Introduction. Daniel O’Connell wrote often to his wife while campaigning in Waterford in the summer of 1826. In the letter reproduced below he writes from Dromana, Cappoquin, Co Waterford, home of Villiers Stuart, the successful O’Connellite candidate in the Waterford election. The ‘scene’ he refers to was in Lady Morgan’s (Sydney Owenson), third novel, Florence McCarthy: an Irish tale (London 1818). The landlord mentioned as being on the ‘adverse interest’ was Wray Palliser (1789–1862), Kilcomragh Lodge, Co Waterford. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Waterford Militia (1810–62). O’Connell goes on to describe his visits to Kilmacthomas and Dungarvan, and the great welcome he received from the tenants, despite the obvious opposition from the Beresford and Devonshire estates.

Source. Letter from Daniel O’Connell to his wife about campaigning in Co Waterford, 19 June 1826, Irish Monthly 12 (1884) 216.

Dromana, Co Waterford, 19 June 1826.

My own sweet Love

Here I am at this lovely spot. I believe it is that which Lady Morgan makes the scene of many of the incidents in Florence McCarthy. It is really a beautiful situation. As to yesterday, first, I wrote to you from Waterford and enclosed you a cheque for £35; next, sweetest, we heard an early mass at Waterford and then started for Dungarvan. We breakfasted at Kilmacthomas, a town belonging to the Beresfords but the people belong to us. They came out to meet us with green boughs and such shouting you can have no idea of. I harangued them from the window of the inn, and we had a good deal of laughing at the bloody Beresfords. Judge what the popular feeling must be when in this, a Beresford town, every man their tenant, we had such a reception. A few miles farther on we found a chapel with the congregation assembled before mass. The Priest made me come out and I addressed his flock, being my second speech. The freeholders here were the tenants of a Mr Palliser, who is on the adverse interest, but almost all of them will vote for us. We then proceeded to Dungarvan on the coast. There are here about four hundred voters belonging to the Duke of Devonshire. His agents have acted a most treacherous part by us, and our Committee at Waterford were afraid openly to attack these voters lest the Duke should complain of our violating what he calls his neutrality. But I deemed that all sheer nonsense, and to work we went. We had a most tremendous meeting here; we harangued the people from a platform erected by the walls of a new chapel. I never could form a notion of the great effect of popular declamation before yesterday. The clergy of the town most zealously assisted us. We have, I believe, completely triumphed, and I at present am convinced we shall poll to the last man of these voters. We then had a public dinner and great speeching. We broke up about nine, and Wyse and I came here with Mr Stuart in his carriage. We arrived about half after ten, and are going this day to Lismore on another mission.

Gillian M. Doherty