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Chapter NiNe 319
slump in agriculture, which in turn had an equally colossal knock-on efect throughout the entire country. To compound matters, in 1816 there was an unforeseen widespread crop failure which unsurprisingly led to a partial famine the following year, the summer of which came to be known as the ‘Dear Summer.’ Again, there was famine in 1821 and 1822. As a result of these calamities the people became so dispirited and depressed, their energies focused on feeding their families, that all agitation was put to one side.
In 1823, the celebrated Kilkenny born, politician, lawyer, author and orator, Richard Lalor Shiel joined forces with O’Connell and together, in an efort to give fresh impetus to the promotion and agiataion for Emancipation, they founded the Catholic Association. The Association strove to promote Emancipion by holding meetings throughout the coun- try, by public discussions, and the return of members to Parliament pledged to support the cause. Managed by a committee, the Association members subscribed one pound a year, the associates one shilling.
In a short time, this levy which was called the “Catholic Rent” by O’Connell averaged £500 a week. Initially the meetings were small, but very soon the funds increased, and with the support of the press, the Association was enabled to carry on its work in a very efec- tive manner and the proof of its power was that it alarmed the British Government greatly. In fact, when just two years’ in existence the Association was suppressed by an Act which O’Connell called the Algerine Act on account of its severity. But the Act efected nothing, because O’Connell had the Association dissolved and immediately re-established an inden- tical organization under the title of “The New Catholic Association.” Success quickly fol- lowed, and in the general election of 1826, members pledged to support the Catholic cause were returned for Louth, Monaghan, and Waterford, where up until then, powerful families like the Fosters, Leslies, and Beresfords had ruled supreme.
A crisis came in 1828. Mr Vesey Fitzgerald, Member of Parliament for Clare, having ac- cepted oice in the Duke of Wellington’s ministry, was obliged to seek re-election. Though Catholics were debarred from Parliament (because every member taking his seat had to swear an oath opposed to Catholic principles) O’Connell, the very irst Catholic candidate for Parliament, daringly resolved to stand against him, and an historic contest followed.
After the most exciting, and as some commentators have argued, the most memora- ble election ever held in Ireland, Daniel O’Connell was elected by a great majority. One