Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Summer 2026

“Thoughts in Prison. An excerpt from a local paper of that time (probably The Galway Vindicator’) described the arrest of Peter Broderick P.L.G. and P. C. Kelly Esq. of Athenry, both gentlemen, well-known and highly respected, as “arbitrary”. Both were removed to jail at different times and different ways. The excerpt explained: “As advocates of the temperance cause and the great cause of land reform, they were widely known and it is a well-known fact that tenant farmers for miles around Athenry always looked on them as their best friends and soughs their advice whenever it was needed. Their arrest is the most arbitrary as their acts were always public and regular reports of the meetings where they acted as secretaries appeared in the press. However, such an outrage on such men, as well as many others, is looked upon as springing from the latest development of the resources of civilisation. As Peter Broderick appeared in the exercise yard early on his first morning “all hands approached with their congratulations .... Pat Kelly.. . John Sweeney ... Glennon... Conneely with a downcast look says may bad luck to them that sent you here, Madden, I suppose”. Conneely’s intuition was confirmed the following Monday, Nov. 14th, when Broderick’s Athenry visitors revealed to him that “Madden was under police protection”. Notwithstanding the walls of the prison there was transparency about what went on there. Reports on individual prisoners and on matters such as prison diet appeared regularly in the newspapers. Influential public representatives like Charles Stuart Parnell, Burton Persse, John Redmond and John Dillon, would lobby... at Westminster on behalf of the prisoners. Questions asked in parliament were answered with Civil Service completeness and Westminster put their trust in Inspector Joyce’s reports. Mr. Chamberlain MP of the Government sent his own representative to observe conditions in Galway Jail on one occasion. A combination of sensitivity to the Home Rule cause and a pragmatic strategy to keep the prisoners from bringing to the attention of newspapers any inhumane treatment bred a certain leniency. Within a week Peter Broderick was being asked by the Prison Governor if he wanted anything special. Knowing Broderick liked to read and write the Governor allowed him to leave on the gas till 10 p.m. (an hour and a half extra). He also supplied a candle in case Broderick didn’t like the gas. This discretion permitted him to write and read until 10 p.m. when the Chief Warder was on his rounds outside cells, looked in through the aperture in Broderick’s door and called ‘All’s Well’ before moving on to the next cell. Within another couple of weeks the Warder would be making enquiries about Broderick’s preference for breakfast, though it was the stark alternative of stir-about or coffee. The departing affable’ Governor got many God Speeds From the prisoners and the new Governor—in early December— was being described as “... a pleasing gentleman... rather attentive, he frequently parades the premises.” By early January Broderick could write in his dairy: “got a nagging from Mason, between self and Sweeney” By February, when John Fahy visited Broderick he was in possession of ‘contraband’ (drink), as Broderick noted in his diary “but not able to pass Customs Officer Mason a supply”, Mason was not the only lenient one. Broderick noted a series of meetings of the prisoners Social Club

on the first day of Spring “to say thanks to the kindness of Watson’. The previous day they had procured some contraband across the rails”. On another occasion (in December) during the visit of four Athenry friends, Father Peter McPhilbin, Lizzie Lardner, Mrs. Lardner and John Kelly, there was a “bit of legerdemain over the rails unknown to Flannery” (the Warder). That night he had a “glass of punch. heated water by the gas”. The regulations regarding the length cf visits could also be stretched. Warder Mahony, on occasion, allowed extra time. The number of prisoners varied from time to time, following new arrivals, releases or transfers to other prisons or to go to court for trail. A. Keary, ‘a respected farmer from Athenry arrived the day after Broderick, but by early December the Governor notified Keary to proceed by first train to the prison a Carrick-on-Shannon to await trial. Broderick described an occasion of new arrivals: “we take it as an indication of the further enforcing of the illimitable resources of civilisation”. Sometimes there were seventy to eighty prisoners in Galway Jail. They came from many parts. Tuite from Mullingar; Fallon from Moneen; ‘Chief Justice” Nond from Roscommon; O’Connor from Castlerea; Malachy Cloonan, the jobber, from Loughrea; Thomas Plower from near Loughrea; Lyons from Ballyhaunis; Coughlan and Connor from Kiltulla; O’Beirne from Ballinamore; P. J. Hanley the political doctrine of passiveness, but no way did this now apply among themselves. For instance, when the Ladies League announced they would be no longer accountable for catering, their response to this presumptuous dictation’ was swift. Broderick observed: “the men object to being ruled by the Kilmainham directorate and as their reason that they went three months on prison fare before and none others followed. General dissatisfaction is exhibited...” Prison fare was not a preferred option but Broderick records for Monday, January 23, 1882: “Today 40 men went on prison fare for a week, the savings to be given to Old Fallon (of Moneen, Athenry) now undergoing fortnight’s imprisonment for holding his house and lands against the decree of Persse of Roxboro. A most meritorious act. The money will amount to close of £40 for one week”. The men could be fractious as well, As Broderick noted of Roscommon man Nond and Harrington: “Tonight in Association Nond and Harrington showed their tempers over the dietary question and both gentlemen are possessed of tempers. Nond was very liberal in his invectives against headquarters”. Another day there was a great row in the exercise yard: “Tom Cunningham was directly accused of the Correspondence to the Daily Express in which people were accused of wasting Land League funds. Harrington defended him. The Gibbons got wild, rushed at Cunningham. Hanly from Roscommon was also on the onslaught on him. Cunningham declared his accusers liars’ and showed a contradiction he had written of the matter. Harriss interfered. The Warders ran to and fro and in the midst of the confusion Cunningham disappeared. Feeling was running very high.. it was miraculous why there was not a general melee. Cunningham did not appear

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