Great Dungarvan Characters

Father Richard J.Casey (1851 - 1917)

Jan 1880
DO NOT DIE OF HUNGER MY MAN. IF YOU CAN'T GET THEM ANY OTHER WAY STEAL THEM.

The Rev. Richard J.Casey and the Protestant curate Rev. Mr Lane were received at Kilmacthomas Board of Guardians as a deputation relative to the state of Kilrossanty. Father Casey examined several starving men before the board who said the only food they had eaten was some Indian meal Father Casey had given them. One said he lived on turnips before he got the meal. When asked where he got the turnips he made no reply.

Father Casey - Don't die of hunger my man. If you cannot get them any other way steal them.

Father Casey said there were between 50 and 60 families in Kilrossanty living on 2 meals of turnips and Indian meal a day. He mentioned the case of Kerns of Glendalgan and his wife who both died of typhoid. They had 6 children. They all lived in a tiny cabin big enough only for 2. Dr A.W.Kirwan said to Father Casey that the fever was the result of starvation. Kerns was dead for 2 days before anyone knew about the family.

Mar 1889
DOWN WITH DISSENSION !

An unusually large meeting of our City League Branch was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening about 8pm. Father Casey, arriving early, was greeted with a hearty clap. The Mayor's entrance caused a very enthusiastic outburst...

Father Casey rose from his seat in the body of the Hall and addressed the chairman - Is this the proper time to bring forward a resolution ?

Mayor - It depends on what the resolution is.

Father Casey - Can't you give a straightforward answer to a straightforward question (applause) ?

Mayor - What do you mean ?

Father Casey - I ask is this the proper time to bring forward a resolution ?

Mr McRedmond - Give an answer.

Mayor - Hold your tongue.

Father Casey - I will take the sense of the meeting.

Mayor - Come up, Father Casey, and submit your resolution to the committee.

Father Casey - I don't know that is customary, I am not a member of the committee; you are not supposed to know my intentions. If the meeting is prepared to accept or reject it, it is their business (hear, hear).

Mayor - All right, I will accept the resolution.

After some conversation among the members of the committee the Mayor left and Rev.P.J.Sheenan took the chair.

Father Casey then moved :- That in view of the recent charges - the recent very serious charges - made and promulgated against our honorary secretary, Mr Mannering, we deem it advisable in the interests of this association of the Irish National League, of which we are members, that he should either contradict or explain such charges; and that he hereby be suspended from the position of honorary secretary until such time as he has done either one or the other.

I stand (said the rev. speaker) on the merits of my resolution... I like to see a straightforward man put forward in an honourable position, and if he disgraces it he ought to be put into obscurity. As to the charge of seeking admission to a secret society, made so prominently - we all know what becoming a member of a Masonic Hall means - unless that charge is contradicted, I declare openly that I, as a priest, will cease my connection with the National League (applause from the back part of the room).

Mayor - I am not aware there are freemasons aiding the National cause. We have to take aid from whatever quarter we can get it, if it is faithfully and honestly rendered (hear,hear).

Father Casey - I think it is right to speak to the resolution -

Chairman - I think I have given too much latitude (loud and prolonged cheering).

Father Casey - Pardon me, Mr Chairman, I must be heard (interruption) -

Chairman - I am going to put the amendment -

Father Casey, amid uproar, attempted to speak. His voice was lost in shouts of "chair, chair" - Is that the man that a Catholic population like this elects as secretary ? (uproar).

A voice - Isn't Parnell a Protestant ?

Father Casey - With all respect to the chair I have a great responsibility -

Chairman - Any other member who wishes -

Father Casey here raised his voice to a passionate pitch, but it was immediately drowned in a fierce outcry, and shouts of "order," during which the rev. chairman and Father Casey still remained standing. The latter turned towards the door, and elbowing his way through the members, left the room. His exit was the signal for an outburst of excited cheering.

Chairman (silence having been restored) - We had enough of that before - I think it is done with now (renewed cheering).

Mar 1889
THE RECENT NATIONAL LEAGUE MEETING

DEAR SIR - Permit me to ask Father Sheehan, Adm., through the medium of your paper, for an explanation, or an apology, for his discourteous conduct towards a fellow-priest at the recent meeting in the Town Hall, when he endeavoured and even encouraged (as chairman), portion of the assembly to drown my voice when speaking to a resolution which I had prepared, and which, according to the rules that regulate every well-conducted and respectable assembly, I had a perfect right to speak to. Again at the close of the discussion which it elicited, it was whilst in the act of exercising this right, and just before he put the resolution from the chair, that Father Sheenan in a dictatorial and offensive manner, said "I will not hear you. We have had too much of this thing" (or words of this nature). Now this looked like a studiously arranged bit of discourtesy to prevent legitimate discussion on an important and interesting subject,.viz. - charges of a serious nature which have been alleged against the hon. sec. of the branch, and which he seems indisposed to explain, or unable to contradict. In other words, Father Sheenan's undignified action towards me on this occasion looked as if it were necessary for him to be offensive to me (though I did not give him the least provocation, nor did anyone else) in order that he may succeed all the more effectively in whitewashing Mr Manning, which he did not do and cannot do. If such were his motives he ought, in honour to himself and justice to me, offer an explanation or an apology to the public, but in the event of him refusing to do so, I wish him glory in his success. - I am, dear sir, yours truly, R.J.Casey,C.C.

NB.- The man who has proved faithless and treacherous to the Church of his father and forefathers by seeking admission into the Freemason Society will, in my estimation, have less hesitation in proving false, faithless and treacherous to the National cause if occasion offers, and that is the stamp of the man the Waterford Branch I.N.L. retains as its hon. sec. I ask the plain question of every right-thinking man and honest Nationalist who may read this, is such a man, or even his supporters, above suspicion an Nationalists ? R.J.C

Aug 1889
THE KILMURRY EVICTION AND THE DUNGARVAN NUNS

DEAR SIR - I read in Saturday's issue of the Citizen Mr. Walsh's reply to Mr.P.J.Power's letter, in which he (Mr. Patrick Walsh, the evicted tenant) introduces a letter of mine, written on the eve of Christmas, 1888, when his eviction from his comfortable home had just been effected by the nuns, and when he and his large family were thrown out on the wayside by a community of religious, who are supposed to be more mindful than ordinary good Catholics of the solemnity of Xmastide ... Now sir, I know as much of this case between this religious community and their victim (Mr.Walsh) as most people now living (I believe Father O'Riordan, President St John's Collage, knows quite as much) and I must say it is nothing short of a gross libel on the justice and impartiality of the cause so warmly and righteously espoused by Mr. Davit at --------- some ten years ago, and ever since supported at much sacrifice to life and health, by gentlemen of of such unsullied characters as Messers O'Brien, Dillon, Davit &c, to allow it to be said that any gentleman claiming to be a colleague can associate with the above "honoured patriots" (in the truest sense of the word), should shirk the responsibility of declaring this case to be one of unjust eviction and particularly when I know that Mr.P.J.Power M.P., was delegated by a representative conference of his constituents to do so to set public feeling and much uncharitable talk at rest at once and for ever.

Now, sir, this action on the part of Mr. Power suggests a few questions to my mind which I will ask him to answer. 1st. Has Mr. Power the courage of giving expression to his opinions on matters essentially and exclusively appertaining to the welfare and success of the National movement regardless of the consequences? 2nd. Is the conduct of capricious landlords when they happen to be members of a religious community less censurable or less deserving of exposure and public criticism than that of a Clanricarde, or a Lord Waterford, or a Stuart, or can they shield their conduct behind any rule of the National League ?
Yours truly
R.J.Casey,C.C.

Nov 1890
THE REV. RICHARD J.CASEY,C.C.

Readers of the Munster Express in all parts of the County of Waterford will be glad to have a picture of the above true hearted priest, than whom no clergyman in Ireland has done and sacrificed more for the cause of Nationality. Father Casey was born in Kilrossenty, Co Waterford, in the year 1851, and is therefore 39 years of age. His father was Mr Pierce Casey, and the family is a very old and respected one. Richard was sent to school at Dungarvan, the establishment being known as Dwyer's Boarding School, and was then entered at St John's College, Waterford, from where he was ordained priest in 1875. His first charge, singular to relate, was that of his native spot Kilrossenty, and a right hearty welcome he received from the people of the parish when he returned to them as their soggarth aroon.

Times were beginning to get lively just then, and in 1879 Father Richard established a branch of the Land League in Kilrossenty, thus saving many families from eviction and the emigrant ship. In appreciation of all his great services he was in 1881 presented with a gold watch and chain by his parishioners of Kilrossenty and Fews and Father Casey today prizes that watch amongst all his possessions as a token of gratitude and fidelity from the people.

About this time (81-82) the tenants of Mr Palliser sought a reasonable reduction in their rents, which the agent Mr Langley, Tay Lodge, declined to grant. The tenants, under the leadership of Father Casey, continued to hold their meetings and withhold their rents until they could force Mr Langley to recognise the justice of their claims.

A series of meeting were held, at each of which Father Casey presided; but things were getting too warm for the rack renters and a conspiracy of shoneens was formed. For what ? Nothing less than to accomplish the arrest of the reverend gentleman, whom to get out of the way was a sure way to evict the tenants. Accordingly a report was sent to the Castle by the leaders of the shoneen gang that Father Casey was a very "suspicious character;" and in due course a document was forwarded to Mr Heard, then County Inspector of Waterford, which was simply an order from the Castle to squelch Father Casey. The people of Kilrossenty having heard the little dodge of the enemy determined not to allow them to have their own way without protesting against the abominable conspiracy, and so some good men were told to keep faithful watch and ward over the priest's house. Just at this time Father Casey was transferred - it was stated on account of his political action - to Clonea; thence to Cappequin; then to Ballyporeen; thence to Ardfinan; and, at last, the City of Waterford; and now having administered here for over six years, he is to-day as ardent and true a Nationalist as he was in the old days in Kilrossenty.

Father Casey has of late suffered much from a bronchial attack, and has been ordered to leave Waterford for a short time. May he long be spared to minister to his loving parishioners.

Jan 1892
THE CONVENTION CONFLICT

The most important case set down for hearing before Judge Walters at the quarter sessions was the appeal entered into by Father Richard Casey C.C. and the other five defendants convicted under the Crimes Act by Messers. Considine and McLeod, Resident Magistrates, of having taken part in a riot on the occasion of the Whig Convention held recently in this city.

Mr Ryan Q.C - ...it appears that a Member of Parliament, a Mr Dillon, was one of the principle persons connected with the meeting of the Conventionist delegates, and he came from some part of the country to Waterford about 11.30 o'clock. The authorities has, they were bound to do, drafted in a considerable force of constabulary for the purpose of maintaining the peace of the city, and certainly their foresight was right. There was a procession formed to receive Mr Dillon, and among others very prominent was the Rev. Mr Casey. While the processionists were crossing the bridge, nearly the first act I find done, which lead in a great measure to what took place afterwards, was this rev. gentleman, the Rev. Mr Casey, standing up in the vehicle - in which he rode along with Mr John Dillon - and calling, cheering, shouting, and gesticulating very wildly. That, of course, if passed over would not amount to a riot, but unfortunately the rank and file took their cue from this and began to wave their sticks. This was crossing the bridge, and at the city side of the bridge was formed a large party of Parnellites, who evidently were only waiting for a row, and the others appeared ready to gratify them...

Mr Bodkin R.M., in answer to Mr Ryan deposed he saw Father Casey standing up in the wagonette and waving his hat. The people in the procession then cheered and waved their sticks.

Jan 1892
QUASHED.FATHER CASEY'S CONVICTION UTTERLY WRONG.

On Tuesday Judge Walters gave his decision.

His Honor Said - Although I am of the opinion that the convictions are bad in law, I mean to deal with one of them separately. The Rev R Casey, a Roman Catholic priest has been found guilty of taking part in a riot and he has been sentenced to two months imprisonment, and at the expiration of that term to give securities for the peace and for good behaviour for twelve months. Such a conviction and sentence naturally casts disgrace upon the character of any man, disgrace which is greatly intensified in the person of a minister of religion... In my opinion the conviction of Father Casey is utterly unjustifiable. It is unsupported by fact, and it is unfounded in law, and I reverse it and dismiss the charges against him on the merits. (Applause). I will have no display of any kind in this court.

Feb 19O8
LETTER FROM R.J.C DUNGARVAN

I have read with much interest the remarks by L.M.C in your last issue. It strikes me that these words of warning are badly needed, and I hope they will be pondered on by all intending emigrants. Too much cannot be said or written with regard to this burning question and it must be obvious to every right thinking man that emigration is slowly but surely accomplishing that which all the arts of England failed to do - the extermination of the Irish race. With what jubilation the English parties - Tory and Liberal - view the situation ! While our politicians are playing their own game for their own benefit, the people are compelled day after day, to fly the land of their birth in a fierce struggle for existence. They go to a country with a vast population where they have difficulty in obtaining even the most menial employment. Little wonder that it is, then, that so many of these poor emigrants sink into obscurity and wretchedness in the slums of New York, Boston and the other large American cities.

... "The American letter" is scarcely ever accurate in its account of conditions of life out there. The emigrant will never tell exactly what his position is, nor will he tell the hardships he forced to endure. What a vast number of Irish youths may be found loitering along the streets and corners of the American towns and cities looking in vain for the means of subsistence, cursing the day he set foot on the emigrant ship, and praying that God in his mercy may give them the opportunity of returning again to their native village in Ireland...When an Irish girl returns home after spending some years in the land of the "Almighty Dollar" does she not excite our commiseration ? We look with sorrow on her pale, sunken cheeks, and we remember that only a few years ago "Red as a rose was she."

... Are we, who have survived centuries of oppression at the hands of our brutal taskmasters to be allured from our own country by vague dreams of gaining opulence and comfort in a far land ? Oh, youths and maidens of Dungarvan and surrounding districts, ponder seriously on this important question. If you are patriotic, if you take pride in the reading of the glorious deeds of your ancestors, why not make a resolution to live in the land for which they fought and died ? Where can we find mountains more grand and striking, valleys more fragrant, and streams more clear and limpid than those we have in our own beautiful Ireland ? We may roam thro' this world, but fairer scenes will never meet our eyes than the sunlight sparkling on Killarney's lakes and falls or the mist hanging over "the sweet vale of Avoca." ... In conclusion, I would appeal to the girls of Dungarvan to stay in the old land, and I am sure the boys will follow the good example. Therefore to every cailin in the "Old Borough" and the surrounding districts who feels inclined to cross the Atlantic I would address the following word of a young Irish poet :

Asthoreen, cling to the dear old land,
And never desert it's soil;
Oh, never flee o'er the darkening sea,
Amid stranger scenes to toil.
Cling to the lands of the olden faith,
Home of the shamrock green;
Abroad you're only a stranger's slave,
At home you're an Irish queen.

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