Eugene Sheehy was a priest, president of the local branch of the Irish National Land League in Kilmallock, and a founding member of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Known as the “Land League priest,” his activities led to his imprisonment. He educated Éamon de Valera, who later became president of Ireland.
Life
Eugene Sheehy was born in Broadford, County Limerick, Ireland, in 1881 to Richard Sheehy and Johanna Shea. He was the brother of Mary Sheehy and David Sheehy, and the uncle of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and Eugene Sheehy. He studied at Mungret College in Limerick and later at the Irish College in Paris. He was a distant cousin of John Fitzgerald Kennedy through Kennedy’s maternal grandmother, Mary Assumpta Hickey.
Ordained in July 1868, Father Sheehy’s early career as a curate in Kilmallock coincided with the tumultuous Land War.
Arrest
Sheehy’s involvement in the Land League brought him into conflict with local magistrate Clifford Lloyd. He was arrested on May 20, 1881, for his speeches and imprisoned until September. Clifford Lloyd described the scene in his book “Ireland under the Land League,” noting how people begged for Sheehy’s blessing as he was taken away. Sheehy was believed to be a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and possibly on its executive committee. He was initially held in Naas Jail and later transferred to Kilmainham Gaol, where he joined Parnell, Davitt, Dillon, and other “suspects.”
From the outset of the Land League’s formation in 1879, Father Eugene Sheehy became a powerful advocate for tenant farmers’ rights. His impassioned speeches on the platform and his organizational skills propelled the movement forward in County Limerick. He continued his activism in the National League, the successor to the Land League, and remained at the forefront of the Plan of Campaign.
His prominence grew in 1880 while serving in Kilmallock, and he became a key figure in the land agitation that swept through the county. During this period, numerous eviction campaigns were carried out by landlords, and Father Sheehy attended most of them, providing solace and support to those who were dispossessed.
One of the most notable eviction campaigns was at Murroe, which saw a massive deployment of military and police forces to Kilmallock. While there was no organized resistance to the evictions themselves, Father Sheehy and others mobilized public opinion against the injustices suffered by the tenants.
Large crowds gathered to protest, and their voices were amplified through reports sent to America and Canada, where they generated widespread sympathy for the evicted families.
The Murroe evictions also witnessed an unexpected form of opposition. The military and police had been deployed in large numbers, and telegraph lines were cut to prevent communication. This resulted in a two-day delay in the eviction process, as the authorities awaited instructions. When communication was finally restored, a message arrived directing the bailiffs and the military to an entirely different location.
Father Sheehy’s unwavering support for the tenant farmers, combined with his organizational abilities and powerful oratory, made him a formidable figure in the Land League movement. His legacy as a champion of the oppressed continues to inspire those who fight for social justice and equality.
Father Sheehy Exposes Eviction Fraud, Catalyzes Land Act Reforms
Father Sheehy’s unwavering determination to expose injustice was evident in his actions during the eviction crisis. He meticulously collected funds to help tenants pay their exorbitant rents and, once the Land Act was in effect, ensured applications were filed to establish fair rents.
The Land Commission’s subsequent reduction of those rents by 30 to 35 percent exposed the landlords’ extortionate demands, revealing that the tenants had been paying one and a half times the just amount. This revelation fueled widespread outrage over the evictions and the underlying rent exploitation.
The landlords had viewed the Limerick eviction campaign as a crucial test of their power, with figures like Norrish-Dodard, the solicitor of the Property Defence Association, and Spanner, one of its agents, overseeing the proceedings. However, Father Sheehy’s meticulous documentation and exposure of the unjust rents completely undermined their plans.
What was intended as a demonstration of landlordism’s strength became a potent weapon against it, leading to amendments in the Land Act to protect leaseholders. Father Sheehy’s strategic approach not only saved countless families from eviction but also contributed to significant legal reforms that benefited tenant farmers across Ireland.
Father Sheehy’s charisma and intellect made him an effective leader and orator. His clear and impassioned speeches resonated with audiences both in Ireland and abroad, raising awareness of the plight of Irish tenants and garnering international support for their cause.
Father Sheehy’s influential voice and organizational prowess did not go unnoticed by the British government. Following a powerful speech at a Kilmallock meeting in 1881 and his participation in a major South of Ireland Convention in Limerick City alongside Reverend Harold Rylett, Father Sheehy was arrested under the repressive Forster Coercion Act. He was subsequently held in Kilmainham Jail for nine months without trial.
Father Sheehy’s imprisonment, along with that of other patriotic priests under the Coercion Act, triggered a heated debate in the House of Commons. This led to the suspension of Mr Parnell and all Irish Nationalist representatives, who promptly returned to Ireland. Upon arrival, Mr Parnell was arrested at Morrison’s Hotel, further fueling the nationalist fervor.
The events surrounding Father Sheehy’s imprisonment demonstrate the interconnectedness of political activism, social justice, and religious leadership in Ireland during this turbulent period. His story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for a better future for their country and the enduring power of their legacy.
Continued Activities
Following his release from prison in late 1881, Father Sheehy embarked on a speaking tour of America and Canada alongside T.M. Healy. To evade potential arrest as “suspects” under the Coercion Act, they booked their passage from Havre, France, under assumed names.
Upon their return, they stopped in Paris, where news of the Phoenix Park murders reached them. Uncertain about returning to Ireland amidst the heightened tensions, Father Sheehy sought advice from his brother, MP.. David Sheehy, who consulted with the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Butler.
The bishop saw no objection to their return but cautioned them about outstanding warrants for their re-arrest under the Coercion Act. He advised them to remain in Paris, offering to cover the costs of their stay. After a delay, they eventually returned to Ireland, but the warrants were never executed.
Clifford Lloyd, the notorious Resident Magistrate known for his harsh enforcement of the Coercion Act, was allegedly furious at their escape, claiming he had been outwitted by the “Land League priest.” This episode further solidified Father Sheehy’s reputation as a cunning and resilient figure in the struggle for Irish independence.
Father Sheehy’s Heroism Sparks Defiance Against Oppression
Upon returning to Ireland, Father Sheehy found himself at the center of a new struggle, this time against Clifford Lloyd, the notorious Resident Magistrate known for his heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the Coercion Act. The ensuing conflict, fueled by Father Sheehy’s impassioned speeches and unwavering leadership, ignited a wave of resistance against oppression across Limerick and the South of Ireland.
Father Sheehy’s eloquence and organizational skills galvanized communities in Cork, Waterford, Clonmel, Tralee, and other areas to stand up against injustice. His tireless efforts eventually led to Clifford Lloyd’s removal from his position and reassignment to a colonial post, a significant victory for the Irish people.
He was present at the founding meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Thurles in 1884. That same year, he spoke on Irish independence to a large crowd in Knockaderry, Limerick.
Following his triumph in the battle with Clifford Lloyd, Father Sheehy was appointed parish priest of Bruree (replacing Fr. James Enright) in 1886, a position he held until his failing health forced him to retire in 1900.
His popularity among the people was immense, as evidenced by Michael Davitt’s description of him in “The Fall of Feudalism in Ireland” as a “staunch Land Leaguer and a man of considerable ability.” Davitt further noted that Father Sheehy’s unjust imprisonment as a “common malefactor” only added fuel to the already volatile situation in the country.
He opposed the election of Captain O’Shea in Galway and supported Parnell.
According to his niece, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, the famous phrase attributed to Parnell, “No man has a right to set bounds to the onward march of a nation,” was first spoken by Father Sheehy at a banquet in Cork, which Parnell later adopted.
When the split in the Irish Parliamentary Party occurred in 1890, Sheehy opposed Parnell’s leadership, aligning with the Catholic hierarchy’s position.
Later Life
In 1900, Sheehy retired and moved to Dublin. He was in the city during the Easter Rising in 1916 and provided spiritual aid to the Volunteers at the General Post Office. He died the following year at the age of 76. One of his last statements was, “I am sorry that I did not die with Tom Clarke.” He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Some of the above is copied from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Sheehy_(priest)
And some of the above is copied from the Limerick Archives https://limerickarchives.com/?s=eugene+sheehy
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