Above : Picture Of Earl Donoughmore

The success of the Catholic Association had caused the Government the greatest alarm, and some means of crushing it was eagerly sought. A pretext was, however, hard to find. Its activities were kept carefully within the limits of the law, and it made no attempt at introducing any kind of representation or delegation of authority; its meetings were public and open to all; so far from encouraging crimes or violence, it sternly suppressed them, so that, in districts where its influence was strong, outrages had almost ceased. It appeared that a direct application to Parliament was the only mode of attack possible. At the opening of the Session (1825), the King’s Speech confessed that Ireland was tranquil; but it was ” the more to be regretted that associations should exist irreconcilable with the spirit of the Constitution and calculated, by exciting alarm and by exasperating animosity, to endanger the peace of society and to retard the course of national prosperity.” This statement did not meet with unqualified approval. Even in the Lords, the menaced Association found some defenders. One member (Earl Donoughmore) considered that, while the people of Ireland were submissive to the law, it would be prudent to let them alone. Nevertheless, when a Bill, evidently aimed at the Catholic Association alone, was introduced, it passed both Houses by large majorities. No association was now to be permitted to continue its meetings for more than fourteen days ; to authorise anybody to collect subscriptions for its use ; to administer an oath to its members; nor to exclude from its membership persons of any form of religious faith. By the two last provisions the Orange Society, which had never admitted Catholics, and which, at that time, imposed an oath on its members, was rendered illegal; but no attempt was ever made to enforce the Act against it.

O’Connell had already prepared his ” coach-and-four,” and no time in driving it through the piece of legislation intended to destroy society which he had founded. He started a ” New Catholic Association” ostensibly for the promotion of charitable and educational objects, which was to hold large meetings from time to time, at which political questions could be considered. Each meeting was to last exactly fourteen. There was to be no connection between the meetings in various parts of the country. When, on July 31st, 1825, there were meetings held in practically every parish in Ireland, it could not be proved that this was not a mere coincidence.