Looking Back: Extraordinary Proceedings at Kilcullen

The correspondent of the Irish Times, writing from Naas on Sunday evening, says: — Today proceedings of a somewhat and extraordinary and arbitrary nature took place in Kilcullen, a village about four miles from Naas. Placards were issued a few days ago in Kilcullen and the neighbourhood to the effect that today a branch of the Land League would be formed in the town. The placards were headed "God save the people'' and appealed to the "men of historic Kildare" to exhibit a spirit of patriotism, to fling aside all narrow-minded and unworthy motives, and to join their brethren, the tillers of the soil, in the struggle for the social regeneration which alone could bring the "future prosperity and ultimate independence of Ireland."

The placards did not specify where the meeting would be held, and the posting of it was the cause of bringing to Kilcullen a number of extra police and the closing of all the public houses in the village, which was a source of great inconvenience to hundreds, as today was market day. The order for closing was not given till the morning was pretty far advanced, and many parties were in the yards— which were principally used for stabling — adjoining the public-houses, and the people were ordered out of them on threat of prosecution, and, of course, had to leave. Parties coming to town after this order was made had to seek private stabling.

Mr. Edward Fenelon, P.L.G, Kilgowan, who was subsequently elected president of the newly-established branch of the League, asked Major Brereton, J.P., what was the meaning of such extraordinary proceedings, and the reply was that the magistrates were "acting under the orders of the Liberal Government."

The meeting was held at one o'clock in the house of Mrs. Dowling. Constable Caldbeck, of Kilcullen, entered the room, and said that he had two Government reporters with him — who, by the way, were two policemen — and the meeting unanimously refused to admit them. Constable Caldbeck retired to see what course he would pursue, leaving a policeman stationed at the door; and shortly afterwards he came back, and said the police would retire. Mr. J.T. Heffernan, Kildare, of the central executive of the League, was present, and the meeting elected the requisite officers of the new branch.

As all the publicans of Kilcullen follow the dual occupations of publicans and grocers, they made heavy complaints that by the magistrate's order they were prevented from following the latter branch of their business, and that many of their customers had to go away unserved.

— The Irish Times 25.06.1881 

(Credit to Dave Byrne, who trawled through the old Irish newspapers for reports about Kilcullen.)

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