The Kilmurry Eviction

Jan 1889
THE PRESENTATION NUNS OF DUNGARVAN AND THEIR ACCUSERS.

For some days past large placards on the dead walls announced that a meeting would be held in the Town Hall, Dungarvan, on Sunday (yesterday), for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Irish National League, and that the Rev. Pierce Casey,P.P.,V.F.,would attend, as well as the other local clergy. At the time announced for the meeting a large number of people filled the hall, amongst those present being -Rev.P. Casey,P.P.,Dungarvan; Thomas O'Conner,C.T.C.;R.Curran,T.C.; J.Curran,T.C.; ThomasPower, P.Walsh,T.C.;M.Morrissey,Knockaun; M.Flynn,T.C.; J.Walsh,T.C.; Walsh, Ballyduff; M.J.Casey,&c.,&c.

It may be necessary to state that a few weeks ago Mr P.Walsh, of Kilmurry was evicted from his holding, the landlords being the Presentation Nuns of Dungarvan,and since the eviction a number of have appeared in the local papers, all from the evicted tenant or his friends, and strongly condemning the actions of the nuns, which are described as cruel and harsh. For some time after the hall being pretty well filled no move was made for anyone to constitute the meeting, or propose a chairman. When, after a considerable time, the Rev.P.Casey walked in the direction of the permanent stage of the building, followed by some others, there was loud applause.

The Rev.Father Casey then standing on the stage, addressed the meeting. He said - this meeting is a humbug. It may seem to some persons that I convened this meeting. I did no such thing. If I did I would take the chair.

A voice - You are welcome.

The Rev. gentleman continued - If I were asked by the people of this parish, or the quarter part of the people of this parish, to call the meeting I would do so, because anything they ask me I will do it (applause). But three gentlemen called upon me to form a branch of the National League. One was a man that did not belong to the parish, and I do not know that he is a member of the League in his own parish, and of the two others I do not know what is their nationality. I have not been here long enough to know that, but I saw at once it was a meeting got up to attack the Nuns of the Presentation Order.

A voice - The nuns should not be attacked.

Rev.P.Casey,P.P. - What is your name , sir? Will you have a little patience ? Hear me. Will you be able to conduct yourself till I finish, then you will have plenty of time; but I do not want to be disturbed by every ragamuffin that comes here (applause). If you wish you wish you can come up and speak here. If you don't give me silence I won't go on, but if you give me silence anyone that wishes to speak after me, I will hear him. I will not boycott you from hearing him. I am not ashamed of any man. I take my position here as parish priest and superior of religious orders, to prevent them from being blackguarded and hunted down, for I am bound as their pastor and protector, to defend them (applause). If the statement I make is not true, let any man come forward and contradict it. The Nuns have been blackguarded in the papers, and it is my duty to defend them (hear,hear). It is high time to defend them.[...] Now allow me to ask one question. If there is any farmer that can show me that his landlord has treated him better than the nuns have treated Patrick Walsh, let him stand up before me (loud applause). I am not going to listen to a fellow that idles about the streets, but a respectable farmer in this room - let him stand up and show me that his landlord has treated him better than the nuns have treated Patrick Walsh (renewed applause).

Captain R. Curran - There are men in this room who were evicted for one half years rent.

Rev.P.Casey,P.P. - And there is nothing in the papers about it. These nuns received from Patt Walsh for eight years £194, while during the eight years they had to pay £328 head-rent, thereby losing £150. They gave him permission to go before Judge Walters, what all the tenants in the county are looking for, and they gave him permission to break his lease when no landlord in the country would do so (applause)... He now asked the meeting to say whether the nuns had treated Patt Walsh harshly or not. Had they treated him harshly ? (Loud cries of "No.") Did they treat him fairly ? (Loud cries of "Yes.") Now, any person that wishes to make a statement, I will sit down quietly and listen to him (applause).

Mr. M Morrissey (Knockaun) - Rev. Chairman -

Rev.P.Casey - I am not chairman you know very well. I refused to be chairman. You came to me from a strange parish; you tried to capture me. Why did you come to me ? You are a stranger in this parish. You had no right to make yourself a hero in this parish. Why did you come to me ?

Mr Morrissey - Because I am a National Leaguer, and was always one, and I hope I ever will be. If you want to know my principles I refer you to the two clergymen of my parish (noise and excitement).

Rev.P.Casey - Are you a leaguer in your own parish ?

Mr Morrissey - I am.

Rev.P.Casey - Is there a branch in your parish ?

Mr Morrissey - There is.

Rev.P.Casey - You have no branch there at all, sir.

Mr Morrissey - We have; but it is asleep.

Rev.P.Casey - Why not rouse it up then in your own parish. We can do our business in Dungarvan without going to you. We don't want your help in Dungarvan to get up a branch (applause and excitement).

Mr Morrissey - Were you, rev. sir -

Rev.P.Casey - I don't want to be dictated to by you. It is your forte to be talking about bishops and priests, blackguarding bishops and priests (much confusion).

Mr Maurice Flynn,T.C - Perhaps I may ask Mr Morrissey a question ?

Mr Morrissey - I will not answer the likes of you sir.

Rev.P.Casey - I tell you what I will do. As there is not a farmer in the room whose landlord has treated him better than the nuns have treated Patt Walsh -

Michael Mullins - Sir, I -

Rev.P.Casey - Who are you, Sir ?

Michael Mullins - I am a labourer, Sir.

Rev.P.Casey - Well, you are not a farmer. I said a farmer.

Mr Morrissey - I must say, Father Casey, that you came here to defend the nuns.

Rev.P.Casey - I did come here to defend the nuns. I do not deny it, and I am bound to defend them, and I have a good cause (applause and cries of "Turn him out") The nuns have not been rentrackers. They have been lenient, and they have been blackguarded in all the papers, before bishops, and priests, and every person.

Mr Morrissey - You called on me to speak, and I am not allowed to speak. That is not justice.

Rev.P.Casey - Say what you have to say.

Mr Morrissey - When I commenced you stopped me up.

Rev.P.Casey - You have no right to dictate here. You are a humbug (cries of "Turn him out" and great noise).

Here the Rev.P.Casey left the platform followed by a few friends, while the crowd in the body of the hall cheered and shouted in the most excited manner.

Mr M.Flynn asked Mr Morrissey a question.

Mr Morrissey - Go along, you scut.

Mr Flynn then left the platform, Mr Morrissey looking daggers at him.

When Mr Flynn got to the body of the hall Mr Morrissey addressed him very excitedly, the audience cheering and hooting, and Mr Morrissey jumped off the platform into the body of the hall, and advancing to Mr Flynn, faced him in a most determined attitude. The people, believing he was about to attack Mr Flynn, rushed on Mr Morrissey and hustled him violently towards the wall. The scene here was of the most excited description, and several voices shouted from the platform for the people to be quiet. Mr Morrissey rushed upstairs on to the platform, and made across it to the door, and left the hall.

Capt.R.Curran then came forward, and addressed the people. He called upon them to sign a requisition to their parish priest calling on him to form a branch of the National League (applause). The parish priest had been mislead and consequently felt annoyed.

A requisition was drawn up by Mr John Curran, which afterwards was signed by a good number of those present, and, after a while, the calm which follows the storm prevailed, and the people dispersed.

Jan 1889
CORRESPONDENCE

Knockane, January 10th, 1889

Sir - I ask space in your widely circulated journal to lay before the public a true account of the late meeting held in the Town Hall, Dungarvan, on Sunday 6th Inst., and how I got connected with it. It was Mr. Edward Spratt, of Coolcormack, and I who first got a branch of the Land League started in Dungarvan... Mr.Edward Spratt and Mr Maurice Quann, of Dungarvan, induced me to again take part and to go to the Rev.P.Casey P.P. asking his consent to renew the Land League in Dungarvan. He received me as friendly as he did his two parishioners, though he knew very well I was from another parish. He said he would be very glad to have it formed, and that we should get the shopkeepers to join, as it was in their interest, as much as the farmers; that he would preside, but that pass no resolutions about "boycotting." ... Father Casey, with some of the representative men of the town, sat on the front bench deliberating who would be chairman. I being from another parish did not interfere. Quite suddenly the P.P. went on to the platform, followed by his friends. I took my place there too expecting a branch of the League was about to be formed, and believed at the time the P.P. had been elected chairman. Father Casey burst suddenly out and said the meeting was a humbug, got up to blackguard him and in order to blackguard the nuns. Now I firmly believe either of those two most respectable, inoffensive parishioners of his or myself would be the last men in the country to offend or blackguard priests or nuns... Father Casey tells the public it is my forte to blackguarding bishops and priests. I think it would be only fair and just for Father Casey to prove that abominable charge, or retract it in the public press. The public may not be aware that Father Casey and I were on very friendly terms before Sunday last, and so late as the eviction at Kilmurry I went to him, asking him to intervene for P.Walsh. His answer was : "Michael, if only for your sake, I will do all I can for him." A day or two afterwards we met again and he told me the nuns wanted me to become security for the future rent of Kilmurry, and it would settle the case, but reminded me of the danger and responsibility of becoming security. The next day I met the P.P. at the convent. He asked me what I was going to do; I said I had £100 for the nuns in lieu of Pat Walsh's arrears, and would become future security for the future rent of Kilmurry. It was then refused, which clearly shows I was "humbugged," that I was not a "blackguard." Gentlemen who abstain from National meetings now will be "respectable men;" but gentlemen who attend them will be "blackguards." I am glad to see Capt.Curran is a converted Nationalist, and I hope if a branch is formed he will become president. Then Dungarvan may be sure the branch will flourish, and will not be misled.

Regarding Mr.Maurice Flynn, when he left the platform he insulted me and invited me down to give me a thrashing. I accepted his invitation, but somehow he quickly disappeared. I am told he would have stood his ground only he was afraid of soiling his "kids."

I was then left to a number of persons with Mr.Thomas Queally (Father Casey's brother-in-law) at their head, who assaulted me - for what reason I cannot tell.

Apologies for trespassing so much on your valuable space - I am, sir, yours truly, MICHAEL MORRISSEY