Hi Matthew
“Riposte” is a good word for that reply. I liked it better than those letters written by priests, who were too anxious to show off their Latin phrases and too anxious not to appear countrified (I think). But, to the gentry, all these priests and people, whether comfortable or poor, were inferior. My feeling is that the comfortable farmers had found themselves touching the glass ceiling that did not allow them to pass into the company of the “quality”. I suspect that, although they could afford to make rent-payments, they resented doing so even more than those farmers who relied on the sale of the pig (“the gentleman who pays the rent”).
Matthew, those letters are from November-December 1880, and things had moved on from the beginning of the action in 1879. You mentioned previously that rent reductions had been granted in some estates in 1879. But it appears from those two letters that Lord Lansdowne had not granted any reductions, which is what prompted the remarks made about him at the Limerick meeting, probably.
I’m no longer subscribing to the British Newspaper Archive, so I looked at
The Irish Canadian newspaper, which carried short reports from various counties in Ireland:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=M ... de=2&hl=en
I thank Sharon Carberry for providing the link to
The Irish Canadian (see “The Irish Canadian, newspaper with a Clare column:
http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... f=1&t=2880).. I looked at the issues of that newspaper from beginning of June to end of December. As far as demands for rent reduction are concerned, the action begins in Kiladysert, at a Board of Guardians meeting held on 30 July. Previous to that date there is nothing on rent reductions. The 2 July issue has no report from Clare, but has a long report on “Irish Landlordism: A Question of Rents. Meeting at Westport, Mayo. From the Dublin Freeman”.
The 18 July: Clare: “Seldom at any time within the knowledge of agriculturalists in Clare, were the crops generally in a more backward condition than the present season. The harsh winds which prevailed for the most part in the months of April and May paralysed and checked vegetables to a great extent. Were it not for the copious downpours of rain for the past few weeks the prospect of the farmer would no be miserable – benefiting very much the crops of hill-side districts.”
30 July 1879: Clare: The death of Captain William Stacpoole, M. P., for Ennis, occurred on July 10th at his residence in Chelsea. The deceased gentleman was the eldest son of the late Andrew Stacpoole, Esq., of Ballyalla, Ennis, and was born in the year 1830.
A meeting of the tenant-farmers of the Kildysart district is to be held with a view of demanding from the landlords such a reduction in their rents as will enable them to tide over their present, unprecedented condition, brought about by bad harvests and extremely low prices of cattle and butter, and agricultural produces generally. The Kildysart Board of Guardians have recently agreed to a resolution on the subject, copies of which are now in the hands of every landlord within the nation (this last word is blurred).
6 Aug 1879: Clare: A special meeting of the Clare Farmers’ Club was held on July 15th, in the Town Hall, Ennis, the Rev. P. White, P.P., presiding. There were seven other clergmen of the county and a large number of members present, with the vice-president, Mr. Bennett, and both the honorary Secretaries, Messrs. Reidy, Newmarket, Thomas S. Clarey, Causeway, Ennis. The business for which the club met was to consider the advisability of holding general county meeting in advocacy of tenant-right, and an appeal to the landlords to make a reduction in their rent [blurred] to the extreme agricultural depression. Previous to entering upon the consideration of the matter a short discussion took place as to the admission of members, [blurred] in the member of the county [blurred] received as honorary members. Seventeen[?] new names were placed on the [blurred] for ballot. There are at present around [?] one hundred members. A long discussion took place as to the advisability of hold the proposed meeting. After some discussion a committee was appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements and invite Mr. E. D Gray, M.P., Mr. Parnell, M.P., Mr. O’Shaughnessy, M.P., and Mr. O’Donnell, M.P., to attend.
13 Aug 1879: Clare: The potato blight has become widespread, and may be noticed in every potato garden and field throughout the county.
Mr. Marcus Keane, Beech Park, Ennis, has made an abatement of 10 per cent. in their present rents to his tenantry on the Mountshannon estate, Kildysart, and will, should the harvest propects turn out unfavorable, give a still further reduction.
Negotiations are on foot, with the consent of the landlord, one of the largest landed proprietors in the county Clare, to make a reduction of from 20 to 25 per cent. on his various estates, and evidence of such the rent falling due in May has not yet been demanded.
20th Aug 1879: Clare: James O’Brien, Esq., Ballynalacken, county Clare, has intimated, through his agent, Mr. J. B. MacNamara, that he will make an allowance of 20 per cent. to all his tenantry on the half-year’s rent due 31st March last, and a similar allowance on the half-year’s rent due 29th September next.
27 Aug 1879: Clare: Jas. Shannon, Esq, Rivoli, Ennistymon, has intimated to his tenants his intention to make a substantial reduction in their next gale’s rent.
The 10 September issue has no report from Clare, but has a long report on "The Land Question: The Land Question. Popular Opinion Taking Shape. Meetings at Castlebar, Balla, Roscommon, Ballingarry, and Mallow. The first convention of tenant farmers held in Ireland since the repeal of the Convention Act took place in Castlebar [Co. Mayo] on Saturday in Daly’s Hotel, and was attended by representative delegates from all parts of the country” (a long report follows and includes Conditions of Membership and Declaration of Principles).
17 Sept 1879: Clare: A man named Thomas Scanlon, a native of Kilrush, was reently drowned at Tarbert while in the act of proceeding from shore to a yacht lying at anchorage, and his body has not since been recovered. The sum of £20 has been collected at Kilrush for his family.
Major Kelly Kenny, J. P., has made an abatement of rent to the tenantry on his Fortane estates, county Clare. The abatement is from 25 to 30 per cent., according to the merits of each particular case.
24 Sep 1879: Clare. The peaceable town of Killaloe was thrown into a state of excitement on September 2nd, on the arrival of John Whyte Malone, Esq., Killmaney Castle, accompanied by his newly-wedded bride, nee Miss Clara Philips, county Kildare. Mr. Malone, though quite a young gentleman, has performed many a good act, and lately made a substantial reduction in his rents.
1 Oct 1879: H. J. Westrop, Lisdoonvarna, has intimated to his tenantry at Knockerah, that he will make a substantial reduction of their rents.
On Sept. 6th, Mr. John Meer, of Ennis, departed this life in his own house, at the advanced age of 85 years. The deceased was a member of the guild of patriotic Victuallers of Ennis, a body of men who were always foremost in every national cause, and was much respected.
8 Oct 1879: The whole of the report on Clare is taken up with the funeral of Mr. Timothy Kerin, of Abbey House, Burrin, in the parish of New Quay.
15 Oct 1879: The whole of the report on Clare is taken up with the death of Mr. Samuel Henry Bindon in Melbourne.
22 Oct 1879: Mr. T. Rice Henn, D. L., Q. C., Paradise Hill, has made a reduction of 20 per cent. to the tenantry on his estate at Ballycorick, Furroor, and Slievedooley, but the abatement is not general. Mr. Michael Gavin, Kildysart, has made an abatement of twenty per cent. to his tenantry at Shanacoale, and from those in the enjoyment of turbary, and whose turf at present lies on the bank without any hope of being saved as fuel for the year, he has asked no rent. Mr. Michael Butler O’Kelly, Cray, has recently made a reduction of 15 per cent, to the tenantson his property; besides to all who pursue the “con-acre system” on his grounds for the growth of potatoes, wherever the crop has turned out unprofitable, he has made a reduction of 50 per cent., and in some instances demanded no rent. Mrs. James O’Connell, Kildysert, has allowed all persons holding “con-acre” on her land for the growth of potatoes, on account of the very poor return therefrom, a reduction of 50 per cent.
29 Oct 1879: Lord Inchiquin has consented to make a 10 per cent. reduction to those of his tenants whose rents were raised.
John Ryan, Esq., M.D., Clonakilla, Ballinacally, has made a reduction of 20 per cent. in the rents now due by his tenantry on the Effernan Estate, Kildysart district. Mr. Patrick Mulconry, Shanahea, Kildyart, has made a reduction of from 20 to 40 per cent. to all holders of potato plots on his property, according to the extent they had been affected by the disease. Other landlords in the locality are following a similar example.
5 Nov 1879: Colonel Vandeleur, D. L., Kilrush House, has made a reduction of 20 per cent to his tenants in West Clare.
At the rent audit, on Oct 14th, on part of Lord Leconfield’s estate, comprising the townlands of Ballyshaurrath, Moghill, &c., in the eastern part of the county Clare, a reduction of 15 per cent. was allowed to those tenants who paid the last gale’s rent.
Mr. John Shaw, Mill View, Ennis, has besides allowing a whole gale’s rent to his tenants, made an abatement of 20 per cent. Major William Mill Moloney, D. L. Kiltannon, Tulla, has made a reduction varying from 15 to 25 per cent to his tenantry according to their wants.
12 Nov 1879: The Clare tenants of Captain O’Callaghan have refused to pay their rents unless a reduction equal to that given by other proprietors is granted. Mrs. Studdart’s and Mr. Bindon’s tenants adopted a similar course.
The recent death is announced of Michel Gibson, Esq., of Ballyvoe House, Ennis, at the ripe age of 73 years. He preserved through life an honourable and honest name.
The Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, Bishop of Killaloe, has promoted the Rev. P. M. O’Kelly, C. C., of Cooraclara, to the curacy of Castleconnell, county Limerick.
19 Nov 1879: The tenants, to the number of forty, on the estate of Mr.Henry French, Roscrea, the Kildysart District, on October 28th refused to pay their rent, as no reduction has been made by the landlord.
The extensive estates of the Marquis of Conyngham in Clare were to have been sold on November 14th. The Marquis is anxious that the tenants should purchase, and with that object has ordered that proposals shall be received from them by the examiner. If their offers come anything near the value they will be accepted. If not there will be a public sale.
26 Nov 1879: Dr. J. Ryan, Kildysert, has made a reduction of 25 per cent. to his tenants at Effernan; and in the case of the widow of Thomas McMahon, having seven children, he remitted a half-year’s rent. Major William Lynch has directed Mr. J. Brady to allow the tenants of his Belvoir estate, county Clare, an abatement on the year’s rent ending 1st November of 20 per cent.
3 Dec 1879: Mrs. Cohoun, of Corrig avenue, Kingstown, has granted, unsolicited, an abatement of 15 per cent of all rents payable 1st November on her Galway and Clare estates.
10 Dec 1879: Captain O’Moore Creagh, Bengal Staff Corps, who is to receive a Victoria Cross for gallanty in Afghanistan, in another name added to the list of Irishmen who have distinguished themselves during the recent campaign. He is the fourth son of the late Captain Creagh of Cahirbane, county Clare. He formerly served in the 95th regiment.
17 Dec 1879: Articles on Land Agitation, but no reports from counties.
24 Dec 1879: A farmer named Berry was found dead on December 4th, at Inchbridge, county Clare. It is stated that he was robbed of money whilst returning from a fair, and that his death is not due to agrarian causes.
Two thousand pounds has been granted by the Treasury to begin the improvements to the pier and harbour at Clare Castle.
31 Dec 1879: Mr. Richard Creagh, Dangan House, Clare, has remitted or reduced the rents of the tenantry on his estate 15 per cent.
The tenants on the Bella estate, the property of Jasper Robert Joly, Esq., Rathmines road, Dublin, have been remitted a half-year’s rent.
I found nothing in the
Irish Canadian regarding the Tenants Rights meeting held in Ennis September 1879, as mentioned in the piece on the Bodyke evictions (
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... tators.htm), which I quoted in one of my replies above. I wonder if there is a report on it anywhere else.
Sheila