From the archives: Mayo newspaper advertisements, steeplechase fixtures and army news
By Tom Gillespie
WANTED immediately for the tobacco and snuff manufacturing trade in Castlebar, an apprentice of exceptional character; security will be required; apply at the office of this paper’, was an advertisement we find in The Telegraph or Connaught Ranger of March 1829, and it would imply that there was more than one tobacco and snuff making industries in the county town in those far-off days.
M. and T. Coffey, the Commercial Hall, Castlebar, importers of woollen and cotton goods, had an advertisement in the same issue ‘respectfully announcing to their numerous friends and the public that they have just arrived to them their spring assortment, consisting of treble and double milled cloths, kersey hunters, silk and velvet vesting in great variety, clusterings, ladies’ bonnets, and gentlemen’s hats.
‘Their black, blue and medley cloths will be found of the most approved fees. One of the proprietors recently returned from England, having carefully selected them from houses distinguished for the permanency of their colours and the superiority of their manufacture’, and it winds up ‘No second price’.
The issue we quoted from contained this: ‘Kilmaine Yeomanry, Co. Mayo. Charles H. Knox, Esq., to be captain, vice Colonel Cuffe, deceased’.
Also: ‘On the evening of the 17th inst., Sarah, wife of Dr. Finglas of this town, died - a lady whose amiable disposition and many estimable qualities rendered her an object of the most affectionate regard, not only to her immediate relations, but to all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. This sad bereavement has plunged her truly amiable and afflicted husband into the deepest distress’.
The paper contained a long indictment of the Grand Jury for mismanagement of county funds and alleged fraud in connection with a payment of £2,767-17s-6d for the engraving and mounting of the county maps, which have been dismounted in the County Courthouse since the County Council came into office, as they were valueless under the new regime, though we always held they might be of some value if they were preserved.
The leading article was devoted to the war between Poland and Russia, though at the end of the same column we find: ‘The fate of the Poles is probably, by this time decided, though the accounts published with such confidence last week of the surrender of Warsaw have since turned out to be without foundation’.
In view of the great hubbub during the great war about the outrage of Germany breaking the neutrality of Belgium, this paragraph will be of deep interest: ‘Belgium is as unsettled as at any moment since its separation from Holland. The Regent is by no means universally approved, and there can be little doubt that the Prince of Orange, who leaves England for Holland tomorrow is not without strong hope of recovering the Throne’.
A three days’ fixture for the Mayo Steeplechase was announced, but the venue not given. The races were to be over five-foot walls, and the owners of horses were given as John Dennis, P. Brannick, Lord Claremoris, Lord Clanricarde, Lord Mayo, John Coghlan, Nicholas Darcy, J.M. McDonnell, Malachi Kelly, William S. Perse, and several officers of the 66th Regiment stationed in Castlebar.
In Parliament news we found a long speech, supposed to be reported by Charles Dickens, the famous novelist, delivered by the Right Honourable the O’Conor Don (a Catholic) against the methods of Kildare Street Society, alleging that the money they got from the Imperial treasury for the education of the poor in Roscommon, Mayo and Galway, was expended on souperism and Protestant bibles for the Catholics, his complaint being backed up by Dan O’Connell and his two sons.
At the end of the Parliament news we find this: ‘The Rev. Peter Warde Roman Catholic rector of Aughagower, acknowledges receipt of £5 from the Marquis of Sligo for the relief of starving people of his parish’.
Next follows a reprint of a leading article in the Evening Post about appalling distress in Mayo, and a refutation from the Marquis of Sligo that a thousand pounds got from a London Society for the relief of the poor had been utilised by him to buy flax seed for the wealthiest of his tenants.
“Maurice O’Connell, Esq., the youngest son of the Liberator, has consented to stand for Clare, to represent the independent spirit of the county, and support his father in the Imperial Parliament.”
The army news reproduced in the Telegraph of March 1831 contains the following : ‘Two squadrons of the 5th Dragoon Guards are on route from Bath to Mayo’.
‘Two companies of the 28th Regiment have returned to Galway from Castlebar’.
‘Detachments of the 8th Hussars and the 68th Light Infantry have marched to Ballina and Swinford’.
‘The reserve companies of the 61st Regiment at Ballinrobe have completed their quota’.
‘The 17th Lancers commanded by Lord Bingham have arrived in Ireland from Malta’.
‘The Government has issued an order to Major General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, commanding at Athlone, to make arrangements to move troops to Mayo for the elections and in consequence of opposition to the collection of tithes’.
‘Four divisions of the North Devons have been moved to Foxford’.
In May 1831 the Telegraph reported on an election following the dissolution of Parliament and in particular two election addresses.
One was from Dominick Browne, whose address was given as London. Apparently he was a member previously, as he stated that if reelected he would support effectual Reform for Ireland.
The other is a namesake and a new candidate - John Browne, Westport House, who said that owing to the unexpected determination of this brother, James, not to seek reelection, ‘he begged to have to solicit the high honour of representing Mayo in the Imperial Parliament’.
The next issue of the Telegraph contained an address from Joseph McDonnell, Carnacon, a Catholic supporter of Dan O’Connell’s policy, also an elaborate address from Dominick Browne, who, among other things, mentioned that he ‘faithfully and well represented Mayo in his Gracious Majesty’s Parliament for a period of 13 years’.