In a surprising turn of events in Limerick on Sunday, a campaign against the introduction of English Sunday newspapers gained momentum, showcasing a marked opposition within the community. Approximately 200 young working men, adorned with temperance badges, congregated inside the railway premises, accompanied by two priests, Reverend Father Hennessy, C.C., and Reverend V. J. O’Connor, Adm.
The focal point of this unusual demonstration occurred when the incoming Komatsro train was met with members of the Limerick Committee diligently searching for parcels. These parcels, it was revealed, contained English Sunday newspapers destined for local recipients. Upon discovery, the clergymen, Father Hennessy and Reverend O’Connor, advised the agents not to remove the newspapers. In response, one agent defiantly redirected the parcel to England, sparking enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Several other parcels intended for different agents were withheld, with messengers returning empty-handed. Emboldened by this initial success, the clergymen, accompanied by a growing crowd, visited one of the agents, securing an undertaking that the English Sunday newspapers would not be sold again. Similar assurances were reportedly obtained from the remaining two agents.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when members of the Vigilance Committee, tasked with overseeing the matter, discovered that one of the agents departing from the 2:40 p.m. train was carrying a sample of a dozen copies of English Sunday newspapers. This development contradicted the earlier assurances and indicated a breach of the agreement.
Estimates suggest that only a few dozen copies of English Sunday newspapers managed to circulate on Sunday, a significant reduction compared to the previous widespread distribution. A special agent representing one of the English Sunday newspapers departed Limerick on the afternoon train with 70 dozen copies, bidding farewell with the presence of two members from the Vigilance Committee.
This unanticipated resistance against the introduction of English Sunday newspapers reveals a deep-seated sentiment within the community, particularly among the working class and the clergy. The involvement of local authorities, such as the Vigilance Committee, further underscores the seriousness with which this matter is being taken.
Irish Independent – Tuesday 24 October 1911
