURNING THE EFFIGY OF THE RIGHT HON. J. D. FITZGERALD, M.P. - ENNIS, MONDAY. -
It was rumored throughout the town during the day that the effigy of Mr. Fitzgerald, the member for the borough, was to be burned, and accordingly everyone was on the qui vive. The rumour struck so much terror into the hearts of the followers of the right hon. member that one of them had recourse to the expedient of going before a magistrate and swearing an information that the proceedings were likely to lead to a breach of the peace; the result was that the Sub-Inspector, Mr. Heard, proceeded in person to some of the known favourites of the people, and cautioned them that they would be held responsible for the consequences. This responsibility was unhesitatingly adopted. No doubt whatever was felt that everything would be conducted in the most peaceable and legal manner, and that the borough member's effigy would get at least a fair trial. There would be no jury packing - the panel being fairly and freely made out. Above all, it was agreed upon, that nothing beyond the real facts should be stated by the prosecuting counsel. All this would be supposed to be fair enough; yet, a body of police was placed under arms, at the command of the sub-inspector and resident magistrate, ready at a moment's notice to bear down on all or any who might be guilty of the slightest aggression on the peace of the town. At a quarter to eight o'clock large numbers could be seen moving in the direction of Market Street, and in a few minutes after two large barrels were brought forward and set alight. After some time the effigy of the borough member came forth and was received with several rounds of hisses and groans. The figure represented a barrister, in wig and gown, and the other appurtenances usually borne in courts of justice. In the right hand was a large paper, folded up, upon which were the words, "Brief on behalf of the Crown against the traversers, Rev. Messrs. Conway and Ryan. Fee, £____." By some agency, resembling that of "Punch and Judy," or what might be used in an ordinary play-house, the figure was stirred in a declaiming attitude, gesticulating strongly against priestly interference in politics, elections, &c. The barrels were then hoisted upon bearers, the effigy taking a middle place, and an immense procession was formed, which could not consist of less than 2,000 to 3,000 persons. The numbers were greatly augmented as they proceeded through Jail Street, Church Street, and back to High Street, where the immense crowd stopped before the house of Michael Considine, and repeatedly called upon him to address them, which he did. The procession then moved on as before, and having formed a circle, placed the tar barrels on the ground, and consigned the effigy of Mr. Fitzgerald to the flames, amidst the groans and hisses of the assembled multitude. Thus ended one of the most extraordinary scenes which has ever been witnessed in this town. The people then walked quietly to their homes.-- Munster News.
Belfast New Letter, 21 March 1859
The burning of the effigy of the Right Hon. J.D. Fitzgerald appears to have upset the gentlemen and professional classes of Ennis. On the following Monday, the 21st of March, they called a meeting of the Electors of the Borough of Ennis to condemn the 14th of March attack on their fellow borough member. They also referenced a meeting on St. Patrick's Day, which had been called to discuss the erection of the O'Connell Monument, and appears to have been hijacked by a certain someone. Michael G. Considine was not named in the condemnation but surely he is one of the "few disorderly characters" whose conduct the electors deemed to have been "calculated to mar the success of the object of that meeting - the erection of a Testimonial to the memory of O'Connell by the people of Clare".
MEETING OF THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF ENNIS.
WE, the undersigned Electors of the Borough of Ennis, hereby request the Electors of the Town to meet on THIS EVENING (Monday), at Eight o'clock at Mr. PEARSON'S ROOMS, for the purpose of marking their condemnation of the proceedings carried on in the town, by a few disorderly persons, on the night of Monday, the 14th instant, and of the unjustifiable attack made on our Borough Member, at the meeting on Patrick's Day, and to express their unabated confidence in the Right Hon. J. D. Fitzgerald.
Monday, 21st March, 1859
[names appear in newspaper in two columns; I've transcribed by row, right to left]. . .
Michael M'Namara, junr; John Meehan; J.H. Milward; James Magrath; William Molony; Thomas Fitzgerald; Marcus Talbot; Patrick Molony; Michael Molony; William Ryan; Michael Lysaght; Michael Murray; John B. Knox; Michael Shannon; John M'Grath; James Bannatyne, jun.; James Leyden; John Kennedy; Matthew Kenny; Edmond Finucane; John Cangley; Martin Reidy; John Kerlin; John Petty; Owen Tuohy; Michael Macnamara, sen.; James Curtin; Michael M'Namara, Jail-st.; John Parsons; Richard Molony; Michael Kerin; Daniel Tuohy; Timothy Bunton; Francis Lally; James Burke; William Carroll; Andrew Molony; C.B. Molony; John Leary; Samuel Burgess; William Kean; Thomas Downes; Andrew Lysaght; John Considine, Church-st.; Walter Lysaght; William Cahill; Thomas Raleigh; E. P. Considine; John Curtin; Thomas M'Mahon; Michael Rynnne; M. Greene; Alexander Bannatyne; G. W. O'Brien; E.J. Bannatyne; Michael O'Dea; Thomas Meehan; John Mahon; Michael Carmody; George Trousdell; Patrick Kennedy; Michael Cullinan; Richard Pearson; John F. Cullinan; John Malone; Henry Hograve; Michael Curtin; James Mahon; Patrick Barry; Charles Mahon; J.C. Ryall; Richard Sweeney; Robert Magrath; John Frost; Michael Barry; Daniel M'Donnell; Patrick Hickey; John Shaw; William Lardner; Francis Keane, Jail-street; John O'Brien; Henry Bolton; Peter Mungovan; Michael Fitzmaurice; John Maguire; Patrick Roughan; John O'Halloran; Morgan M'Inerheny; Morty Howly; James M'Grath, High-st.; William Rickards; Patrick M'Inerheny; Martin O'Flanagan; Denis Flanagan
In pursuance of the above requisition, a Meeting, numerously attended, was held in Pearson's large room on the evening named,
MARCUS TALBOT, Esq., in the Chair,
the following Resolutions were adopted unanimously:-
"That the Electors of Ennis at the Meeting, called by public requisition, hereby mark their condemnation of the proceedings carried on through the town on the night of the 14th Instant by a few disorderly characters, without influence or respectability; and thus they hereby express their disapprobation of the attack made at the meeting on Patrick's Day, on the representative of the borough, an uncalled for and unjustifiable, and calculated to mar the success of the object of that meeting - the erection of a Testimonial to the memory of O'Connell by the people of Clare.
"That we have hitherto refrained from giving expression to our indignation at the unworthy attempts that have been made to malign our borough representative, knowing the insignificance and the motives of the parties with whom these attempts originated; but, in consequence of misrepresentations which have appeared in certain newspapers, and which are calculated to mislead persons living outside the borough, we now think it necessary to express our undiminished confidence in our valued representative the Right Hon. J.D. Fitzgerald" (applause).
Mr. Talbot having left the Chair, and M. KERIN, Esq., being called hereto, a vote of thanks was proposed, and passed unanimously, to Mr. Talbot for his conduct of the Chair.
MICHAEL KERIN
MICHAEL MOLONY
The Freeman's Journal, Dublin, 26 March 1859
When first reading the above, I thought the long list of names were those "electors" of Ennis who actually attended the meeting on the evening of the 21st of March of 1859. But more likely the listing was only the electors of Ennis who were "requisitioned" to attend the meeting. And the meeting was "numerously attended" but not necessarily by all the men listed in the article. Maybe it was meant to be confusing to overstate the level of confidence in the Right Hon. J.D. Fitzgerald?
Michael Considine paid the electors' condemnation no heed and continued his attacks on Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald.
ENNIS BOROUGH. - Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald, in offering himself for re-election for this borough, says: - "I am for a comprehensive extension of the elective franchise in both counties and boroughs, so as to include the intelligent and industrious classes at present excluded from the benefits of the constitution. I retain the opinion formed at the general election of 1852, and confirmed by subsequent experience, that to render an extended franchise valuable, its exercise should be protected by 'The Ballot.' " The Clare Journal says: - "A large crowd, summoned by the bellman, assembled on Tuesday night round the house of Mr. Michael Considine, shoemaker, of Ennis, whom he addressed from one of the windows at some length on the present political state of affairs in the borough, and called on the people to show themselves worthy of the name of being men of Clare - the men who won the great battle of civil and religious liberty of 1828. Mr. Considine then dwelt on the political shortcomings of the present representative, whom he denounced in all the moods and tenses as one who 'had prosecuted the clergy, and declared before God, before them all, and under the blue vault of heaven, that as sure as Mr. Fitzgerald hunted Father Conway, so himself would be hunted and driven out of Ennis, and called on his audience to authorise him to sign an address on their behalf, calling on Captain W. Stackpoole to stand for the borough, to which the crowd responded with cries of 'We will! we will!.' After some other remarks, in which Mr. Considine returned thanks to Dr. George O'Brien and Dr. Healy for their attendance on the occasion, and some others whose names we could not catch, the crowd, who seemed to enjoy the fun, dispersed in the utmost good humour. Captain Stackpoole declines to stand."
The Morning Post, London, 12 April 1859
The above 1859 newspaper article is the first reference that I found that the occupation of Michael Considine reported as a "shoemaker". Sheila, I doubt that Ennis was large enough to have two shoemakers named Michael Considine, especially given his outsized character, and that Michael G. Considine was most certainly the shoemaker who married Mary Allen in 1852.
The "Riches of Clare" link to the coat of Daniel O'Connell states that a bronze harp attached to the coat was given to him "on a later date by supporters in New York when he visited that city to raise funds for the O’Connell Monument in Ennis". There are plenty of newspaper reports of Michael Considine in Dublin and throughout the rest of Ireland raising funds for the O'Connell Monument, the speeches were heavily reported in New York, but none of him actually visiting America.
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/clare ... l_coat.htm
I've just stumbled upon this book
"The Crimean War and Irish Society" by Paul Huddie (Liverpool University Press, 2015). Using the below link, "Search inside" for "Michael Considine", then select page 82, and there is a paragraph on the Russian gun in Ennis and the "fervent nationalist" Michael Considine. The author wrote that "the storm of protest against the Russian gun, which began in January 1858, had actually ceased by the end of the following month after the council decided to place it elsewhere, and the official inauguration ceremony seems to have been a pleasant affair." But at least for Michael Considine, from his speech in June 1858 and then the burning of the effigy of J.D. Fitzgerald in March 1859 (unfortunately, we don't have details on this speech), I don't believe he was so quick to let go of this fight. He appears very stubborn. Michael Considine's purpose of making such a big issue of the Russian gun in Ennis appears mainly to have been a political attack on the Right Hon. J. D. Fitzgerald.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Th ... HgsgEACAAJ
"
The Crimean War and Irish Society" looks very interesting and has many photographs. Including on page 84 a photo of one of the two Russian cannon in Tralee, County Kerry which stands on a large and handsome podium with the names, rank, and units of those County Kerry men who died in the Crimea; the second Russian cannon sits upon a similar pedestal to commemorate the Indian Mutiny and Second Opium War. Michael Considine wouldn't approve, but I think it's a pity that the County Clare men (and maybe a few nurses) who died during the Crimean War aren't listed somewhere on the Russian cannon outside the Ennis courthouse. Anyways, clearly the cannon in Ennis is not the only Russian cannon in the Republic of Ireland that I was made to believe by the wikipedia listing of my last posting. From Dr. Huddie's research there are also many Crimean monuments throughout Ireland that do not involve Russian cannons. He has an appendix that lists all the monuments, but this page is not available on google preview. Sheila, you will have to buy the book, available here:
https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co ... 781382547/
The website "Irish War Memorials" has photos of one of the Russian cannon in Tralee. The Russian cannon in Ennis did not make their listing. The "Ross Lewin" monument at St Columba's Church in Ennis was the only Crimea related monument in County Clare listed:
http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/Memorials?warId=6
And it appears that there might be other Russian guns in Ireland that have been squirreled away like the one in County Laois. In the same article in the Leinster Express , Paul Huddie makes reference to still another Russian gun that stands outside the Carlow Courthouse (there's a nice photo on google maps):
https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/fea ... n-gun.html
edit 1: highlight Ennis electors John Considine of Church Street and father-in-law William Rickards