Members of the Limerick Guild of Smiths' as published in the Freeman's Journal on October 21, 1840 Ahern, Thomas Boyle, Patrick Connell, John Corbett, Arthur Daly, Patrick Everett, Michael Halpin, Daniel Hart, James Hayes, John Houlehan, W. Houlehan, James Humphrys, Thomas Keogh, Denis Kidney, John King, Patrick Lennan, Michael Lonigan, Wm. Loughlin, Michael Lynce, Patrick Maher, Wm. Mara, Michael M'Carthy, Cornelius M'Carthy, Patrick M'Enery, Michael M'Evoy, Patrick Mulcahy, Mark Murphy, Wm. O'Brien, Benjamin O'Brien, John O'Brien, Michael O'Connor, John O'Keeffe, Edward Punch, James Ryan, John Wall, Michael Walsh, Michael Ward, Thomas NOTE: I've extracted the names from this newpaper article and alphabatized them by surname within each guild, they were NOT listed in this manner in the original newspaper article. Below is the additional text from the article as submitted by Mr. Thomas Ahern, secretary of the Limerick Guild of Smiths' : Guild of Smiths, Limerick. -- Mr. Thomas Ahern, secretary of the guild of smiths, Limerick in forwarding the subscription of that guild, says: --I send you, as our first instalment, the names and subscription of forty staunch Repealers, the most of whom have been reduced from a state of independence (as well paid mechanics) to the verge of pauperism, by the baneful effects of the miscalled act of Union. I am not old enough to recollect the passing of that measure, yet I feel to the present day its blighting effects. At the death of my father I was apprenticed, in 1817, to Mr. Philip Doyle, proprietor of the then Hibernian foundry, who had in his employment forty-three men and boys, working at the various branches connected with our trade, many of which are totally annihilated, as also this concern, by the Repeal (not of the act of Union) but the duty on English and Scotch hardware. About the year 1821 Mr. John James Doyle kept the Limerick foundry, where forty men and boys got employement, but now I regret, he is not able to employ four. Mr. David Spowart kept the Caledonian foundry in this city, where thirty men and boys got employment, but not being able to compete with our English and Scotch duty free neighbours (as to prices), he has long since shared the fate of my master. Our city is now reduced to one foundry, and the name of two, Mr. Thomas Newsom kept an extensive house, smith's shop, in this city, in which thirty-two men and boys got employment, and at one branch alone (bright grate making) eight smiths and two brass founders were constantly employed (though many more worked in other shops in the town); that beutiful and servicable article has been suppressed by the English and Scotch metal grate, there not being a single bright grate made in Limerick for the last two years. In the same concern there were six men constantly employed, and about twenty more in their own and other shops; now there is not work for a single man in the city, unless now and again repairing almost stuck together English locks. And here let it be understood that all the articles in the hardware line imported are duty free, as, for instance, the freight of a ton of manufactured English or Scotch hardware is only the same as that on a ton of raw or unwrought bar iron, or steel, thus giving a preponderating influence to those articles in this or any other market, and laying the Irish workman under corresponding disadvantages. Wroght iron safes, a lucrative branch of our trade, by which many in this and other concerns were employed, has almost given way to English and Scotch cast iron safes. This concern has long since disappeared, and its owner, and may of the workmen, obliged to seek bread far from the city of their birth. Beam-making, a lucrative and scientific branch of our trade, has almost given way to the English beams. Wrought iron verandahs and balconys, that gave work to the more tasteful portion of our smiths, is fast giving way to the English and Scotch manufacture, as are also the following articles: wind-up and smoke jacks, that gave employment to many in our city; fire irons, that gave work to many in our city; joint-hinge making, in all its diversified branches; saddle-tree riveting, edged tool making, file cuting, sheet iron work, in its varied shapes. I could enumerate may more brances of our trade that are almost annihilated, but knowing I have trespassed too long, I conclude by asking to what is this awful decline of trade attributable? Not to the want of tact of talent as mechanics, for let it be perfectly understood that there are many among us that never left Limerick able to manufacture each and every article I have enumeratedas well as our English or Scotch neighbours; nay more, they being confined to one particular branch, while the Irish artizan is, of necessity, obliged to be familiar with and to perform all. VIOLATED TREATY? None but God alone, who has raised up a second Moses in the person of Daniel O'Connell, to free us from our worse than Eqyptian slavery, aided by a religious, brave, and, thank Heaven, temperate people, to make a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull togther to repeal that Castlereagh suicidal impost, the act of Union. Please propose me and Mr. Patrick M'Carthy as members of the association, and the following as associates:-- [list of names followed here in original article]. Submitted by Kathy Rhodes 22 Mar 2008