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Archiver > GENIRE > 1998-02 > 0886832860


From: Pat Traynor< >
Subject: Land League and "Moonlighters"
Date: 6 Feb 1998 22:27:40 -0800


From: (Jas F Sr)
>Information has come to me that my gg grandfather was shot in front of his
>house by Moonlighters and his brother was jailed for his activities with the
>Land League. I've never heard of either of these organizations. Can anyone
>help with some explanation?
>
======================
Around 1848 a Tenant's League was formed to fight for fair rents. As time
went by
it evolved into a Land League. In 1851 there was fear in some areas that the
old Penal Laws were going to be re-inforced and many more Catholics joined,
thereby scaring the Protestants out of the League and weakening it. The
Orange order tried to squash it and that organization became more active and
openly displayed their flags, even from a post office. The Irish Brotherhood
joined in and some "agitation" against landlords occurred. The League rose
and fell through the years until it became strong around 1880 with help from
Parnell who was with the Home Rule League. The Land league was banned in
1880 I believe but its methods continued.
By 1906 many of the estate owners had sold out to their tenants, in some
areas. I have only read about it in county Monaghan and don't know how it
fared in other counties.
Never heard of the Moonlighters but can imagine what they may have done by
light of the moon.
My Irish relative in co. Monaghan told me of an agitation that occurred
thereabouts;
I had asked him what an "agitation" was.

"A man was out in his field one night and had a lantern shot out of his
hand." "They would remove their gates and let the cattle out, and throw the
gates into a lake." We made it untennable for them to live here!"

If your relative was in co. Monaghan, give me his name. He may be in my
history book.
Does the F stand for Forbis?

Pat Traynor, in California's gold-rush country.

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