Above : Portrait Of Jeremiah O’Donovan

FOR the next few years there was tranquillity in Ireland. The activity of the constitutional politicians had ceased ; the ” physical force ” party gave no sign of life. Within a decade each had made a great effort ; both had failed. The English people in general believed that the Irish were at last ” settling down,” and that agitations and rebellions would be heard of no more. In truth, however, the apparent peace was but ” smothered war.”