During a meeting of the Limerick County Council, chaired by Mr Roserr Coll, discussions centred around the urgent need to address the ongoing land issue in Ireland. Mr John Coleman, a member of the council, proposed a resolution calling for a public demonstration in Limerick. The resolution emphasized the necessity of having prominent figures such as John Dillon, Michael Davitt, and the leader of the Irish Party present at the meeting. The goal was to unite in vigorous action against the landlords’ game of extortion, which involved demanding exorbitant prices for land holdings, far above their market value.
Mr Coleman highlighted the current situation where landlords enticed tenants with significant incentives to purchase their holdings, even forgiving half a year’s rent to negotiate exploitative terms. He stressed the need to counteract such dealings and prevent the country from descending into bankruptcy and ruin. The resolution received support from Mr P. Vaughan, who seconded it.
However, Mr J. Ryan expressed his disagreement with the resolution, suggesting that the country was currently facing a critical situation due to differences of opinion on the matter. He believed it would be unwise to invite those who held opposing views to a meeting in Limerick while a dispute loomed large and awaited resolution on August 16th.
Mr Coleman objected to Mr Ryan’s remarks, urging him to refrain from fueling dissent. He argued that such language only served to create divisions. The Chairman also expressed his support for the resolution, emphasizing the pressing need for leadership and guidance amid a newspaper war and a landlord combination that posed challenges to the people.
Ultimately, the resolution was unanimously adopted by the council, with the Chairman highlighting that if the individuals mentioned in the resolution did not attend the meeting, the people would proceed without them. The council’s resolution aimed to unite forces and address the land issue through collective action, bringing attention to the plight of tenants and seeking a fair resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 09 August 1904
