Co Tipperary Independent & Tipperary Free Press 4 August 1900
United Irish
league – Ardmore Branch
A public meeting was held in Ardmore on Sunday in
furtherance of the objects of the United Irish League. A number of police were
present from Cappoquin, Lismore, Dungarvan, etc., under District Inspector
Egan, and with them a government note-taker. The D.I. having approached Rev.
Father Queally on the subject, the note-taker was accommodated with standing
room on the platform. During the day the proceedings were enlivened by the Old
Parish and Ardmore fife and drum bands. Mr M. Cunningham, R.D.C., proposed that
Father Queally take the chair, seconded by Mr M. Flavin, Co Councilor…the
Parish Priest, Father Walsh, was absent through illness…He had a letter from
him enclosing €2 towards the
General Election Fund, which would be started in the parishes of Grange and
Ardmore on the first Sunday of September. It was many years since he [Rev.
Queally] had seen such a splendid gathering. Having dwelt on the necessity for
unity and organization, the Rev. Chairman exhorted all to work on the lines of
the U.I.L. and as a result they would soon have their Parliament in College
Green. William Spratt, R.D.C.,proposed the following:
1: Approve the programme adopted at the great
convention held recently in Dublin.
2. We hail with delight the existence once more of a
United Irish Parliamentary Party…like a solid wall to block the way of the
British House of Commons until Legislative Independence is restored to Ireland.
3. Pledge to subscribe to a fund to defray the
expenses of the General Election.
4. People of Grange/Ardmore pledge to form a branch of
U.I.L…whereby felonious and oppressive landlordism can be swept away…
5. We call on the government to amend the Labourers’
Act to enable labourers to purchase their own holdings.
6. We approve of better housing for the working
classes both in town and country.
Mr. Cunningham, R.D.C. seconded the resolutions. Mr.
J.J. Shee, M.P., Mr. A Heskin, Tallow, and Col. Fitzgerald supported the
resolutions.
