Mr Greene does everything in one week, Aug 1869.

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Sduddy
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Mr Greene does everything in one week, Aug 1869.

Post by Sduddy » Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:50 am

Thomas Greene, Chairman of the Ennis Town Commissioners, heard on Friday 27 August that the Lord Lieutenant, who was then staying in Killarney, intended to travel by train from Limerick to Gort on the following Friday 3rd September. Mr Greene had just one week to prepare a reception in Ennis.

Clare Journal, Mon 30 Aug 1869:
Ennis Town Commissioners. Proposed Address to His Excellency The Lord Lieutenant. A special meeting of this body convened for the purpose of adopting an address to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, was held in the Town-hall this day. Thos. Greene, Esq., J.P., presided. The other members present were – Pat Barry, J P, John Hill, William Molony, John Meehan, John H Harvey, Bertram H Talbot, and J Costello, Esqs.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that he had called the meeting together rather hurriedly, as the time was so pressing that it would not permit of a longer notice. He had been obliged to send out notices on Saturday evening, it having been intimated to him on the previous day that his Excellency, Earl Spencer, would pass through the town on his way to the seat of the Marquis of Sligo, near Westport, and he thought, as the Chairman of a body who represented the town, he was bound on their behalf t write and ascertain whether his Excellency would be pleased to receive a deputation from the Town Commissioners to present him with an address. The answer, which he had received that morning was a favourable one and with their permission he would read the correspondence: - [addressed to The Right Hon the Earl of Wicklow, A.D.C., in waiting]
2, Bindon-street, Ennis, August 28, 1869. My Lord – It having been intimated to me as Chairman of the Town Commissioners, that his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant intends passing through here on Friday next, en route to Athenry, I hope your lordship will obtain for the Ennis Town Commissioners the privilege of presenting an address to his Excellency on arrival. The Town Commissioners are most desirous to present such an address to his Excellency in this his first visit to our county, and if it suits his Excellency’s convenience it can be presented at the Ennis station, which forms the junction of the Limerick and Ennis and Athenry Railway. I have the honour to be, my lord, your most obedient servant, Thomas Greene, Chairman Town Commissioners.
[Reply] Killarney House, Killarney, Aug. 28, 1869. Sir – I am directed by his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to acknowledge your letter of the 27th, addressed to Lord Wicklow, and beg you to forward a copy of the proposed address to me at your earliest convenience. His Excellency will pass through on Friday about three o’clock, I believe; and the Railway station will, no doubt, be the most suitable place to present the address. Please send copy of proposed address if possible by Wednesday’s post. I am, faithfully yours, J. Yates Thomson.

They would observe, from that letter there was no time to be lost, and in order to expedite the matter he would suggest that they now form themselves into a committee of the whole house for the purpose of preparing an address. As they were necessarily pressed for time, he had thought it desirable to prepare the draft which they could alter or amend as they might think fit (hear, hear).
Mr Hill then moved, and Mr Molony seconded a resolution to the effect that the board form itself into a committee of the whole house for the purpose of preparing and address to his Excellency.
The Chairman then read the address and observed that if anything suggested itself to their minds, now was the time to consider it.
Mr Harvey – I do not see what improvement can be made to it.
Mr Hill – Suppose we read it paragraph by paragraph?
The Chairman – Very good.
Mr Hill, after reading over the address a second time, said that it appeared to him a most suitable address. He did not see the necessity of altering a single word.
Mr Talbot suggested the desirability of making some allusion to the political prisoners.
The Chairman – It has neither been done in Tralee nor Killarney.
Mr Talbot – But I do not think we ought to be guided altogether by them.
Mr Costelloe – I do not think the Lord Lieutenant was very well received in Killarney.
Mr Hill saw no necessity for altering the address. He did not think it could be better.
Mr Barry then moved and Mr Costelloe seconded the adoption of the address, which was carried unanimously.
The Chairman next read a letter he had addressed to the secretary of the Limerick and Ennis Railway Company, requesting him to prepare and apartment at the station for the reception of his Excellency. To that letter he had as yet received no reply. In 1861, when they had to honour of a visit by the then Lord Lieutenant, all the Commissioners wore blue rosettes, and he thought it would be advisable to have the same on the present occasion.
Mr Costelloe – Blue or green (laughter).
The Chairman said there was another matter he might mention. Their borough member, Captain Stacpoole, was in the country, and he (the chairman) knew it would be their wish that he should be present at the ceremony on Friday next, so that on receiving the private letter of the secretary of his Excellency, he wrote to Captain Stacpoole on the subject, and he had no doubt he would be present.
Mr Barry – I think you deserve the thanks of the Commissioners for the graceful compliment thus paid to the borough member.
The Chairman observed that it occurred to him they ought to make some arrangement to have a light dejeuner prepared for his Excellency (hear, hear).
Mr Costelloe – Was anything of the kind carried out on the last occasion?
The Chairman – No; because he was the guest of Lord Inchiquin and was at Dromoland. The Commissioners, however, were courteously invited to lunch by Lord Inchiquin, though they did not accept the invitiation.
A resolution was then adopted in favour of the suggestion, and proceedings terminated.
Clare Journal, Mon 6 Sep 1869:
The Visit of the Lord Lieutenant to Ennis, [on Friday 3 Sep 1869]
The visit of his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to Ennis, on Friday, furnished the occasion for a complimentary demonstration, and regarded as a political event, certainly testified the appreciation in which Earl Spencer is held by the majority of the people of this town and neighbourhood – an appreciation not only arising from his association with the Government in power, but from his amiable characteristics and personal qualifications, no less than from his high rank and public virtues. His excellency and the Countess Spencer were accompanied by the Right Hon the Earl of Wicklow, A.D.C. in waiting, Lord Charles and Lady Bruce, J Yates Thomson, Esq, Private Secretary, &c.
Arrival at St Patrick’s-Well Station.
The viceregal party left Mallow by the mail train, and arrived at Patrick’s-well, where he was received by the Mayor of Limerick, and with whom he and Lady Spencer warmly shook hands. His Worship then introduced Mr McSheehy, City Treasurer, after which he presented Lady Spencer, with a magnificently wrought bouquet, for which the fortunate donor received the strongest expressions of congratulation for the exquisite taste displayed in its construction. His Worship apologized for the unavoidable absence of the Lady Mayoress on the occasion, adding in reply to his Excellency’s interrogatories that the bouquet was the gift of a lady friend. There was at this time on the platform, in addition to the guard of honour of the Royal Irish Constabulary, under command of Mr Galway, County Inspector and Sub-Inspector Steward, of Adare, Mr Malcomson, Chairman of the Waterfore and Limerick Railway Company; Mr A J Stephens, Vice-Chairman do; Mr John Robinson, Director do; Mr Ainsworth, Secretary, do; and Mr Banks, Superintendent do, who proceeded by special train, with the directors’ state carriage, to receive his Excellency at Patrick’s-well station, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. His Excellency, with the Countess Spencer and party, having alighted on the platform, the Viceregal party were conveyed to the reception-room of the station-house until his luggage was removed to the special train, amid the cheers of those assembled outside to greet them. The engine of the special train was profusely decorated with flowers and evergreens, was under the charge of Mr Tighe, the engineer to the W and L Railway Company, and Mr Eaten, Head Superintendent of the locomotive department.
Arrival at Limerick.
The train left Patrick’s-well station a little after two o’clock, amid the cheers of the assembled people who stood on the bridge and in the vicinity of the station house to greet the illustrious visitors, and proceeded on its way till it arrived at the ticket platform in Limerick, where a guard of honor of the Constabulary, composed of sergeants, was drawn up in waiting, under the command of Constable Colbert, who gave the customary salute. The train passed on till the Long Pavement station was reached, where a guard of honour composed of the Staff of the County Limerick Regiment of Militia was drawn up, under the command of Mr Eyre Powell, the Quartermaster, the band of which as the train approached played “God Save the Queen,” the staff giving the customary salute which was kept up ‘till the train passed out of sight. On passing Cratloe station his Excellency received the salute of the constable and his party in charge of the station; and when Six-mile Bridge station was reached the train stopped for a few minutes. Here Sub-Inspector Heard had a party of the Royal Irish Constabulary drawn up as a guard of honour; and during the stoppage of the train his Excellency availed himself of the opportunity to converse with Mr Heard.
Arrival at Ennis.
At the various stations along the route the Lord Lieutenant was saluted by guards of honour of the constabulary until Ennis was reached, where the railway platform was decorated with considerable taste; and as soon as the engine, which carried a Royal standard, was seen in view, a loud cheer was the greeting of the very large crowd who thronged the platform and its vicinity to give the representative our gracious sovereign a right loyal welcome. At this time there were on the platform to receive his Excellency and Lady Spencer, R W C Reeves, High Sheriff; Captain W Stacpoole, M P; John Singleton, D L, Quinville Abbey; Thomas Greene, J P, Chairman Town Commissioners and Mrs Greene; John Hill, County Surveyor, T C; Patrick Barry, J P, T C; Michael MacNamara, Solicitor, T C; William Molony, T C; John Meehan, T C; J H Harvey, T C; William Molony, T C; John Meehan, T C: B H Talbot, T C: Capt C G O’Callaghan, D L; William Butler, J P; Wm Henry McGrath, Mrs T McGrath, and Miss McGrath; Marcus Keane, J P; Dr Greene and Mrs Greene; Very Rev Dean Kenny; Rev M Hartney, P P; Rev M J Kenny, C C; Mr Dillon, Superior of the Christian Brothers; Rev M McLaughlin, O S F; F N Keane, J P, Mrs and Miss Keane; Mrs T Healy and Misses Healy; Mrs Charleton, Mrs Courtney, Mrs Dillon, Mrs O’Driscoll, W H H Crowe, Captain Smyth, P Gore, J Shaw, Pierce O’Brien, J P, H Singleton, Robert Crowe, Windham Brown, Mr Tuohy, Town Clerk, &c., &c.
On the arrival of the train his excellency was saluted by a guard of honour of the Royal Irish Constabulary, under command of Sub-Inspector Curling, and the staff of the Clare Militia, under command of Captain and Adjutant Keane, with Quartermaster Davis, who held the colours of the regiment, and the moment the train reached the platform the band of the County Militia played “God Save the Queen.” When the train stopped Mr Greene J. P., the chairman of the Town Commissioners, went forward, and in the name of the body he represented, and his fellow townsmen, welcomed the Lord Lieutenant to Ennis. His Excellency, with a warmth characteristic of the accomplished gentleman, shook hands with Mr Greene, after which his Excellency introduced Mr and Mrs Greene to the Lady Lieutenant.
His Excellency and suite were then conducted by the Chairman and Town Commissioners, and R W C Reeves, Esq., J. P., High Sheriff, amid the enthusiastic cheering fo the assembled crowds, through an evergreen arch, on which was placed a white flag bordered with roses and shamrocks, and bearing the words V. R. Cead Mille Failthe to the waiting-room which had been most tastefully fitted up by the Commissioners, and where a sumptuous dejeuner, provided by Mr Stevens, Jail-street, awaited them. The interior of the apartment presented an imposing appearance, being decked round with scarlet and white cloth, laurels and evergreens. At one end was suspended the Union Jack, and at the other were very prettily designed coloured stars and a flag of red, white and blue, while other decorations of various devices illuminated the walls. The flowers were supplied from the conservatories of William Henry McGrath, Toonagh, and the bouquets, which added a distinguished feature to the table decorations, &c., were prepared by Mrs Greene, the wife of our efficient chairman.
Mr Greene, before proceeding to read the address, said – I thank your Excellency for your courtesy in acceding to our request to be allowed the privilege of meeting your Excellency here today to present an address from the municipal body over which I have the honour to preside (applause). I regret that your Excellency’s arrangements prevented us from giving such a welcome in the Town-hall, where we could have received your Excellency more in accordance with our wishes (hear, hear). However, you do not come amongst us as a stranger, for a noble relative, now no more, who bore your Excellency’s name, was well known and revered in this town, and his memory is still enshrined in our people’s hearts (great applause). I will now proceed to read the address: -
To his Excellency John Poyntz Spencer, Earl Spencer, K.G., Lord Lieutenant General, and General Governor of Ireland. May it Please Your Excellency, We, the Chairman and Town Commissioners of Ennis, on behalf of its inhabitants, beg to welcome your Excellency and Lady Spencer to our ancient town, and to offer you both the warmest expressions of our esteem and regard. In tendering through your Excellency to our Sovereign that homage which is due to her Majesty from a liberty loving people, attached to monarchical Government, we rejoice to have the opportunity of welcoming among us the Representative of a Government that by its words and acts have gained for itself, more than any Government in modern times, the confidence of the Irish people. We place full reliance on the wisdon and justice of the present Government, and feel assured that their Irish legislaton for the future will be as heretofore directed towards improving the social position of our people, and the encouragement and protection of our agricultural population in the employment of their skill, capital, and labour. By such means peace and contentment will fructify throughout the land, and all parties be taught to forget their differences and practice towards each other that toleration which has been of late so happily inaugurated by your Government and its distinguished and illustrious leader. We beg your Excellency will assure the Queen of the unswerving loyalty and attachment of all classes in this town and county to her throne and person, and also to accept for yourself and Lady Spencer their ardent aspirations for your long life and happiness.
His Excellency then read the following reply which was received with enthusiastic applause:-
Mr Greene and Gentlemen, - As representative of the Queen, I receive, with much satisfaction, your welcome to Ennis. Her Majesty has uniformly and consistently adhered to the principles of Constitutional Government. She is therefore well entitled to your esteem and confidence, and I thank you for your loyal expressions towards her. The Government of the Queen has but followed the wishes of the people of the United Kingdom in their endeavours to carry just and sound measures for the benefit of Ireland. It is satisfactory to learn that their efforts have gained for them your confidence. I feel sure that they will continue to consider carefully, and to satisfy to the best of their ability the true wants and interest of the nation. To see that the law is uniformly and impartially administered, to bring under its protection, and within reach of its assistance, all classes of her Majesty’s subjects – the rich and the poor alike – these are among the highest objects which the Government seeks to secure, and which cannot but develop confidence in the people. I regret that Lady Spencer and myself are prevented by other engagements from staying longer in Ennis. I beg that you will accept our united thanks for the kind feeling which had prompted your address.”
After the luncheon their Excellencies proceeded to Loughcooter, the residence of Lord Viscount Gough. Thence they were to proceed to Galway, from which historic city they have arranged to go by steamer on Lough Corrib to Cong. After a survey of the Lakes the Viceroy and party go to the Killeries and then to the seat of Lord Sligo.
Clare Journal, Mon 18 Oct 1869:
The Detachment of the 72nd at Clare Castle. The absence of a guard from this department to receive his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, at the railway station on the 3rd of September last, when he was entertained there by the chairman and town commissioners of our borough, was at the time the subject of much remark. We understand that the fault lay with the officer in command at Clare Castle, Captain Guiness, and not with Mr Greene, the excellent Chairman of our Towns Commissioners, who had done all in his power to inform that officer of the intended visit of his Excellency, and requested a guard of honour to be sent to the railway station. The omission of the officer in command has, we have heard, been brought under the notice of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and the result has been a severe reprimand of the officer in question. We trust that what occurred in this case will prevent any officer in future treating with discourtesy the representative of her Majesty.
Sheila

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