INDEX

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


Pat Purcell Papers
Richard Darcy 1834

Source: Michael Purcell c.2012/13


From: Michael Purcell <carlowmike@gmail.com>

1834, The Agitator Agitated.

Carlow Sentinel

24th May 1834.

Close of Election for a Coroner.

Mr Gorman Triumphant.

On Monday last the contest for the coronership of this county terminated in the election of Mr Edward Gorman by a large majority.

The previous day (Sunday) the agitators, great and small, appeared at the different Chapels, and laboured hard to compel the freeholders to vote for Mr Thomas Bunbury, but failed in all their attempts to sever the tenantry from their landlords.

The succeeded in bringing in a body of the Roscat freeholders, whom our readers will recollect were sworn by each other.

Every means were resorted to in order to produce excitement, and to intimidate those who intended to vote for Mr Gorman, but to no avail.

The polling commenced at an early hour and continued spiritedly on both sides until 1 o'clock, when a large body of Mr Kavanagh's tenantry, from the Barony of St Mullins and Idrone East arrived at the Court-house, accompanied by Mr Robert Doyne, they decided the contest.

During their journey to the Club-house to obtain refreshments, they were loudly cheered to the great mortification of Mr Bunbury and his crest-fallen followers.

Shortly after Mr Kavanagh of Borris House arrived in his carriage and voted himself for Mr Gorman.

At 4 o'clock the polling ceased ; and after the usual proclamations being made, The High-Sheriff, Mr Watson, rose and declared the state of the poll as follows:-

Gross Poll.

For Mr Edward Gorman -- 444

For Mr Thomas C. Bunbury -- 290

Majority for Mr Gorman -- 154.

The announcement was received with loud cheering. The High-Sheriff declared Mr Gorman elected. Mr Bunbury appeared greatly agitated. [to be continued].

1834, Edward Gorman elected Coroner.

Election of Coroner, Mr Gorman Triumphant.

Elected by a majority of 154, the announcement was received with loud cheering.

Edward Gorman briefly addressed the crowd - he stated "Gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for the honor you have this day conferred upon me; I trust I shall perform my duty honestly, and to the satisfaction of the public (cheers)”.

The defeated Mr Thomas Bunbury rose and appeared greatly agitated.

He stated, that the most unconstitutional means were resorted to by the gentry of the county to oppose him; he was not a party man, (a voice from the Grand Jury gallery shouted "nor an Orangeman") nor had he ever headed a mob, (loud laughter) and he conceived himself badly treated by the gentry, who were to a man opposed to him (continued loud laughter;) he stood by the constituency of the county to assert their rights, but he was always a lover of the constitution (laughter;) he hated not the man because he went to mass (laughter;) Sir Thomas Butler's tenantry promised him their vote but the honourable baronet had compelled them to vote against him, was that fair play? Butler had deceived him, (more comments shouted from the gallery).

He thanked the High Sheriff for his impartial manner but he had to publicly charge Mr Butler the Sub-Sheriff with partiality ; he sided with Mr Gorman.

Mr Bunbury resumed his seat amid the cheers of his followers and the hearty groans of all parties who knew Mr Butler to be a man of honor, a gentleman of the strictest integrity.

Mr Butler rose, and after considerable difficulty quietened the ungovernable ruffians who supported Mr Bunbury, he stated, that it was not the first time he was accused of partiality (loud cheers;) he, however, took that opportunity in the strongest terms which the English language afforded of proclaiming the fallacy of the charge (cheers;)....  [account of Butler's speech continues with much interruption by loud cheering].

Mr Bunbury then rose again stating - I beg leave to withdraw the term "partiality" I am sorry for having used the term and therefore apologise (hisses and loud cries of "no thanks to you")  I certainly thought it more to my advantage to leave the poll open (loud laughter).

The High Sheriff, Mr Watson, moved to adjourn the court but Mr Finn presented himself amid a volley of cheers from the respectable portion of the crowd and the groans and yelling of the Bunbury mob.

Mr Finn addressed the meeting --

 "I congratulate you on the calm, dignified, and dispassionate manner in which you conducted the election, I congratulate the gentry and the tenantry of Carlow, they have taught a lesson to a reckless faction who have endeavoured to revive the spirit of disunion and bigotry but thanks to the united efforts of all that is respectable and intelligent this reckless faction may be considered prostrate (cheers) reduced to their proper dimensions, and that like the inflated toad their power and malignity will expire together - (cheers and great uproar); ~~~~~~~~

[note added 2013 -- and so on and so forth, with hisses, groans, cheers, uproar, loud laughter, loud cries and yelling, for what must have been at least another hour].


MAGISTRATES DEBATE


Please report any images or broken links which do not open to mjbrennan30@gmail.com

The information contained in these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others researching their ancestors in Ireland.
© 2001 Ireland Genealogy Projects, IGP TM By Pre-emptive Copyright -  All rights reserved

TOP OF PAGE