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BALLINHASSIG Co. Cork
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London Illustrated News 1845, see report, below. |
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VARIOUS NOTICES & REPORTS
(CE 8/4/1844) - BALLINHASSIG - O CONNELL TRIBUTE 1843
| Name | Amount | Name | Amount | Name | Amount |
| Barrett, Edward, Gogginshill | 0.3.6 | Fitzgerald, Richard, Corran | 0.2.6 | Lombard, Mrs., Mount Mary | 0.10.0 |
| Barrett, Richard, Abbey | 0.2.6 | Halanan, Rev. J., PP | 1.0.0 | Murphy, Thomas, Clohindevah | 0.3.6 |
| Fitzgerald, John, Ballyhuhur | 0.5.0 | Lombard, Daniel Esq., Mount Mary | 1.0.0 | Walsh, Richard, Gogginshill | 0.4.6 |
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BALLINHASSIG, April 4, 1844 - MY DEAR SIR – Bearer will hand you £7 the first instalment I have received of the O CONNELL TRIBUTE, from BALLINHASSIG Parish. My illness will account for the delay in not having collected this well-merited, but small manifestation of the People’s regard towards Ireland’s best friend and Patriot. We are not so happy as Cities, Towns and other localities are, in having gentry not only contributing to this Fund, but also excelling each other to promote the cause by collection – all rests on my own shoulders, and if not, as lately, able to attend to the collection, a delay, and perhaps diminution will necessarily follow. Annexed I give you the names of a few of the Subscribers. - JOHN HALANAN, P.P.
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(CE 27/1/1845) - O CONNELL TRIBUTE FOR 1844 - FROM the Parish of BALLINHASSIG, Rev. J. HALANAN, PP - £11.5.0
| Name Ahern, Daniel Ahern, Michael Ahern, Mrs. Barrett, Mrs. Brian, Jerry Brian, Timothy Brian, Tom Carthy, Tom Chambers, Tom Donovan, James Horgan, Cornelius Keeffe, Owen Lombard, D., Esq. Loney, John Looney, Denis J. M’Carthy, Daniel M’Carthy, John, jun. M’Carthy, Mrs. |
Amount 0.3.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.3.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.5.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 1.0.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.4.0 |
Name M’Carthy, Tom Mehigan, Daniel Mehigan, Denis Murphy, Batt. Murphy, Cornelius Murphy, James Murphy, John Murphy, Mathew Murphy, Michael Murphy, Mrs. Murphy, Tom Murphy, Tom Murphy, Tom Noonan, Catherine Prior, Tom Roberts, Daniel Walsh, Tom |
Amount 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.3 0.2.6 0.5.0 0.2.6 0.1.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.1.6 0.1.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.0 |
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(CE 2/7/1845) – DREADFUL MASSACRE AT BALLINHASSIG! – EIGHT PERSONS KILLED BY THE POLICE, & TWENTY-TWO WOUNDED !!! (Excerpt)
It is our sad duty to record one of the most fearfully tragic events that, with the single exception of the Gurtroe massacre, has occurred in this county during the present century. A quiet village has been converted into the scene of blood and carnage – a number of unarmed, defenceless, and innocent people have been shot down like dogs – and all this either from the nervousness or the imbecility of the person in command of the Police force. We have personally visited the scene of this awful tragedy; and from a multitude of conflicting statements, and from the evidence of a great number of individuals – those who might be supposed to defend the police, or favour the people – we are enabled to gather the following particulars.
The annual Fair of Ballinhassig was held on Monday, and, as we understand, was attended by a large concourse of people living within a circle of many miles. A police force of 18 men, under the command of Sub-Inspector KELLY, as on the ground; but during the whole day, and up to eight o clock in the evening, there had not arisen the slightest cause for their interference – at least we must presume this to be the case for the Police did not actually interfere. Moreover, we have it on the testimony of several of the force present, and who afterwards were actors in the dreadful tragedy of the evening, that all the tents on the Fair-green were struck within the time allowed, that is from 6 to 8 o clock; and that not the least resistance was offered to the Police while they insisted on this being done. We mention this to give an idea of the peaceable character of the large assembly of people, and to show that they had been treated with the least forbearance, or had the Police been commanded by a man of nerve and prudence, there would not have resulted the terrible sacrifice of human life which has desolated many a home, and cast a funeral gloom over a wide extent of country. During the holding of the fair, there was a slight disturbance created by an unruly, ill-conditioned fellow, who is called ‘SULLIVAN THE RANTER,’ between whom and a man named NEALE, a long-standing grudge had existed. We have been assured that some time before the tents were struck, there was a scuffle between these men, and that the Police did not interfere. Before proceeding further, we may as well describe the immediate theatre of the subsequent slaughter. Four roads meet in this little village; and bordering the road to Cork is the gable end of a small slated cabin, next to which, and under the same rook is the Dispensary. A little farther on, but at the opposite end of the road leading up to MR. KELLER’S house, is a row of little cabins; and on the right side of the road leading to the half-way house on the Bandon line, and within some dozen yards of the Dispensary, stands the public house of a man named CALLAGHAN. Opposite the Dispensary rises a rather gentle ascent, but of such nature as to offer a terrible facility to armed men in or near the Dispensary to shoot down the people stationed on the rising ground. The Police were returning from the Fair-field, which faces Callaghan’s public house, and immediately borders the road side, when this Sullivan (Ranter) challenged Neale to fight him. Some say that he took off his coat; others contend for it that he did not. It is almost impossible, at present, to say whether there was any actual struggle between these men, or a blow struck at all; but unfortunately, instead of using his personal influence, and reasoning with these foolish men, Mr. Kelly ordered Sullivan to be taken into custody, and held under any circumstances. Two of the Police rushed forward, and violently laid hold of SULLIVAN. Now, if it were necessary to arrest SULLIVAN, it was only fair to arrest the other man, NEALE. The arrest of one man created some excitement; and there were several applications made by the friends of SULLIVAN for his release, they at the same time informing MR. KELLY of his place of residence, and stating that they would keep him quiet, and be responsible for his appearance. The question here is, whether it would not have been more prudent for the Sub-Inspector to have cautioned the foolish fellow, and permitted him to go away, than to have run the inevitable risk of a collision with a multitude of excited people. The crowd pressed on the Police, who then made for the Dispensary, and put their prisoner inside, they then standing outside and fixing bayonets. The people still pressed on, though without any attempt at violence, when the order was given to load. The Police then retired within the Dispensary, which is divided into two small apartments; one, the little shop in which are kept the medicines; the other of larger size, where patients are attended. A single stone was thrown by a foolish boy at a distance, which was followed by more from the crowd, when they were instantly answered by a fire of ball cartridge from the open door and windows. Those who flung the stones, and who pressed round the house, retreated from before the front and proceeded to the back, attempting, as we understand, to make a breach in the roof, through which, some say, stones were flung. The Police, instead of endeavouring to dislodge those who had climbed to the roof, deliberately levelled their pieces at the quiet, inoffensive people who stood at a distance in front, and who had not taken the leaset part in the affair. Volley succeeded volley with terrible rapidity, many of the 18 men firing more than 10 rounds of ball cartridge. The police generally came out in twos and threes facing the door, and taking deliberate aim, shot down young and old, women and aged men. They also fired through the windows, from which the sashes were removed. One of the police, the Acting Constable, whose name is Dawson was the only one of the whole body who received any injury; and the way in which that occurred was, that when the main body retreated after nearly expending their ammunition in the indiscriminate and yet deliberate slaughter of people who were only spectators of the fight, if it may be called such, Dawson separated from his comrades, and ran across the road to Callaghan’s house, and then into the little cabin of a man named M’Carthy. Followed by a number of people who were then actually maddened by the havoc effected by this man. It is said that this Dawson was the man who fired at Julia Holland, who had a child in her arms at the time. Dawson was dragged out of M’Carthy’s house, and was rescued by some man in the employment of Mr. Keller, to whose house he was taken, as some assert; others asserting that he was able to make his way there, though having received several scalp wounds.
The police then charged up the hill, towards their barracks, with fixed bayonets, the people dispersing on all sides, and flying for their lives. They made their way up, and, we understand, wounded some people who were standing on the road side; one of the police, we have been credibly informed, thrust his bayonet over a wall near the mill, down on the head of a wretched old man, who had sought shelter there, and whose years precluded the possibility of his being able to injure a child. When they had ascended the hill, they turned round and fired, killing one, and wounding others. This was a perfectly unprovoked act. Not necessary for self defence, and totally unjustifiable; for the people were not near them, and there was no appearance of hostility on their part. In fact, great numbers had obeyed the urgent entreaty of MR. JOHN O BRIEN of this city, who, having dined at MR. KELLER’S was then on his way home. MR. JOHN O BRIEN’S letter, [not included] which we subjoin, will throw considerable light upon this stage of the transaction, and renders it unnecessary to trouble the reader with any further details in reference to this most deplorable event. We must however express, upon the part of the people of Ballinhassig, and the friends of the miserable victims of the rash indiscretion of armed men, their obligations to this worthy man, who did all in his power to prevent further effusion of blood and was afterwards the means of providing the wounded and the dying with the consolations of religion. He drove at a furious pace to the house of the REV. MR. HALLINAN, about two miles from the scene of horrors, where he fortunately found the Rev. gentleman, together with the REV. MR. HORGAN, and MR. SHERIDAN, Inspector of Schools, who also happened to be at MR. HALLINAN’S house, were soon after on the ground. These gentlemen rendered every aid in their power to those to whom assistance could be rendered; while the Clergymen bent over the mangled bodies of the dying to hear their last words, and administer to them the rites of their Church……… ..The following are those who have been mortally wounded, and are now dead:-
- Julia Callaghan, alias Holland, shot in the back, the ball coming out of the breast.
- Jerry Coughlan, shot in the same manner, the ball coming out of the pit of the stomach.
- _____ Kerricnane, shot in the breast.
- Charles M’Carthy, struck under the arm, the ball coming out of the back.
- Maurice Corkoran, shot through the abdomen.
- John Desmond had two shot wounds, one in the hip, and the other in the spine.
- John Walsh, shot through the breast.
- _____ Ford, shot in the breast.
Among the wounded are:-
John Walsh, from Carrigaline, lies in imminent danger, having received a gunshot wound in the shin bone, which entirely shattered the leg.
Jerry Conway, Lisaclea, is also expected not to recover. He was shot under the arm, the ball coming out behind.
Richard Barrett is also expected in a dangerous state, having been shot in the hand.
Several others are most dangerously wounded, some of whom are not expected to recover. Many had the most fortunate escapes; among others, a poor woman whose nose was grazed by a ball, her forehead being also furrowed by another.
An Inquest was held that returned a verdict of ‘Justifiable Homicide’ and which also attached no blame to the Police. There followed a storm of protest in the Nationalist newspapers, the verdict being regarded as blind support for the Police by the jury which had been composed of a majority of pro-Establishment jurors. A fund was opened to aid the families of the dead and wounded.
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(CE 15/9/1845) – AT A MEETING OF THE BALLINHASSIG RELIEF FUND, held at the Mayor’s Office, Paradise Place, on Friday, the 12th day of September, 1845….. The Local Committee having made the following Report (which was approved of by this Committee), of the allocation amongst the sufferers as follows:-
| Maurice Corkeran, killed | John Desmond, killed | Cornelius Kerucane, killed | |||
| To his widow | £8 | To his widow | 8 | To his Widow | 8 |
| 4 children, £6 each | 24 | Child (an infant) | 10 | Child | 6 |
| - 32 | Father | 5 | - 14 | ||
| Mother | 5 | ||||
| - 28 | Julia Callaghan, killed | ||||
| Charles M’Carthy, killed | To her Husband | 6 | |||
| To his widow | 8 | Jeremiah Coughlan, killed | Child (at nurse) | 10 | |
| 4 children, £6 each | 24 | To his widow | 8 | Grand Mother | 4 |
| - 32 | 2 children £6 each | 12 | |||
| Father | 5 | ||||
| Timothy Ford, killed | Mother | 5 | |||
| To his Father | 5 | - 30 | |||
| Mother | 5 | ||||
| Brother and Sisters | 7 | ||||
| - 17 |
| Thomas Walsh, labourer, Carrigaline, very badly wounded | 12 | Jeremiah Conway, Lisgebeg, very badly wounded | 8 |
| Michael Deasy, labourer, Skeharra, very badly wounded | 10 | John Ford, tailor, Kinnalea, wounded | 6 |
| Michael Donnelly, labourer, Tullig, very badly wounded | 10 | Richard Barrett, Five-mile-bridge, wounded | 5 |
| John Walsh, Rearour, very badly wounded | 10 | Michael Sullivan, leg severely hurt | 2 |
| Cornelius Collins, leg severely hurt | 30s. |
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(CE 22/12/1845) – Death Notice – Yesterday morning, at half-past nine o clock, the wife of Daniel Keller, Esq., of Tullig House, Ballinhassig, in the 56th year of her age.
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(CE 24/12/1845) – O CONNELL TRIBUTE FOR 1845 – BALLINHASSIG PARISH - £18.9.5
| Name Ahern, Daniel, Knockilucy Ahern, John, Ballynagromuleagh Ahern, Michael, Ballyheady Ahern, Mrs., Coolcullatna Barrett, Edw., Abbey Barrett, Edw., Gogginshill Barrett, Mrs. J., Abbey Callaghan, John, Ballinhassig Chambers, Thomas, Knockilucy Coleman, Jas., Carran Connell, John, Gurtnaglogh Conway, Roger, Lisklea Cottrell, Benj., Ballyhooline Deasy, Denis, Keelommogue Deasy, Timothy, Keelommogue Delea, Pat, Ballynagromuleagh Desmond, Jas., Coolaludie Donohue, James, Coolaludie Donohue, John, Coolaludie Donohue, Wm., Coolaludie Donovan, John, Gogginshill Fitzgerald, John, Ballyhooline Fitzgerald, Richd., Carran Halanan, John, Rev., PP Horgan, Corns., Cloughdevah Lane, Timothy, Farlestown Lenihan, John, Gurtnaglogh Lombard, Daniel, Esq., Mountmary Looney, Denis J.,Cloughdevah Looney, John, Coolcullatna Looney, Mrs. W., Cloughdevah Looney, Tim., Cloughdevah Lynch, Edmd., Balliphelic M’Carthy, Daniel, Farlestown M’Carthy, Danl., Farlestown M’Carthy, Denis, Shahana |
Amount 0.3.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 1.0.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.0 1.0.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 |
Name M’Carthy, John Corns., Ringsdale M’Carthy, John, Ringsdale M’Carthy, Owen, Annahbeg M’Carthy, Timothy, Ballinaboy M’Carthy, Timothy, Coolcullatna M’Carthy, Wm., Farlestown Mehegan, Daniel, Farlestown Mehegan, Denis, Farlestown Murphy, Batt, Keelommogue Murphy, Corns, Coolcullatna Murphy, Danl., Shahana Murphy, Daniel, Cloughdevah Murphy, Jas., Ballinaberna Murphy, John, Annahbeg Murphy, John, Knopogue Murphy, Julia, Ballinaberna Murphy, Math., Knockilucy Murphy, Michl., Ballinaberna Murphy, Thomas, Cloughdevah O Brien, Jeremiah, Ringsdale O Brien, Tim., Ballyheady O Brien, Tim., Ringsdale O Donovan, John, Shahana O Keeffe, Corns., Balliphelic O Keeffe, Eugene, Balliphelic O Keeffe, Owen, Farlestown Prior, Thomas, Ballinaboy Roberts, Danl., Ballyheady Ryan, Mrs., Abbey Sweeney, Edward, Knopogue Walsh, Richd., Gogginshill Walsh, Thos., Farlestown Waters, Wm., Coolaludie Webb, Thos., Tureen, Protestant |
Amount 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.5.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.5.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.3.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.5.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.3.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.0 0.2.6 0.2.6 0.2.0 0.2.6 |
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December 22d. 1845 – DEAR SIR – Bearer will hand you the O Connell Tribute of this Parish, £18.9.5. A list of the principal contributors you have attached, and which you will please to take notice of. - You and the public may think that this locality is blessed by, at least, a few resident landlords – yes, indeed since some reside there; but how far they are of advantage above the non-resident, you may form some idea by examining the County Registry. I have to inform you before hand, that you will labour in vain to find one elector to assist the Liberator of his country to hold his place, honouring this country, as its Representative at the next election. One of those landed proprietors had the folly of thinking, I suppose, that he had influence, when he went with a few of your good and active City Liberals to canvas the good people of Ballinora, at their Chapel, after Mass, on a Sunday, some short time since, to verify the adage that ‘Cows a far off wear long horns;’ but it happens that this induvidual was neither a cow, with or without horns, not having even one elector at home, on his own property. They say that it is not in the power of one of his tenants to qualify for that important duty. To be sure, report says there are two leases; one, an honest, poor Protestant has; another, the natural children of the best Conservative in Cork have. Judge you what may be expected from that place, when an election day comes? I say, ‘ save us from our friends.’ - You may, dear sir, be agreeably surprised, perhaps in a few days by a handsome remittance to the National Tribute from my respectable parishoner, John Molony, Esq., of Ballinaboy house; for, in the list handed me, I did not find his name, and but few from that townland. It may be, that the others kept back, thinking their free gift should be forwarded by means of their, or at least ought to be, patriotic landlord. I am truly proved if I be, even now, assisted in the eleventh hour of my political life. I assure you, and the public, that I have had many forms and adverse winds to contend with, in giving the small and humble signs of the patriotism of this oppressed and blood stained locality, which owes to the benevolent O Connell a private debt of their own, for the handsome sum he sent to the relief of the orphans and widows on the occasion of the Massacre. The Liberator’s plan for …….. that lands of Ireland, will, it is hoped, do vast good – for here it is badly wanted. - I cannot permit this oppurtunity, to pass without remarking that Daniel Lombard, Esq., of Mount Mary, is now, as he was wont to be, pure and sound in patriotism, as he was, and is, enlightened and edifying in Religion. - I am, dear, sir, your obedient humble servant, - JOHN HALLANAN, PP, Ballinhassig
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