James Fintan Lalor
1807 - 1849
James Fintan Lalor (March 10 1807 – December 27 1849) was an Irish revolutionary, journalist, and “one of the most
powerful writers of his day.” [1] A leading member of the
Irish Confederation (Young Ireland), he was to play an active part in both the Rebellion in July of 1848 and the attempted Rising
in September of that same year. Lalor’s writings were to exerted a seminal influence on later Irish leaders such as
Michael Davitt, James Connolly, Pádraig Pearse, and Arthur Griffith. [2]
Early life
James Fintan Lalor was born in Tinnakill House (Fintan Lalor always referred to his birth place as Tenakill.), Raheen,
County Laois, known at the time as Maryborough, Queen's County on the 10 March 1807. The
first son of Patrick and Anna Lalor (née Dillon of Ards, County Offaly, at the time called King's County). Patrick and Anna were
to have twelve children. Patrick was to become the first Catholic M.P. for Laois in 1832 - 1835, and was to lead a campaign of
passive resistance to the payment tithes. Patrick was to out live his eldest son by six years,
dieing in 1856, and his mother Anna was to die in 1835, the same year as his brother Joseph. [2]
James Fintan’s brother Richard born in 1823, was himself to become a Young Irelander,
and who later supported Parnell, becoming an M.P for Queen's County from 1880 until 1892. He was to die in the family home in
November 1893. Peter (1827-1889), the youngest brother, went to Melbourne, Australia in 1852. In 1854 he was to lead miners in an uprising
at Eureka Stockade, Ballarat, [Victoria]. He went on to become a Member of Victoria's
Legislative Assembly from 1856-1887, dying in Melbourne in 1889. [2]
James was according to his Tomás Ó Néill one of his biographers, a fine healthy baby when born, but as the result of an
accident as an infant, was left semi-crippled. Though small for his age, being both pale and delicate, James was to display
unexpected strength of body. Though hardy enough he was never sent to school, having private tuition at home instead. This was to
continue up until he was seventeen, when it was then decided that he should go to college. [2]
St Patrick's, Carlow College
In February 1825 he went to St. Patrick's, Carlow College, the
Vice-President of which, Father William Kinsella, was to go on to become the
bishop of Ossory. It was Father William himself who welcomed James to the college and
introduced him to Maurice Lenihan, who was to be his advisor and guardian. In College James studied both chemistry, under a Mr.
Holt and the classics under Father Andrew Fitzgerald. While in college he became a member of the Apollo Society, were literature
and music were studied, his favourite author at the time being Lord
Bolingbroke. [2]
In college one of the great influences on James was Bishop James Doyle. In the
controversies over tithes, education and the freedom of religion Dr. Doyle, writing under the pen name J.K.L, was considered very
influential. An atmosphere of patriotism in the college was encouraged, and this was shown later, not just inJames Fintan’s later
life, but in that of students such as John O'Leary, Richard
D'alton Williams and Maurice Leyne. [2]
While in college James worked hard and learnt the basics and principles not just of chemistry but law also. This understanding
of law, Tomás Ó Néill suggests became evident from his writings later on. He suffered greatly through ill health during his time
in college, and in February 1826, being ill and very weak he had to return home. [2]
After College
Not much is known about James after he left college, most information being based on oral tradition. One suggestion is that he
became an apprentice to a Dr. John Jacob, who worked in Portlaoise county hospital. In the June of 1827 Dr. Jacob died and was
replaced by his son who was a young medical student. The suggestion is that they did not get on and James left the hospital.
Another account put forward for this period is that he left the hospital because of a "disappointment in love.” It is then
suggested that James intended to sail to France. Tomás Ó Néill is fairly certain that James never went to France, and points to
the fact that their is no reference to it in James later writings. [2]
However, in T. F. O’Sullivan, account of his life, in The Young Irelanders, states the he did in fact go and lived there for a
couple of years, being supplied with money by his mother. <ref. T. F. O’Sullivan, The Young Irelanders, The Kerryman Ltd.
1945.</ref> What is known though, is that there is no real definite account at all about him for several years. [2]
Tithe Campaign
Catholic Emancipation had be granted in 1829, and according to Patrick Lalor, Catholics would never be fully free while the
burden of a foreign faith was on them in the form of tithes. Supported by his family, Patrick at a public meeting in Portlaoise,
said he intended to give up paying tithes to a foreign faith. As a result of this
declaration, Arthur Moore Mosse, who was the secretary of the Grand Jury, asked Patrick to call of his campaign offering to give
him a receipt for the year's tithe, this he refused. Mosse then offered him a receipt that would free him from tithes for the
rest of his life, this was also refused. [2]
Shortly after, the proctor seized twenty of the Lalor’s sheep, but they got replevin and the sheep had to be returned.
When the sheep had to be sold the family painted "Tithe" on them, which meant no one would buy them. On the way to Smithfield
market in Dublin no one would offer any help to the drovers. In Dublin the only bid for them was from the steward of the Rev.
John Latouch, a Mr. Brough. It was the Rev. John Latouch who had sent the proctor to the Lalors in the first place. As a result
of this the sheep had to be placed on a boat for Liverpool, but even there no one would bid for them. They were then driven to
Manchester and then to Leeds, most died on the road. [2]
The Lalor brothers had through their father become politically active. (The Tithe War had
started according to O'Neill, but it would be some time before it would end.) [2]
Politics
Politics began to play an important part in the life of the Lalor family. In 1832 Patrick Lalor, was called to give evidence
before a Select Committee, having been recognised as one of the leaders in Daniel
O'Connell's Repeal Association. Founding himself the Laois Liberal Club, which was in later year’s part of the election
machinery for Parnell. During the elections of this year, Patrick was to come in ahead of Sir Charles Coote, the Tory Party
candidate winning the seat, and this was seen as a major victory to the cause. During the campaign the Tory paper, the Leinster
Express, attempted to destroy Patrick’s character, claiming he himself was a tyrant. [2] Patrick was in 1835 to lose his seat to Thomas Vesey, the
son of Lord Vesey. Lord Vesey during the election compelled his tenants to vote against their conscience, and those who did not
were evicted from their holdings. [2]
Around this time there were a number of secret societies in Ireland. With names such as the Blackfeet, Whitefeet and the
Terryalts. These groups originated from the Whiteboys of the previous generation. It was these groups who reacted to these type
of evictions. James was of the view the root of the problem lay not with the societies but with the power of the landlords to
evict tenants. Lalor’s great friend at this time was John Marnell, also the son of a farmer, and he too shared Lalor's views. It
was the issue of land and the ownership of land which was to shape the rest of James Fintan Lalor’s life. [2]
Temperance and The Shamrock Friendly Society
Theobald Mathew (temperance reformer)
In 1838 Father Mathew the temperance priest began his campaign.
In just a year or two of starting this campaign millions were to give up alcohol. One such society was formed in Raheen and
Fintan Lalor became a member. In the November of 1840 he then proposed that the Society should become an association and that it
should have additional aims also. This was agreed and the name was changed to The Shamrock Friendly Society. In this Society they
planned to organise free legal aid to help the poor, as well as organise reading and promote healthy games. [2]
In addition to the Society, Fintan Lalor was influenced by a group of agrarian reformers in his native county. They were led
by William Conner, who suggested a scheme for arbitration on rents and fixity of tenure for tenant farmers. Conner’s suggestions
were to find few supporters, but Fintan Lalor was one of them. He became closely associated with Conner and spent weeks at his
house near Athy. He also attended Conner’s public meetings which were held in various parts of Kildare and Laois. [3]
Conner was finally charged with making a seditious speech at Mountmellick in 1841 for which he received a sentence of six
months’ imprisonment. As a result of his activities Conner was expelled from the Repeal Association because he proposed that
Repealers should not pay rent, county cess, rent charge, tithe poor rate or any other charge arising out of land until repeal was
granted. Fintan Lalor agreed with Conner and it was at this stage that his political differences with his Father really began.
[3]
Repeal Association
In 1840 Daniel O'Connell split with the Whigs and
formed the Repeal Association. While support for another one of O'Connell's
associations was slow to start, with the adhesion of both Thomas
Davis and John Blake Dillon the Association was to quickly developed. James was
totally opposed to both O’Connell and the Association. He thought O’Connell’s whole policy was flawed, and wrote a letter to
Robert Peel the head of government, calling for it to be suppressed.
[2]
See Full text here: [1]
This opinion of O’Connell was to cause a rift to develop between Fintan Lalor and his father, who much admired O’Connell. The
final event being an article Fintan Lalor was to write in January of 1844 about the aims of the Irish agricultural Society. As a
result of this their relationship was to break down completely, and Fintan Lalor was obliged to leave home. [2]
Dublin and Belfast
Having left home Fintan Lalor headed to Dublin. While in the capitol his health deteriorated and was to break down completely.
Thomas Brady attended to him, and treated him for a chest complaint. Based on the medication procribed, O’Neill suggests that it
seems likely that what he was suffering from was tuberculosis. Fintan Lalor was to never fully recover from this episode.
[2] When his father
found out about his sons condition, he sent money to help him out. Though he could have returned home at this time, he went
instead to look for employment. His friend John Marnell introduced him to William Blood, who ran a bank come pawn shop, were the
poor could get loans at reasonable rates. Fintan Lalor then went to Belfast to learn more about this from a similar establishment
run by a Father James Finn. [2] He took ill again, at one stage vomiting blood, and on the advice of his family and
friends was urged returned home to Tenakill. He wrote to his father and apologized for his many faults. As a result, the bonds
between the two were mended. [2] Fintan Lalor, did not return home though, instead staying in the city and attempted
to find employment. But his health was again to break down and at last he was forced to return home. By march of 1846, he was
back with his family in Tenakill. [2]
The Nation
The Great Irish Famine led him into direct action: he attempted to found
tenant-right societies and organise rent strikes.
On 11th January 1847, Fintan Lalor began to publish a series of letters in The
Nation. Writing from Tenakill, his family home, Fintan Lalor put forward his views on current affairs and in particularly
on land reform. His manner and style of writing quickly caught the attention of both its readers and staff. T. F. O’Sullivan
commented that “the journal realise that a new force had arisen in the political world.” In the first letter, Fintan Lalor stated
that contrasted with the question of the land, Repeal “was a petty, parish question.” On this he was quite emphatic “I will never
contribute one shilling, or give my name, heart or hand for such an object as the simple Repeal.” [4]
Commenting on the Irish Confederation, which was about to be formed he advocated that its policy should be one of “national
independence.” He then proceeded to outline the policy he would approve on obtaining independence, “in what form of words you
please; but denounce nothing—proscribe nothing, more especially of your own freedom of action. Leave yourselves free individually
and collectively.” He continued “if any resolution, or pledge, be adopted to seek Legislative independence by moral force and
legal proceedings alone, with a denunciation, or renunciation of all or any other means or proceedings, you may have millions
better and stronger men than I to join you; but you won’t have me. . . . There has already, I think, been too much giving in on
this question of means and force.” [4]
He wrote again another letter on 19th April on the association between landowner and occupiers. Addressing himself to the
landlords Fintan Lalor stated that “Ireland demanded more than her present dole of bread… Her demand was for a new
Constitution…”[4]
In his third letter titled “Tenants’ Rights” and “Landlord Law,” he addressed the subject of the famine. “Famine, more or
less, was in 500,000 families—famine with all its diseases and decay; famine, with all its fears and horrors; famine, with all
its dreadful pains and more dreadful debility. All pined and wasted, sickened and drooped; numbers died—the strong man, the fair
maiden, the infant—the landlord got his rent… The 8,000 individuals who are owners of Ireland by divine right and the grant of
God, confirm (by themselves) in sundry successive acts of parliament have a full view of these coming results [i.e. Ireland would
become a pasture ground once gain. and its agricultural population would decay or vanish and become extinct at once] and have
distinctly declared their intention of serving notice to quit on the people of Ireland…The landlords have adopted the process of
depopulating the island and are pressing it forward to their own destruction, or to ours…” Fintan Lalor’s view was that the
Landlords were “enforcing self-defence on us.” [4]
In the September of 1847, Fintan Lalor, along with Michael Doheny, organised at Holycross, in County Tipperary, for the
purpose of putting forward his views on land reform. The meeting was failed to produce the results he wanted. Lacking both
eloquence as a public speaker, and his weak state of health also rendered him unfit to conduct a public campaign. [4]
The Irish Felon
John Mitchel one of the Confederation
leaders, was very impressed by Lalor’s views on land reform, and in a letter to William
Smith O'Brien himself the leader of the Confederation, said of him “Mr. Lalor, …does not now go for the whole of his
system, but contemplates violent pressure on the landlords of those districts to coerce them into a fair settlement of the tenure
question; the coercion to take the form of non-payment to such landlords as hold out.” A policy Mitchel was later to adopt.
[4]
Having failed to rouse the farmers, Lalor retired again to Tenakill, and it was not till the June of 1848, that he again took
to the public stage. He cooperated with John Martin in writing for the Irish Felon which started on June 4th 1848. The
publication of the Irish Felon, being in response to the suppression of John Mitchel’s
United Irishman, and the transportation of Mitchel. [4]
Among some of the titles were “What must be Done,” “The Faith of a Felon,” “Resistance,” his final one being “Clearing Decks,”
on the 22 July, 1848. T. F. O’Sullivan was to describe Fintan Lalor writing as “powerful” of which three were included later in
the indictment against, Martin for Treason Felony. Fintan Lalor responding to the indictment wrote to the Under Secretary, and
took responsibility for the articles, and asked that the charges against Martin be dropped, stating that he would take
responsibility. This was refused and Martin was, like Mitchel transported. This prompted the following response from Fintan
Lalor
“The rights of property may be pleaded. No one has more respect for the than I have; but I do class among them the robber’s
right by which the lands of this country are now held in fee for the British Crown. I acknowledge no right of property in a small
class which goes to abrogate the rights of a numerous people… I deny and challenge all such rights, howsoever founded or
enforced. I challenge them as founded only on the code of the brigand, and enforced only by the sanction of the hangman.”
[4]
In another letter in the Irish Felon titled “The First Step—The Felon Club,” which was published on the 1 July, Lalor
addressing the Government wrote “We hold the present existing government of this island and all existing rights of property in
our soil, to be mere usurpation and tyranny, and to be null and void as of moral effect; and our purpose is to abolish them
entirely, or lose our lives in the attempt. The right founded on conquest and affirmed by laws made by the conquerors themselves,
we regard as no other than the right of the robber on a larger scale. We owe no obedience to laws enacted by another nation
without our consent, nor respect to assumed rights of property which are starving and exterminating our people…” Outlining his
intentions he wrote
“We have determined to set about creating, as speedily as possible, a military organisation, of which the Felons office shall
be the centre and citadel. As a first step of proceeding, we are now founding a Club which, it is intended, shall consist of one,
two or more persons from each parish throughout Ireland who are to be in immediate connection and correspondence with this
office. . . . A prospectus and set of rules are in preparation, which we will publish when completed. But without waiting for
such publication, we earnestly request every man in Ireland who desires to enrol himself as a colleague and comrade, and as a
member of the Felon Club, will signify his wish by letter to the provisional secretary, Mr. Joseph Brenan, Felon office, 12
Trinity Street.” [4]
In his last article for the Irish Felon “Clearing Decks,” Lalor wrote —“Remember this—that somewhere and somehow, and by
somebody, a beginning must be made. Who strikes the first blow for Ireland? Who draws first blood for Ireland? Who wins a wreath
that will be green forever?” [4]
Arrest and Rising
The inscription reads:
In dear memory of James Fintan Lalor born on the 10th of
March 1809 and died on the 27th of December 1849.
A faithful Irishman who gave his life in the pursuit of freedom
of our country and to improve the state of Irish people in their
native land.
May his soul be at the right hand of God,
(The stone was erected by National Graves Association (1933))
Six days later Lalor was arrested under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and kept in prison for some months, after
which he was released owing to the bad health which had been affected by his imprisonment. [4]
“His spirit, however, was undaunted,” according to O’Sullivan, and in the following year he set about organising a revival of
the insurrection” in co-operation with John Savage, Joseph
Brenan, John O’Leary and Thomas Clarke Luby in
Tipperary and Waterford. At Cappoquin, in September, Savage and Brenan attacked the police barracks but the other leaders had not
sufficient forces at their command to take aggressive action in the districts in which they were working, and the insurgents had
to separate. [4]
Three months afterwards, on 27 December 1849, Lalor died in
his 43rd year, as a result of an attack of bronchitis, and was buried in Glasnevin. [4]
Books By Young Irelanders (Irish Confederation)
- An Apology for the British Government in Ireland, John Mitchel, O Donoghue & Company. 1905
- Jail Journal, John Mitchel, M.H. Gill & Sons, Ltd 1914
- Jail Journal: with continuation in New York & Paris, John Mitchel, M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd
- The Crusade of the Period, John Mitchel, Lynch, Cole & Meehan 1873
- Last Conquest Of Ireland (Perhaps), John Mitchel, Lynch, Cole & Meehan 1873
- History of Ireland, from the Treaty of Limerick to the Present Time, John Mitchel, Cameron & Ferguson
- History of Ireland, from the Treaty of Limerick to the Present Time (2 Vol), John Mitchel, James Duffy 1869
- Life of Hugh O'Neil John Mitchel, P.M. Haverty 1868
- The Last Conquest of Ireland (Perhaps), John Mitchel, (Glasgow, 1876 - reprinted University College Dublin Press,
2005) ISBN 1-905558-36-4
- The Felon's Track, Micheal Doheny, M.H. Gill & Sons, Ltd 1951 (Text at Project Gutenberg)
- The Volunteers of 1782, Thomas Mac Nevin, James Duffy & Sons. Centenary Edition
- Thomas Davis, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co, Ltd 1890
- My Life In Two Hemispheres (2 Vol), Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, T. Fisher Unwin. 1898
- Young Ireland, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co 1880
- Four Years of Irish History 1845-1849, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co 1888
- A Popular History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics, Thomas D'Arcy McGee,
Cameron & Ferguson (Text at Project Gutenberg)
- The Patriot Parliament of 1689, Thomas Davis, (Third Edition), T. Fisher Unwin, MDCCCXCIII
- Charles Gavan Duffy: Conversations With Carlyle (1892)
- Davis, Poem’s and Essays Complete, Introduction by John Mitchel, P. M. Haverty, P.J. Kenedy, 9/5 Barclay St. New York,
1876.
Additional Reading
- The Politics
of Irish Literature: from Thomas Davis to W.B. Yeats, Malcolm Brown, Allen & Unwin, 1973.
- John Mitchel, A Cause Too Many, Aidan Hegarty, Camlane Press.
- Thomas Davis, The Thinker and Teacher, Arthur Griffith, M.H. Gill & Son 1922.
- Brigadier-General Thomas Francis Meagher His Political and Military Career,Capt. W. F. Lyons, Burns Oates & Washbourne
Limited 1869
- Young Ireland and 1848, Dennis Gwynn, Cork University Press 1949.
- Daniel O'Connell The Irish Liberator, Dennis Gwynn, Hutchinson & Co, Ltd.
- O'Connell Davis and the Collages Bill, Dennis Gwynn, Cork University Press 1948.
- Smith O’Brien And The “Secession”, Dennis Gwynn,Cork University Press
- Meagher of The Sword, Edited By Arthur Griffith, M. H. Gill & Son, Ltd. 1916.
- Young Irelander Abroad The Diary of Charles Hart, Edited by Brendan O'Cathaoir, University Press.
- John Mitchel First Felon for Ireland, Edited By Brian O'Higgins, Brian O'Higgins 1947.
- Rossa's Recollections 1838 to 1898, Intro by Sean O'Luing, The Lyons Press 2004.
- Labour in Ireland, James Connolly, Fleet Street 1910.
- The Re-Conquest of Ireland, James Connolly, Fleet Street 1915.
- John Mitchel Noted Irish Lives, Louis J. Walsh, The Talbot Press Ltd 1934.
- Thomas Davis: Essays and Poems, Centenary Memoir, M. H Gill, M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd MCMXLV.
- Life of John Martin, P. A. Sillard, James Duffy & Co., Ltd 1901.
- Life of John Mitchel, P. A. Sillard, James Duffy and Co., Ltd 1908.
- John Mitchel, P. S. O'Hegarty, Maunsel & Company, Ltd 1917.
- The Fenians in Context Irish Politics & Society 1848-82, R. V. Comerford, Wolfhound Press 1998
- William Smith O'Brien and the Young Ireland Rebellion of 1848, Robert Sloan, Four Courts Press 2000
- Irish Mitchel, Seamus MacCall, Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd 1938.
- Ireland Her Own, T. A. Jackson, Lawrence & Wishart Ltd 1976.
- Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell, T. C. Luby, Cameron & Ferguson.
- Young Ireland, T. F. O'Sullivan, The Kerryman Ltd. 1945.
- Irish Rebel John Devoy and America's Fight for Irish Freedom, Terry Golway, St. Martin's Griffin 1998.
- Paddy's Lament Ireland 1846-1847 Prelude to Hatred, Thomas Gallagher, Poolbeg 1994.
- The Great Shame, Thomas Keneally, Anchor Books 1999.
- James Fintan Lalor, Thomas, P. O'Neill, Golden Publications 2003.
- Charles Gavan Duffy: Conversations With Carlyle (1892), with Introduction, Stray Thoughts On Young Ireland, by Brendan
Clifford, Athol Books, Belfast, ISBN 0 85034 1140. (Pg. 32 Titled, Foster’s account Of Young Ireland.)
- Envoi, Taking Leave Of Roy Foster, by Brendan Clifford and Julianne Herlihy, Aubane Historical Society, Cork.
- The Falcon Family, or, Young Ireland, by M. W. Savage, London, 1845. (An Gorta
Mor)Quinnipiac University
References
- ^ John Mitchel, The History of Ireland, Vol 2, James Duffy, London, 1869
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Thomas P. O'Neill, James Fintan Lalor, Golden
Publications, Dublin, ISBN 0-9524739-1-8
- ^ a b Leaders and Workers, Edited by J. W. Boyle, Mercier Press,
Dublin, 1978, ISBN 0 856342 334 2
- ^ a
b c d e f g h i j k l m Young Ireland, T. F. O’Sullivan, The Kerryman Ltd,
1945.
Sources
- "Wolfe Tone Annual", 1939
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