A few recent bits of information have uncovered an intriguing probability connected to the case of Fr. Sheehy and Ned Meehan. I should thank Mary Heaphy and Janet Crawford for various posts over the years, which I have archived, and in which I recently found a confluence of facts,leading to an interesting discovery. Some who have read about the case of Fr. Nicholas Sheehy and Ned meehan may recall that letters of protest were sent from Sir Edmund Burke M.P., who was arguably the most prominent M.P. of his day. Certainly, he was the single strongest voice in Parliament for the rights of Irish people. Burke had taken the time to protest the atrocities that were called a trial by the Tipperary magistrates of the time. Having seen a number of Burkes listed in Tipperary in this era, and even one or two who were indicted by the same group of magistrates, I had believed that Sir Edmund may have had a relative involved in these proceedings, since he was said to have lived, for a time, in Tipperary. That is why coming across the following obituary, was of interest to me. Southern Reporter 1819 Died on 9 March at Springvale in County Cork, Richard Bourke aged 90 (note: believed to have been a first cousin of Rt. Hon. Edmond Burke and nephew of Father Nicholas Sheehy executed 1767). Sheehy's execution actually took place in 1766, but this post includes a very revealing disclosure since it may offer the explanation for Sir Edmund's interest in the case. If Sir Edmund Burke's first cousin was also a nephew to Fr. Nicholas Sheehy, then this obituary is for the son of Sheehy's sister. The deceased "Bourke" and Sir Edmund "Burke" were sons of brothers - making them first cousins. Since this man was also a nephew of Fr. Sheehy, then his father was married to Sheehy's sister. A quick check reveals that Sheehy's sister's married name was Catherine Burke. The inscription on Sheehy's grave reads as follows: Revd. Nicholas Sheehy/ Shanrahan/ d.15 March 1766/ Here lie the remains of the Revd. Nicholas Sheehy Parish Priest of Shanrahan Ballysheehan and Templeing(?) he died March 15th 1766 Aged 32yrs. Erected by His Sister Catherine Burke Alias Sheehy. Catherine could have been married to one of the Burkes indicted in the Assizes. In R.R. Madden's book, it lists a total of four men arrested in this case, but there is no reference to any trials for anyone beyond Ned Meehan and Father Sheehy. "Edward Burke, Tullow, bail 500 pounds; his surety John Hogan and Thomas Hickey of Frehans; John Butler, innkeeper, Clogheen, bail 500 pounds; his surety George Everard of Liskeenanoul, and James Butler of Garrane, Co. Cork; Edward Meehan, Clogheen, 500 pounds bail; his sureties Pierce Nagle of Flemingstown, John Butler of Mitchelstown, James Hickey of Frehans, John Bourk of Rouska; Nicholas Sheehy, surrendered, James Buxton, Patrick Condon, and Patrick Boar, out." Madden reports that the prisoners struck up a verse of an old Irish song entitled "Shawn na Guira". At the Assizes, "a true bill was found against Edward Meehan, Nicholas Sheehan (sic), Nicholas Lee, John Magan, John Butler, and Edmund Burke charging them with compassing rebellion at Clogheen on the 7th of March and the 6th of October, second year of the King, and unlawfully assembling in white shirts, in arms, when they did traitorously prepare, ordain, and levy war against the King." So this seems to be a very interesting piece of information. There is also one more contemporaneous account of the trials. I have not seen any other references to this line of inquiry in any of the historical treatments afforded to Fr. Sheehy or Ned Meehan. Best wishes, Ted Meehan