Confederation of Kilkenny Hitherto the old Irish and the old Anglo-Irish Catholics had acted without concert. Rut the Catholic clergy exerted themselves to bring about union; and on the 24th of October, 1642, a general assembly or parliament-delegates of the most distinguished persons from both sides-met in Kilkenny: this is known as the " Confederation of Kilkenny." They earnestly repudiated the appellation of rebels, maintaining that they were loyal subjects, standing up for the ... Read More

Above: The Dawn So far the popular party in Ireland had been successful all along; and their ideas grew with their success. They had obtained some relief for trade: they now resolved that their parliament, which was bound down by Poynings' law and by the Sixth of George I, should also be free. On the 19th of April, 1780, in a magnificent speech, Grattan moved his memorable resolutions:- That the king with the lords and commons of Ireland are the only power on earth ... Read More