In a recent address at the opening of the Clare Spring Assizes, Lord Chief Justice O’Brien highlighted a distressing instance of boycotting in the county, framing it under the header of a “minor case” that spoke volumes about the impact of such practices on individuals and communities.

The focal point of Lord Chief Justice O’Brien’s narrative was a man named Taylor, who had fallen afoul of the local Gaelic League and, as a result, found himself ostracized and shunned. The community’s refusal to engage with him and the denial of goods painted a stark picture of the repercussions of being deemed “obnoxious” by the Gaelic League. The consequence for Taylor was profound—he had to venture outside his district, embarking on a lengthy journey to Limerick in pursuit of life’s necessities.

The Lord Chief Justice, in his opening address, expressed concern over the severity of the situation, categorizing it as a “minor case.” However, the gravity of the scenario was not lost on him, as he believed it was imperative for the grand jury to be apprised of the distressing impact of boycotting on individuals like Taylor by the Gaelic League.

Taylor’s plight was not an isolated incident. Lord Chief Justice O’Brien highlighted five similar cases where people were compelled to leave their own districts to secure essential goods, as local shopkeepers refused to engage with them. These instances served as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching consequences of boycotting, extending beyond social exclusion to the disruption of basic necessities and the upheaval of daily life.

Drawing parallels to broader issues, Lord Chief Justice O’Brien referenced the well-known case of the McCairn brothers, whose bread supply to Dublin was disrupted because of a Gaelic League boycott in Longford. The intertwining of these local and regional instances underscored the pervasiveness of boycotting and its potential to create a domino effect, affecting individuals, businesses, and communities.

In issuing this cautionary tale, Lord Chief Justice O’Brien called for robust action to break the perceived tyrannical power of the Gaelic League, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to curb the spread of such practices. The address served as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by those caught in the web of boycotts, urging a reevaluation of such tactics in the pursuit of a more just and inclusive society.

Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) – Monday 20 April 1908