11th April 1885.
On Saturday last, April 11th, Mr
Jameson, Sub-Sheriff for Carlow accompanied by his
bailiffs and protected by a strong guard of police,
visited the townland of Kilcloney, near Borris to seek
possession from Mrs Anne Waters of her farm., in
pursuance of a decree obtained by Mr Beresford the
landlord for the recovery of a hanging gale. This
hanging gale had been on the estate for more than a
century and a half and was in existence long before the
property came into the possession of the present
landlord.
Amongst those present were Joe
Delany, a well known bailiff from Borris and an
underling of Mr Beresfords named Burke who distinguished
themselves throughout be their insolence and
impertinence. The sub-sheriff arrived at noon and
proceeded to take possession of the premises by having
the furniture removed from the dwelling house. After
part of the effects had been brought out, Mrs Waters,
being advised by her friends that she had done all that
was necessary as a protest, she satisfied the landlords
claim by paying the money due. The proceedings were
attended by a large crowd of local people with a
contingent of horsemen present and the scene was also
graced by the presence of a number of ladies.
The Rev. W.P. Bourke, who was
loudly cheered, then addressed the assembled crowd - -
He stated that he did not think it well that they should
separate without protesting formally against the
outrageous treatment that Mrs Waters had been subjected
to.
Young Mr Beresford came of age a
few weeks ago and his first introduction to his tenantry
there was through the sheriff, who had come to eject Mrs
Waters not because she was unable to meet all just
demands on rent etc but because she had refused to pay
the hanging gale which was due before Mr Beresford was
born, or before Mr Beresford owned a piece of land in
Kilcloney.
The father of the present Mr
Beresford was dead, and as they were told to say nothing
of the dead except what was good, and as he had nothing
good to say about the late Capt. Beresford he would
extend to him the charity of silence.
From this day on, he said, the
Beresford family will be known as "Hanging-gale
Beresford". "I tell the people" he continued, "that they
need not be particularly squeamish as to what means they
would adopt to stop fox-hunting by the landlords on
their land". Mr M. Waters thanked the people for coming
out to support them. The gathering then dispersed
cheering for Mrs Waters and the Irish National League.
The above is a true and
accurate transcript of the original document.
Transcribed by Jean Casey, January
2010