Young Ireland

Above : Another Picture Of Prime Minister Peel

O’Connell now (1842-1843) tried another method, and organised in various parts of Ireland huge assemblies, known as ” monster meetings,” to which the people came in thousands ; at one held at Tara at least a quarter of a million persons were present. A platform was erected from which O’Connell spoke, but, wonderful as was the power of his voice, its tones could reach the ears of only a relatively small part of the vast multitude, All, however, stood quietly in their ordered ranks ; never was there the least impatience, the slighest interruption or sign of disorder. O’Connell had impressed on them the necessity of avoiding any disturbance, and no one dream of disobeying him.

Above : Picture Of Thomas Davis, One Of Young Irelanders

As O’Connell advanced in age, he tended to become more autocratic and less able to endure amongst his followers independence of views or divergence of method. Just at this time, as it happened, there was gathering round him a circle of young men who, while they admired and respected him, were too able themselves to be content to be mere echoes of his opinion or servants of his will. Amongst these ” Young Irelanders,” as they came later to be called, were several brilliant writers of prose and of verse, such as Thomas Davis, Charles Gavan Duffy and John O’Hagan.

Above : Another Painting Of Daniel O’Connell

A monster meeting, to be held on the 8th of the month at Ciontarf, near Dublin, had been arranged, and preparations for it had been going on for some weeks. Only on the previous afternoon (Saturday, October 7th) was a proclamation, signed by the Lord Lieutenant (Lord de Grey), issued, announcing that the meeting would not be allowed. Thousands of people were already on their way to Ciontarf, many from the most remote parts of Ireland. O’Connell at once decided that the proclamation should be obeyed. He sent in all directions duly accredited messengers to meet the bodies of people on the various roads and desire them to return home. The measures taken were successful. The troops massed about the site of the intended meeting-place, the warships which had come into Dublin Bay, the cannon of the Pigeon-house fort which had been made ready, found nothing to do. Quietly and without disturbance the multitude dispersed. It was the supreme test of their obedience and their confidence in “the Liberator” and they stood it well.