Galway Express 12th February 1916
Arrest
of Mr. Claude A. Chevasse
Mr
Claude A. Chevasse (1886-1971), of Oxford, well known in Irish language
circles, has been arrested by the police in Ballingeary and taken to Macroom.
The news of the arrest came as a shock to his numerous friends in Galway. Mr
Chevasse has been frequently in this county, and was a regular attendant at St.
Nicholas’s Church when visiting this city. His picturesque Irish costume always
attracted attention, and he delivered a series of lectures on the Irish
language in almost all the National Schools in the county. Mr Claude Chevasse
is a cousin of Major Henry Chevasse, Whitfield Court, a gentleman who has
served with distinction in the present war and also in South Africa.
It
is stated that the cause of the arrest was that he [Claude] declined to
speaking English when questioned by the police. Mr Chevasse is an M.A. of
Oxford University. At Macroom Petty Sessions…Claud Chevasse…was charged under
the Defence of the Realm Act with refusing to answer questions reasonably. The
majority of the Bench decided to impose a fine of £4 and £1 costs. Mr Power (for
accused) said his client would not pay the fine, and he asked to have an
alternative named. The alternative of one moth without hard labour was
arranged. The accused was offered a week to pay the fine in case an appeal was
not proceeded with.
We
are delighted to have a full-length portrait of Claude by the artist Pádraic Woods (1893-1991)
wearing his traditional Irish costume. It was presented by the Friends of The
National Collections.
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| Claude Chavasse 1886-1971 |
