Local history: The release from jail of a Mayo County Council chairman
PART ONE
By Tom Gillespie
IN February 1902, Claremorris born Conor O’Kelly, the first chairman of Mayo County Council, was released from Castlebar Jail after serving a two-month sentence.
The Connaught Telegraph gave comprehensive coverage to the event in their edition of February 22 of that year.
In mid-December 1901 O’Kelly was jailed on the charge of having taken part in an unlawful assembly at Tully near Belcarra, on December 1, during the Land War.
The report was as follows: For weeks past preparations had been make to give Mr. O’Kelly a fitting reception on the occasion of his release from prison, and the expectations of all were realised in the magnificent demonstration of Monday last (February 17).
At seven o’clock that morning many had assembled outside the prison gates, and before eight o’clock there were fully 200 people present, representing almost every public body and the United Irish League (UIL) branches in the county.
Promptly at eight o’clock Mr. O’Kelly emerged from the prison gates and he was immediately surrounded by friends anxious to congratulate him and inquire as to the state of his health.
Mr. O’Kelly at once proceeded to Harron’s Hotel followed by a large concourse, and also by a big detachment of police.
At one o’clock a meeting was held in the county council chamber of Castlebar Courthouse for the purpose of presenting Mr. O’Kelly with an addresses.
The room was packed, and a force of about 10 police took up a position at the barrier, forming a cordon around a police notetaker.
Among those present were James Daly, J.P., T.H. Gillespie (my grandfather) and R.A. Gillespie T. Moclair, and C. Dowling of The Connaught Telegraph.
The meeting was addressed by representatives of UIL from around the county.
Mr. P. Higgins, MCC, read an address from the Ballyheane branch: Permit us to offer, on behalf of the Ballyheane branch, on your return to liberty, a cead mile failte.
“Sir, since you entered into public life, we have had many reasons to feel proud that this historic County of Mayo possessed such a son.
“Your administrative ability as chairman of Mayo County Council is acknowledged by friend and foe alike.
“During your short period of Parliamentary life you have proven yourself to be an able debater, a fearless exponent of our country’s wrongs; but to our mind the most single service that you have rendered to the cause of Ireland was the complete and crushing blow you levelled at land grabbing on that memorable day of December 1, 1901.
“You battled with and defeated that day at Tully Wyndham’s bludgeon force, you smashed land grabbing, and you have helped to bring us so much nearer to the goal of freedom.
“And, sir, we cannot help remarking the noble, the manly, and the defiant manner in which you and your compatriots faced your trial and subsequently the prison cell.
“And today all the reward we can offer you is the heartfelt and unbounded love and admiration of a truly grateful people; and finally we hope and pray that Providence may long spare to us your eloquence, your patriotism and courage to plead and fight for us in the future as in the past.”
Mr. James Daly read the following resolution and address from the Castlebar District Council and No. 1 Branch of the League:
Proposed by James Daly, chairman, and seconded by Mr. John Keane - Resolved, that we, the members of Castlebar Rural District Council and Board of Guardians, welcome Mr. O’Kelly, M.P., on his release from prison and hope that he will soon be nothing the worse of his two months imprisonment in one of His Majesty’s bastiles for no greater crime against law and order than his able advocacy on behalf of the tillers of land that they should become the owners of the land that bore them.
They also resolved: That we the members of the Castlebar No. 1 branch of UIL, hail with pleasure your release after doing two months with spartan courage and good will for the sacred cause of the tenantry of Ireland.
“We welcome you back to freedom and we pledge ourselves to sustain the cause of which you have suffered and of which you are such an ardent supporter and worked with indomitable will, until we see Ireland free from the evils of accursed landlordism.”
Mr. M.C. Henry, J.P., read the following:
“On behalf of the Swinford Rural District Council we offer you a cordial welcome on the termination of the sentence of imprisonment imposed on you by two Removable Magistrates at the instigation of those foreigners who misgovern this country from Dublin Castle.
“The determination to convict you, no matter on what evidence, is best shown by the refusal of the court selected to even state a case in circumstances in which the first living Irish lawyer has held you were convicted illegally.
“We assure you that our council joins most heartily in the feeling of widespread rejoicing which today prevails amongst your Nationalist fellow-countrymen to know that your services will once more be given to the cause which your untiring and self-sacrificing exertions and your eloquent advocacy have done so much to advance.
“We sincerely hope that no injury to your health has followed your long incarceration, and we earnestly trust that the gruesome memories of Mr. Wyndham’s plank bed will soon be effaced by the associations of your old friends and the many enduring ties of attachment which your enforced absence has only bound more closely.
“Your imprisonment under the Coercion Act has once again drawn public attention to the hateful tyranny which goes under the name of Government of Ireland.
“In a county supposed to be free you have been prosecuted for vindicating the right of free speech, and after being given a mock trial at the hands of a tribunal selected and paid for by your prosecutors you have been sentenced to imprisonment for two months in a British bastile.
“The people amongst whom you live have conferred on you the highest honour at their disposal by electing you to represent them in Parliament, and the people’s representatives have on three successive occasions unanimously chosen you as chairman of the chief governing body of the county.”
NEXT WEEK: ‘I leave Castlebar Jail, as I entered it, unchanged in my views of grabbers and grabbing’.