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The idea for the Irish
Tricolour first originated with Meagher and it was born of his
admiration for the French revolutionaries. The White colour
between the colours of Green and Orange were meant, by Meagher, to signify
peace between the Nationalists and Unionists in Ireland. When
Meagher and the other "Young Irelanders" left the Repeal
Association they founded the Irish Confederation and a branch of the
Confederation was formed in Waterford around Christmas, 1846. The
Waterford club was named after Wolfe Tone and it had its premises at The
Mall, almost opposite City Hall. Thomas Francis Meagher was its
president; William Shearman, T.C., and James Supple were
vice-presidents; T.W.Condon was secretary; Peter McAuliffe was
treasurer. Other outstanding men in Waterford were members of the Wolfe
Tone club and they included William Slaney, T.C., P.L.C.; Alderman
Matthew Slaney; Henry Gallwey, T.C.; Thomas Gallwey; T.W.Strange, Solr.,
and Father Treacy,
then a curate in Ballybricken.
The Waterford Mail, a Unionist
newspaper, published, on May 3rd, 1848, the following letter from Meagher, addressed to the
Evening Mail. (The "Evening Mail" had made a sneering reference to
Meagher and the Flag.)
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Reform Club, Dawson
street, |
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April 27th. |
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| Sir - I beg leave to
refer you to the following paragraph, which appeared in your |
| paper of the 26th
ult.- |
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"FRENCH
SYMPATHY. |
| "A correspondent
has favoured us with the following;- |
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EXTRACT FROM A
LETTER FROM PARIS. |
| I must tell you that
if any youths of France gave a tri-coloured flag to Mr. Meagher,
they must have been shop-boys, for he bought the materials here
himself. Perhaps his not having paid for the articles, is
his excuse for calling the flag a gift." |
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| This
paragraph requires but short answers. |
| In
the first place, I never stated that the tricolour, presented by
me at the soirëë, on the evening of the 15th ult., was a gift from
the youths of France. |
| In
the second place, the imputation of its being unpaid for, I will
simply say is at once both mean and false. |
| In
conclusion, I think it right to add, that this paragraph seems to
have been dictated by the same unmanly spirit which has
characterised the communications of your correspondent with
reference to me and my friends, Messrs. O'Brien and O'Gorman, upon
a former occasion. |
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I am, Sir, your obedient servant, |
|
Thomas Francis Meagher. |
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| The tricolour flag was first
displayed openly in Ireland on March 1st, 1848 when Meagher and his
supporters flew the flag from the flagstaff of the Confederate
Club on the Mall in Waterford city (see photo on right) as described in
a letter from the mayor of Waterford to T. N. Redington, First
Secretary for Ireland in the British government. |
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Mayor’s
Office, Waterford
1st March 1848
Sir,
I have the honor to
state that in consequence of receiving information, that a large
concourse of persons were to assemble on the Hill of Ballybricken
in the City on last night to light Bonfires and that a breach of
the Peace might occur, I issued a notice cautioning all persons
from meeting for such purposes and sent a requisition to the
Officer Commanding H. M. Troops to have the Military in readiness
to assist the Civil Power if required to prevent any affray that
should occur, but the night turning out very severe and wet
prevented the parties (as I believe), from meeting. |
That early on this day the Tricolour Flag was hoisted from a
House on the Mall of Waterford called the “Wolf Tone Club” where
the members of the Confederates or Young Irelanders of this City meet,
and the parties whom I cautioned on yesterday are now busily engaged
making preparations to light those Bonfires.
Three
of the Magistrates, Viz., Capt. Simon Newport, Sir Benjamin Morris
Wall and James Keating Esq., having met me we consulted on this matter
when it was their opinion I should communicate with the Government to
receive instructions as to what steps ought to be adopted relative to
the Flag the waiving of which might excite the feelings of some
of the people to too great a degree. I have therefore the honor to
request that I may be advised on this subject with the least possible
delay.
I have the
honor to be Sir
Your very Obedient Servant
Silvester Phelan
Mayor of Waterford
This letter
was returned to the mayor with the following reply written across the
top of the page—
“Acknowledge
and note that the act of hoisting the flag in question is not illegal.
If, however, any attempt shall be made to disturb the public peace,
measures should be taken for its preservations and H. E. relies on the
mayor and magistrates taking the necessary steps for that purpose.
Tues. 8/3/48”
Waterford
City Archives, Item P11/02 |
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