At a recent meeting of the Limerick Corporation, Councillor Whelan stirred up intense debate by introducing a resolution calling for the Mayor and Corporation members to avoid attending any local sports, regattas, or amusements featuring an English military band, without the approval of the Council. Whelan expressed his concern that the music played at these events, particularly “God Save the King,” would incite raw emotions among the Irish citizens. He also argued that encouraging the presence of English military bands could lead to young Irishmen being lured into the British Army, which was currently involved in the conflict against the Boers in South Africa.
The Mayor firmly announced that he would not recognize the resolution if it passed. Describing himself as a Nationalist, he denounced the proposed measure as a “contemptible sectarian split” in our prosperous town.
In a tense and divided vote, nine Corporation members voted in favor of the resolution, while nine voted against it. It was eventually defeated by the Mayor’s deciding vote. This contentious issue has certainly revealed the deep-seated antipathy that still exists among the Irish towards the English, just beneath the surface of our daily lives.
Nottingham Evening Post – Saturday 06 July 1901