A LOOK AT THE YEAR 1900

Looking at some notable events at the turn of the century in the year 1900, we recount a ‘personal selection’ from the pen of the late TA Barry, Rathcormac in this mini-series.

INAUGURAL MEETNG AT RATHCORMAC

Having enrolled the Bartlemy branch of the UIL after Mass on the morning of Sunday, April 8, Mr John O’Donnell, accompanied by several nationalists, drove down to Rathcormac, where at 2 o’clock the chair was taken by Mr Bartholomew Curtin RDC, amidst applause.

In opening the meeting Mr Curtin said he was pleased to welcome Mr O’Donnell, who had come such a Iong distance. At the present time the poor tenant farmers were in a wretched condition, altogether unable to meet the demands upon them, or pay the exorbitant rents that the Commissioners had fixed (true). Everything seemed to be going from bad to worse, and in his judgement an organisation such as the United Irish League should be thoroughly established throughout the country, or the people would be wiped out. They would not start a branch in the parish to make up for lost time and to plant the people in the soil, owners of their own holdings at a reasonable rate of purchase (cheers). Within the past fifty years there was an awful drain of the life blood out of the country, an average of 40,000 every year of the flower of our people emigrating. There must be an end put to that condition of affairs, and the sooner the better. He was sure Rathcormac would, to a man, support the principles of the UIL (cheers).

Resolutions were passed calling for the establishment of a branch of the UIL, a Compulsory Purchase Bill, and the condemnation of the villainous system of land-grabbing. Mr O’Donnell, MP, then spoke at considerable length on the aims and objects of the UIL, and wound up his remarks by appealing to all to close ranks, by which means they would obtain a redress of their grievances. Let them imitate the earnestness of the brave Boers, who were teaching England a lesson that she long wanted (cheers).

The following officers and committee were elected unanimously: President Richard Gorman; Vice-President John Horgan; Treasurer Bart Curtin RDC; Secretary James Maye; Committee: John Magner, RDC; M Spillane, Tom Dwyer, P O’Connor (succeeding president), James Coffee, T Murphy, James Spillane, T Ahern, Thomas Foley, Thomas Cotter, Dan Murphy, Joseph Howard, Con Twomey, Dick Cotter, Denis Cahill, RDC; Patrick Murphy and John P Collins.

It was agreed to hold the next meeting on Sunday next at the Bandrooms immediately after last Mass, and to apply for 150 membership cards. The Rathcormac Fife and Drum Band played a selection of national airs, and the meeting dispersed loudly cheering for Wm O’Brien, and the leaders of the UIL.

The band afterwards paraded the streets, and the village displayed more enthusiasm than was seen there since the unfortunate Parnell split 10 years previously.

VISIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA

The visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland in April was received with indifference by the majority nationalist population. The comings and goings of royalty, observed a Fermoy man in a letter to the press, troubled the bulk of the people of the town but very little. A royalist woman, Mrs Bailey, in Mitchelstown who had the Union Jack hoisted over her residence in honour of the visit, woke on Passion Sunday morning, April 8, to see harps and shamrocks daubed on her walls, interspersed with the slogans ‘Remember Mitchelstown’, ‘Famine Queen’, ‘Kruger’, ‘God Save Ireland’, etc. The police investigated, but apparently with little success.

DEMONSTRATION AT KILDORRERY

At 3am on the morning of Tuesday, April 24, two bailiffs accompanied by six policemen arrived to execute a judgement for £40 and ejectment proceedings obtained by Mr Smith-Barry, lordlord, against Thomas Scanlon, Barrafona, Castlelyons for non-payment of £104 rent. Mr Scanlon preferred to go before the UIL for sympathy and support. He was a hard working, industrious man, and a land valuer.

On Sunday, May 6, the UIL held a large demonstration in Kildorrery in support of the national cause. Delegations from all over North Cork attended. Rathcormac sent P O’Connor, Ballybrowney, Pres. and N O’Gorman together with the Fife and Drum Band (D Murphy, M Spillane, J Cosgrave, T Barry, T Galligan, J Foley, R Sweeney, D Sweeney, J Flynn, N Foley, T Finn, D Flynn, T Walsh, M Cranitch, W Jackson, Cosgrave, D Flynn).

THE ‘SHOOTING’ OF JOHN FLYNN

John Flynn lived in Kilworth and appears to have been something of a character. He worked as a ghillie to gentlemen leasing the fishing rights of the Blackwater at Careysville from Mr George Montgomery.

On Thursday, May 24, he was employed in this capacity by Mr Potter. After finishing work he adjourned to Keane’s public house at Clondulane with his comrade, Ned Ahern. Duncan Chisholm, gamekeeper or night watchman to Mr Montgomery, was also there. Flynn left the pub at about 8.30pm with Ahern and the two Sheehans, with the intention of crossing the river to get home in a boat they always used for that purpose. They found the boat had been locked.

As Ahern made to break the lock with a stone, Chisholm appeared with a gun and said, ‘Stop that, or I’ll blow the head off you.’ As he said this he discharged the gun. Flynn was about four of five yards from the boat, 15 or 20 yards from Chisholm, and between both.

He felt nothing at the time, but asked Chisholm why the boat was locked. Chisholm replied that it was on Mr Montgomery’s orders. Flynn said, ‘You drunken villain, Mr Montgomery never told you to lock the boat on me to keep me from going home.’ Chisholm refused to unlock to boat and as Flynn attempted to break the lock, Chisholm pointed the gun saying, ‘I will blow the head off you.’ Ahern caught him and prevented him from firing. Ahern and Eddie Sheehan took the gun and threw it away. At that, Chisholm ran off, saying he would go for the police.

Flynn and the others then went to Lower Careysville and crossed the river in another boat rowed by a boy named Carey. He never noticed he was hurt until near his house, when he found blood flowing from his arm. After showing it to his wife, he went to the police in Kilworth. Sergeant Connolly brought him to Dr Aherne, who dressed his wound.