In the dimly lit chambers of the Limerick night, a matter of grave concern emerged during a meeting presided over by Mayor Alderman P. O’Donnell. Councillor John Dalton, seizing the opportunity, brought forth a question that resonated deeply with Irish Nationalists. The crux of the issue lay in a reported subscription of £100,000 by the renowned brewery, Arthur Guinness & Co., towards the Ulster Volunteers—Carson’s Volunteers.
Dalton, a member of the Corporation, expressed a duty that extended beyond the confines of the Council. He insisted that it was not only his responsibility but that of every member of the Corporation to address the situation. The firm’s substantial financial support to the Ulster Volunteers raised questions about its intentions. Were Messrs. Guinness allocating such a significant sum to fuel the flames of conflict against the British Government in Ireland or the British Army?
Councillor Dalton sought clarity, emphasizing that the funds might be destined for equipping the Ulster Volunteers to suppress Catholics and Nationalists in the North, particularly in Belfast. He pointed out the irony that a business that had amassed a considerable fortune from the patronage of Nationalists and Catholics in Munster, Leinster, and Connaught was now seemingly supporting a cause that stood against their interests.
The debate unfolded as Councillor Duggan proposed an alternative response—encouraging citizens to embrace teetotalism in protest against Guinness & Co.’s reported contribution. Dalton, however, maintained that such matters were beyond his purview and suggested that other individuals were better suited to advocate for temperance.
The Mayor echoed Dalton’s sentiments, expressing his willingness to overlook the affair if Guinness & Co. demonstrated similar generosity towards the Irish Volunteer Force. He suggested that a resolution condemning the brewery’s reported action might be a more measured response, emphasizing the need for equitable contributions to Volunteers organized in other provinces.
Councillor Dubs aligned with the Mayor’s perspective, vowing never to consume Guinness’s porter again. The sentiment was shared by Councillor Donnellan, who believed that it was not solely the licensed trade but the broader populace that should address Guinness & Co.’s reported subscription. He urged caution, advocating for restraint until the accuracy of the reports could be verified.
The meeting concluded with an adjournment, offering Messrs. Guinness an opportunity to either confirm or contradict the statement regarding their alleged financial support for the Ulster Volunteers. As the deliberations unfolded, the citizens of Limerick found themselves caught in the complex web of allegiances and conflicting loyalties that defined the intricate political landscape of Ireland during this period.
This episode in Limerick’s history underscores the intricate interplay between economic interests, political affiliations, and regional tensions that pervaded Irish society. The reported subscription by Arthur Guinness & Co. to the Ulster Volunteers serves as a focal point for examining the nuances of Irish nationalism and the challenges faced by businesses navigating the complex political currents of the time. As the citizens await confirmation or contradiction from Messrs. Guinness, the city finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the repercussions of a reported act that threatens to strain longstanding relationships between patrons and a brewery intertwined with the fabric of Irish life.
Evening Irish Times – Saturday 16 May 1914
