[ note added 2013 by Michael Purcell -- I am not sure what axe Thomas Bunbury is grinding by having this letter published but you can be sure it has to do with the "Tithe War" that was taking place at this time plus he refers to "the Rev. T. Tyrell" ( sic ) who was Parish Priest of Tinryland at this time and who was a very active "political priest" and stirrer upper. The "oath" was not published nor was anymore heard from Mr Bunbury on the topic. At the end of this letter I attach a piece on Father Thomas Tyrrell. ] Carlow Sentinel. 12th May 1832. To the Editor of The Carlow Sentinel. Mr Editor - - A meeting of the parishioners of the union of Grangeford, and Killerig, took place on the 2nd May to form associations for the protection of persons and property. The form of an oath was submitted for the inspection of the Rev. T.Tyrell, and assented to, on Mr William Duckett's promise, that no person swearing should be employed to recover tithes. -- Now, if not subject by the oath, why was this promise asked ? What avails any man's promise ? A committee being named, I requested to see the oath, to me it appeared embracing too much. If the meeting was solely for the object " to form associations for the protection of persons and property" , why swear more than " that we will to the best of our power save and protect the persons and property of each of our parishioners ." If the oath contains more, but not intelligible to him who swears it, I say I had cause to object. The objectionable parts were pointed out to Mr William Duckett, assented to, and included within parenthesis to be omitted. The committee having perfected the resolutions, my objections were spoken of in a very uncourteous manner ; I attempted a reply, but persons possessing more weight in body than mind, prevented me, by exclaiming ," no ! no ! a loss of time &." Through your impartial journal I require a publication of the oath. By one gentleman it was argued that the preamble was the oath and not the oath itself. Another said, to amend was to destroy ; would to God his commission of justice for the peace was amended. He thinks he is a lawyer ; had I the law not known to him , I would forego his knowledge. I am satisfied of this deficiency, by poor S --- n's imprisonment for seeing a hare. Again I think I am justified in requesting said oath to be published, and as yet, am no convert, Thomas C. Bunbury. [ added 2013 - *Rev Thomas Tyrrell, P. P. Tinryland* *“A Political Priest” by John Scott* “Fr. Thomas Tyrrell was a native of Ballyroan, Co. Laois. He was PP of Doonane from 1815 to 1823 when he was transferred to Tinryland where he remained until his death on 24 August 1842.Many of his parishioners at this time were tenants of the landlords Bruen and Beresford and this probably began his interest in politics. At this time in Carlow the Borough of Carlow sent one representative to Parliament and the County sent two. The bill giving Catholic Emancipation was made law on 13 April 1829. A separate bill was passed at the same time, which raised the county franchise from forty shillings to £ 10. This had the effect of reducing the number of people who could vote in the County constituency from about 4000 to 530. This was an attempt to limit the effect of the emancipation bill and it deprived many forty-shilling freeholders of the vote. The very people who had forced the question of emancipation were to be deprived of the fruits of it. This just added to the feelings of bitterness, which had built up over the previous decade.” “However a Reform Bill was passed in August 1832 and it increased the electorate in the County to about 1246. Also, the borough franchise was extended to £ I 0 householders, the same as in England. Special sessions for the registration of new voters were set up and the number of people entitled to vote in the next borough election would be considerably greater than the thirteen who had the vote in the last one. In the 1832 election 278 people had the right to vote in the Borough. It must be remembered that at this time voting was not secret and sometimes the local papers published a list of the voters and how they cast their votes. The landlords expected that their tenants would vote as directed by them.” “The previous elections in the County from the Act of Union in 1801 were just contests between various landlords. Now with the coming of Catholic Emancipation and the passing of the Reform Act the power of the landlords could be challenged. This was the situation into which Fr. Tyrrell threw his energies. In May 1830 he addressed a Poor Law meeting in Maryborough and he also proposed a motion at a Reform meeting in Carlow on 24th May, 1832. He seconded Wallace, the Liberal candidate, at the election in December 1832. Wallace and the other Liberal candidate, Walter Blackney were elected. The Conservatives tried to have the result overturned and a Parliamentary Committee investigated the election. Fr. Tyrrell travelled from Tinryland to London and gave evidence before this committee in May 1833.” Transcribed by Michael Purcell ].