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Daniel Oconnell
Daniel Oconnell
Daniel Oconnell
The Liberator
Seomra Ranga 2013 www.seomraranga.com
Penal Laws
Laws passed towards the end of the 17th century Known as the "Penal Laws" as they "penalised" or punished Catholics Designed to ensure that Catholics remained poor, ignorant and without spiritual guidance The laws were grouped under the headings of education, religion, property and civil life
Catholic Emancipation
O Connell decided to firstly fight for Catholic Emancipation This meant the removal of all Penal Laws against Catholics He wanted Catholics to be allowed to vote, sit in parliament, represent people in all courts, hold high positions in the Civil Service and hold high positions in the Army He believed in only peaceful means to achieve his aims
NO POLITICAL CHANGE WHATSOEVER IS WORTH THE SHEDDING OF A SINGLE DROP OF HUMAN BLOOD.
- Daniel O Connell
1828 By-Election
Catholics were allowed to vote, but not allowed to sit in Parliament Voting was not in secret so tenants usually voted the way their landlord wanted them to In a By-Election in Clare in 1828, O Connell stood for election and managed to persuade tenants to vote for him The election went on for five days and O Connell easily won, becoming MP (Member of Parliament) for Co. Clare