Mr. Parnell at the Galway National Convention

The Galway Express, October 31st 1885

Introduction

On Monday, at the Temperance Hall, Athenry, a Convention was held under the auspices of the National League, for the selection of candidates for the Parliamentary representation of the four divisions of county Galway, Mr. Parnell, M.P., presiding. During the convention a considerable portion of the platform gave way, and nearly all its occupants, including the chairman, were precipitated to the ground. Fortunately no one was injured.

Colonel Nolan was unanimously adopted as candidate for the North Division; Mr. David Sheehy was unanimously adopted for the South Division; Mr. P.J. Foley (London), was unanimously adopted for the west division; Mr. Matthew Harris, Mr. James Kilmarin, Dr. D'Alton, Dr. Mark Molloy (London), ex—Sub—Inspector Murphy, and Mr. John McCarthy, were also proposed and seconded, but eventually Mr. Harris was unanimously adopted, being chosen for the Easter Division, the remaining five names being withdrawn.

When the Proceedings Were Made Public

Mr. Parnell, M.P., said—In announcing the result of the deliberations of our Convention, I congratulate the convention upon the remarkable unanimity which, following the footsteps of the other Irish conventions held up to the present, it has exhibited (cheers). There are special difficulties and dangers of disunion incident to the selection of candidates for a constituency such as this, where in the first place, there are more than a usual number of candidates to be selected, and where in the second place, there are so many local candidates possessing the confidence of the constituency, and with undoubted claims upon our consideration. We have seen that these local candidates, when necessary, have not hesitated to sacrifice their own prospects in their desire to maintain the union of the party (cheers). Your example is one which will be of the utmost importance, and one which I venture to predict will be followed in the case of every convention yet to be held (cheers). I desire, on the part of my colleagues, and on the part of this convention, to return my thanks to those candidates, and foremost amongst them Mr. McCarthy— (cheers) — who withdrew their claims for the purpose of securing union and preventing disunion (cheers). In the case of each and all these gentlemen I may say we should have been glad to have seen them all added to our ranks had it been possible, and we should have cheerfully welcomed them as part of our effective strength (cheers). I believe the time will shortly come when in an Irish Parliament we shall stand side by side with some of the gentlemen who have waived their claims to—day (cheers). As regards the candidates who have been selected—Colonel Nolan, David Sheehy, P.J. Foley, and Matthew Harris—I will say of all of them that they are tried and trusted men, of whose qualities we have had abundant experience for many years (cheers), and in whom we have every confidence; so much so, that if the selection of your candidates had been left to our choice, instead of being the free exercise of the independent judgment of the delegates, we could have not have made a better choice (cheers). We are confident that these gentlemen will bring no discredit on your great county. We are confident they will prove a source of strength to our party, and that they will give us valuable assistance, without fear and without shrinking, in the work of winning back the legislative independence of Ireland (cheers). They believe with us that without the right of making our own laws upon Irish soil, all I and Acts, all Labourers' Acts, all extensions of the franchise are useless, and that the desolation and poverty of tour country must continue, its people diminish, and its towns decay, until we have wrested from our English rulers the right of making for Ireland her laws in her own Parliament (prolonged cheers).

Mr. Sexton, M.P., Mr. J. Dillon, and Mr. O'Kelly, M.P., also spoke.

That the clerk should be prepared he has still all the notices I gave him.
The Clerk produced the notices, which numbered 12.
Chairman — Mr. Redington stated that Mr. Blake was prepared to make affidavit that notice was served in each case.
Mr. Lynch to Mr. Kyne — How did you get the notices?
Mr. Kyne — by post.
Mr. Davis said the post—master was bound to keep a list of notices of this kind passing through the post—office, and should be able to furnish the receipt of them.
The Chairman remarked that perhaps it would suit Mr. Lynch to stay proceedings till the clerk would call upon the landlord to prove the service of the notice. It might save expense.
Mr. Lynch said he had no objection.
Mr. Leonard to Relieving Officer — How do you know that the notice in Faherty's case was not served on you?
Mr. Kyne — I came in here and looked over the notices with the Clerk, and it was not amongst them.
Mr. Lane — Who did you get them from at the post—office?
Mr. Kyne — I got them from Miss Geraghty, in Moycullen. I received them on Sunday, and brought them in to the Clerk on the following Wednesday.
Mr. Lynch — It all hinges upon whether the post—master gives the receipt.
Mr. Micks, L.G.I. — The post—master should have given a receipt of those notices to the landlord.
Mr. Lynch — Then let the Clerk write for a copy of the list by all means.

The Clerk read the Act of Parliament on the subject, which was as follows:—

That every notice to be given to any relieving officer under this Act, shall be given by delivering the same to such relieving officer, or by leaving the same, directed to such relieving officer, at his dwelling house or office; and in case the same shall be so sent by the post—office; and the post—master shall compare the notice and the duplicate, and on being satisfied that they are alike, shall forward one of them to its address by the post, and shall return the other to the party bringing the same, stamped with the stamp of the said post—office, and such post—master shall be entitled to have and receive from the person delivering such letter, the rate of postage payable for the same, and the sum of sixpence, and no more : and such stamped duplicate shall be evidence of the notice having been given on the day on which such notice would in the ordinary course of post, have been delivered at such dwelling—house or office of the relieving officer.

The chairman said nothing could be plainer, and the clerk was directed to write for a list of the notices left at the post—office.

Three Months' Adjournment

Mr. Micks, L.G.I., said that in July last the board adjourned the consideration of an hospital for Arran for three months. The time was up do—day, and he supposed they had no objection to adjourn it now for three months longer.
The matter as adjourned.
This ended the business.