Tipperary and Mallow – 12th July 1841

COUNTY OF TIPPERARY.—TERRIBLE EXCITEMENT—ORANGE OUTRAGES.—Monday (second day)[12th July].—Clonmel has been in a state of great excitement since Friday evening, when about one hundred of the Ormond Orangemen arrived, armed to the teeth, although guarded by police. One of these had a scuffle with a townsman in the evening, when he stabbed him at once ; the poor man’s life is despaired of. The polling has been, going on briskly at the side of the Liberals, notwithstanding the oath of allegiance is put to all the Catholics. On the Tories from Cahir coming in today, one of their cars broke down in the street, and they were greatly hooted ; one of them (a gentleman) ‘most valiantly’ wounded an unarmed poor man in the neck. The Liberals had 71 majority at five o’clock ; they will have 100, at least, at the close of the poll this evening.

The above text was found on p.6, 17th July 1841 in “The Tablet: The International Catholic News Weekly.” Reproduced with kind permission of the Publisher. The Tablet can be found at http://www.thetablet.co.uk .

The text below is taken from the Spectator also on 17th July 1841. Both papers took a strongly anti-Tory stance.

TIPPERARY. Fierce riot disturbed the election at Clonmel. As some dragoons were escorting a body of electors into the town, on Monday, a quantity of stones were thrown down upon them from an arch under which they passed, and three were knocked from their horses. The Chief Constable was struck from his horse with a stone. The Police were ordered to fire : they did so, and four people fell, badly if not mortally wounded. A Mr. Perry defended himself from an attack with a dagger, and he stabbed a man in the chest.

The disorders were not confined to the town. On Monday, there was a riot at Bansha, where one man was shot dead, while nine were badly wounded by the military or police ; and at New Birmingham, near Killenaule, three country-people were shot dead and others wounded in an affray. On Tuesday, when the Liberal Members, Maher and Cave, were returned, Clonmel had become quiet.

MALLOW. co. Cork: Mr. Longfield retired from the contest before the termination of the poll, on Friday (9th July); leaving Sir D. Norreys to be declared. The violences that led to that step began with the nomination in the Court-house; at which some priests took a prominent part. After a storm of personal abuse, a desperate affray occurred. A crowd of people rushed into the building and drove the Tories from their station in the gallery- ” This did not satisfy the blood-thirsty wretches,” says an account, which bears, however, marks of partisanship;  “who, perceiving that Mr. Longfield, his proposer, seconder, agents, and friends, were beneath them, mounted the gallery, and leaped on the heads of those gentlemen, who had no means of escape, as they were pressed together by the mob surrounding them at all points. During this scene, the ruffians in the lower part of the court were yelling on the desperadoes above; amidst which was to be heard,’ Murder the Orangemen !’ the cries of the injured, the screams of those who saw nothing before them but death, (many of whom were Sir Denham’s own friends,) and the shouts of Dr. Linehane and Mr Braddle, both Justices of the Peace, to spare the lives of the Tories. Here Mr. Ware, Justice of the Peace, called upon the Stipendiary for assistance, to endeavour to protect the lives of those who were in jeopardy; but the Stipendiary was unable to stir; and the fright he appeared in seemed to make him regret that he had not taken the precautions he was bound to have taken; and there he was in the closely-packed crowd, looking up to Father Collins in the most piteous manner, imploring him to save their lives.”

Sir (Charles) Denham Orlando Jephson-Norreys, 1st Baronet (1 December 1799 – 11 July 1888), known as Denham Jephson until 1838. In July 1838 he was created a baronet, [of Mallow in the County of Cork]. Later that month he assumed by Royal licence the additional surname of Norreys M.P. from Mallow in 1826,a seat he held until 1832. He was re-elected in 1833, when the incumbent, William Daunt, was unseated on petition.He continued to represent Mallow in Parliament until 1859.

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