The Arms Act. 1843.

1843

THE ARMS ACT

PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF ITS WORKING.

The Nenagh Guardian contains some graphic illustrations of the working of the Arms Act, which we must hasten to put upon record before any of the tribe of manufacturers of traits and stories of the Irish peasantry can get hold of them, and serve them up as their own. It is necessary for as to premise that we give the facts in the very words of our provincial contemporary; and also that by the term “Court” is to be understood Mr. Sergeant Howley.

At the Quarter Sessions held at Nenagh, on Thursday- “Martin Cleary sought the registry of a gun. On being asked what he wanted with it, he replied that his landlord , Mr Kill-Kelly, was going to law with him.- Refused.

“Mr Dwyer- Never mind Cleary, we’ll beat Mr. Kill-Kelly with legal weapons-(laughter).

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“John Donohoe (brother to a man named Rody Donohoe, (murdered near Toomavara) was allowed a gun and a pistol !”

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“- Doherty applied for a gun.

“Court- What do you want it for?

“ Mr. Faulkner- He anticipates an election.

“The Magistrate allowed him a gun.”

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“Michael Gleeson, of Laharasha, sought for a gun.

“Court- What do you want it for?

“Gleeson- to shoot crows, your worship, or anything else that comes across me- (laughter).

“Court- You may go down”.

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“Mr P.Gleeson, of Nenagh, applied for two pistols, which the magistrates at first refused; but, on Mr Gleeson stating he had a valuable case of pistols which were made a present to him by his father, the Court allowed him to retain them.

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Throughout the entire affair the most joyous flow of mirth appears to have prevailed, if we may judge from the frequent interlarding of the report with the word “laughter.” We have heard of a “bloody assize” and henceforth , we presume, the late sessions at Nenagh will be distinguished in the history of Tipperary as the “laughing sessions.” Perhaps some light by such commentaries upon their proceedings as the following items afford:-

“ Pat Ryan asked for a gun and two pistols, which were granted, owing to an able defence made by him some time ago when his house was attacked.

“John Vaughan applied for leave to register a gun.

“Mr Lee replied that there was a man named Dean hanged some years ago for a horrid act of barbarity committed on Vaughan. It appeared that Dean, for a pint of whisky and 7s.6d, went to Vaughan’s house, cut off both his ears, and cut off the calves of his legs leaving him almost lifeless.

“The Court granted the request.”

Could Irish fiction-mongers have kept these strange true tales out of the Nenagh Guardian, they would have made their fortunes, by palming them upon the public as the offspring of their own towering fancies,-Mail. 

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The Kerry Evening Post 29th January 1845.
Image courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive.


The above record just emphasises the thin line that existed in Ireland, between barbarity and frivolity at this

important time in Irish history.

Dave Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk