THE TITHE WAR
Tithes were taxes levied for the upkeep of the Protestant Church
in Ireland. In 1831 the Tithe War began in earnest, when the Irish Catholics,
spurred on by their priests, refused to pay their tithes. Le Fanu, Protestant
rector in Abington speaks of how almost overnight the demeanour of the people
changed from one of friendliness and good-will towards the protestants to one of
insult and hate. He says "the people would not speak to us and scowled at us as
they passed by".
He continues to describe the amusing story concerning Fr. Hickey's cow. Fr.
Hickey was parish priest in Doon at this time and was very outspoken in
opposition to the tithes. Rev. Charles Coote was protestant rector in Doon and
was very strict in enforcing the payment of tithes. Up to now the two clergymen
were on friendly terms and Coote never exacted payment from his catholic
counterpart. However, all this changed when Fr. Hickey, in a fierce sermon
denounced Coote from the altar and told his listeners that anyone "who paid a
farthing to that scoundrel Coote was a traitor to his country".
"Take example by me, boys", he said, I'd let my last cow be seized and sold
before I'd pay a farthing to that scoundrel Coote".
Coote, being highly insulted, acted swiftly and had his bailiff impound one of
the priest's cows, before anyone thought he would make the attempt. He had
notices posted saying that the cow would be sold at an auction in Bilbao. Fr.
Hickey posted counter notices encouraging the people to turn up in their
thousands by way of demonstration. He was sure that the cow would not be sold,
as no one would dare buy the cow.
On the morning of the auction four companies of Highlanders marched from
Limerick to Bilboa fearing trouble. Thousands had gathered to await the
developments. When the cow was put up for sale, 'Canting' was the term used at
the time (ceant i.e. auction), a local man bid £12, a sum far beyond the value
of the cow, under the mistaken belief that the cow could not be sold unless
there were three separate bids. Much to his dismay the cow was knocked down to
him. He had no option but to pay the auctioneer and the tithe was paid.
Trouble then broke out as the people began to throw stones at the soldiers. The
soldiers returned fire and three people were wounded. One lad who received a
slight leg wound was bandaged up, placed in a cart, covered with a blood stained
sheet and was paraded up and down with a placard proclaiming "The Blessings of
the Tithes".
Meanwhile the cow was dressed up with coloured ribbons and streamers hanging
from her horns. She was paraded around by the huge crowd amid much merriment and
laughter.
Coote now was treated very badly by the people of Doon. Whenever he or his
family were seen they were greeted with shouts and yells and cries of "Mad dog!
mad dog! to hell with the tithes! Down with the tithes" Le Fanu describes how
his family were threatened, that if they visited Coote in Doon again, that they
would be treated in a like manner. Sure enough on their next visit to the
rectory, they were accompanied all the way home by crowds screaming, shouting
and cursing at them.
Coote was now boycotted and could get no one to work for him. However, some
years previously, he had saved from transportation six brothers, named Lysaght
from Doon. They had been tried on some false charge and, being convinced of
their innocence, Coote intervened and was successful in having them acquitted.
The brothers now felt they owed something to Coote and assembled with some
protestant workmen in the bog to cut his turf. At about mid-day a crowd
converged, shouting, firing shots and throwing stones. The brothers ran for
their lives. The crowd destroyed the turf and broke the implements that were
left behind. Le Fanu mentions that these same Lysaghts had been among the
bravest of Reaskawallahs in many a faction fight with the Coffeys of Newport.
This sort of agitation was carried on countrywide and ended with the abolition
of tithes by Parliament some years later (1838).
The following report from "The Evening Mail", April 16th, 1832 describes the
incident :
LIMERICK TITHE AFFRAY
At four o'clock on Tuesday morning two pieces of artillery, sixty of the 12th
Lancers and a section of the 92 Highlanders proceeded from Limerick garrison
towards Bilboa to attend a sale by distress for tithes due by the Parish Priest
of Doon to the Rector Rev. Mr. Coote. It had been previously known that the
peasantry resolved to assemble in vast numbers for the purpose of intimidating
any person from purchasing at this sale and thus defeating the legal claim of
this minister to his tithes. Upwards of 6,000 people were in the village when
the priest's cow was brought out for sale, and the surrounding hills were
covered by at least 10,000 more. However, the imposing force that drew up
prevented any opposition from the crowds and the sale went ahead. The troops
soon withdrew but they had not proceeded above half a mile on their return when
they were called back to the village on the news that a tremendous and combined
attack was being made on the police. They rode to Bilboa at a rapid trot and
found the country-people flinging stones and missiles of every sort at the chief
constable and his police party. The whole village exhibited one scene of terror
and confusion. By the prompt exertions of the Lancers, who galloped through the
assailants and the timely influence of a Roman Catholic clergyman something like
tranquility was restored. Six policemen are now stationed in Rev. Mr. Coote's
house for protection.