The Irish Language is laughed out of court, 1882

[Sduddy]

The Land Commission Court sat in Ennis in January 1882 to hear claims by tenants for a review of rent. On Thursday 26th, it was the turn of some tenants of Miss W Stacpoole. One of these was a John Guttry. This is how his claim was reported in the Clare Freeman, Sat 28 Jan 1882:

John Guttry v same [Miss W Stacpoole]
The tenant in this case could not speak English, when he was desired by the judge to go down until he would learn to do so. The remark caused much laughter.

Sheila

[Sduddy]

This death notice shows that the services of interpreter were available to the courts, but, clearly, were not availed of by the Land Commission Court:
Clare Freeman, Sat 25 Aug 1877:

Deaths. Brew – At Carnanes (within one mile of Kilrush), on the 20th inst Michael Brew, (W.) aged 69 years, after a protracted illness. Mr Brew, filled the office of interpretor of the Irish language, at the several quarter sessions of Clare, and was much respected throughout the county, as was testified by the large, and respected cortege, which followed his remains to its last resting place at Kilrush on Wednesday last.

Civil record: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 206520.pdf

This Michael Brew, Carnanes, is mentioned (among other Michael Brews) in the topic, “Brew, Donnellan, Purcell, West Clare 1888”: http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... 0&start=15

Sheila