School: Baile an Londraigh (B.) (roll number 14305)
- Location:
- Ballylanders, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: Seán Ó Buachalla
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0512, Page 024
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- An Election was held in May 1859 for M.P. for the County Limerick. The landlords played an important part in those elections by commanding their tenants to vote for the landlords' man. The poor tenants were afraid to disobey them. The system was open voting then; the Ballot Act not having become law until later. On this occasion the landlords, Bennett & Franks led their tenants to the Polling Booth. The local young men met them on foot and on horseback, attacked them and pursued the landlords to their own homes.A local poet of the time, Garret Gibbons who took part in the skirmish composed a sing about the occasion. Some of it runs thus: Sweet Ballylanders my blessing to you,
I never yet found you but loyal and true;
The time of the election you acted so brave,
You tore down the Barracks and made Orangemen shake.Those poisonous reptiles that's Bennett and Franks (Frynks)
Commanded their peelers but soon got a fright
The outside of the battle those cowards did keep(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Tim Coleman
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Ballylanders, Co. Limerick
