Yesterday, a monument paying tribute to the ‘Manchester Martyrs’ Allen, Larkin, and O’Brien was unveiled in Moston Cemetery, stirring significant attention and emotions. The three men, who were associated with the Irish Nationalist movement, were executed in Salford in 1867, convicted of the murder of Police-sergeant Charles Brett. Organized by Irish Nationalists, the unveiling ceremony was carried out by Mr. John Daly, the Mayor of Limerick, in the presence of several people who gathered to witness this historic event.
The attendance of the Mayor of Limerick at the unveiling event, along with the impactful speeches delivered at the St. James’s Hall meeting, suggests an enduring sense of unity and backing for Irish Nationalism and its related objectives.
Following the ceremony, a meeting was held in the prestigious St. James’s Hall, attended by various notable individuals, possibly including members of the Irish Nationalist community. The gathering was marked by passionate and, at times, extraordinary speeches that captivated the audience. While the content of these speeches remains undisclosed, it can be surmised that they touched on themes of Irish nationalism, resistance, justice, and the implications of the controversial monument.
This event, memorializing three men executed for murder, serves as a stark reminder of the tensions that have historically existed between the Irish Nationalist movement and the British establishment. The presence of the Mayor of Limerick at the unveiling ceremony, as well as the speeches made during the meeting in St. James’s Hall, indicate that there remains a strong undercurrent of support and solidarity for Irish Nationalism and its associated causes.
Manchester Courier – Monday 06 August 1900
