Halpins of Co. Wicklow, Portarlington and Dublin City - Part 2

[Shanachai]

     

     Copies of the Dublin Evening Mail (from its inception onwards) are held in the National Library here in Dublin.  I'll have a look at the death's notices for the Halpins you've mentioned, but I'm not optimistic about finding much.  For example - the Rev. N J Halpin was editor of the paper from about 1837 until (I presume) his death in 1851, so you'd imagine he'd receive a fairly generous obituary.  I've looked and found only a couple of lines containing little of value by way of information (I've already posted what I uncovered).  That puzzled me, and suggested a possible falling-out with the paper's proprietor.  People expressed surprise when it was revealed after his death that the Reverend left little or nothing behind, except debts, perhaps.  This suggests to me that the perception people had of N J Halpin was of a man who, at the very least, was comfortably off.  I wondered if the reverend's brother - William Henry Halpin - might have had something to do with his declining fortunes.  W H Halpin had been declared a bankrupt after investing heavily in the railway mania in the mid to late 1840s.  Were there associates and friends of the reverend who had also invested in the railways, at the behest and recommendation of the reverend's brother?  If so, they too would have lost heavily and this may account for the silence that seems to surround N J Halpin after his death.  The obit in the Dublin Evening Mail was cursory, even begrudging.  It's possible that the reverend used his own financial resources to cover his brother's debts, which in turn meant there was nothing left in the kitty to take care of his wife and family after his death.  I'm only speculating, of course, but the lack of an expression of real appreciation for Halpin from the paper he served well for so long is a genuine puzzle, and needs to be accounted for.
     There's more to consider here - by the time of Halpin's death, the famine had killed upward of a million and had driven many more into exile.  Contemporary accounts describe scenes of absolute horror in which emaciated women and children die in ditches, on the sides of country roads, in dark mud huts and at the gates of village cemeteries.  Dogs fought over the remains of the dead.  If we recall the endeavors of Dr. Charles Halpin, who struggled admirably and desperately to alleviate the effects of the famine before it took such fantastic toll on the poor, we have to wonder what his brother, the reverend, made of it all.  He was editor of a newspaper that fiercely supported London's response to the blight - a paper that made a point of attacking Charles Halpin's suggestions for the construction of ventilation pits.  We know that at one stage at least, the brothers were close - they had worked together on Lord Farnham's estate cataloging the local flora, and had together discovered an important antiquity.  It seems reasonable to me to conclude that the reverend N J Halpin must have regarded the Mail's attack on his brother as regrettable.  Could there have been a difference of opinion between N J Halpin and the Dublin Evening Mail over that paper's craven support for the British government's policy response to the famine?  If there was, that too could account for the paper's apparent coldness toward Halpin at the time of his death in 1851.
     Finally - throughout the 1840s Daniel O'Connell had been struggling to convince the British to repeal the Act of Union and re-establish a form of Home Rule in Ireland.  Initially, at least, the Dublin Evening Mail was strident in its opposition to O'Connell, with Halpin leading the way.  But a visitor to the country in the mid-1840s (James Grant, Impressions of Ireland and the Irish, London, 1844, p. 276 - see quote below) wrote about his encounters there, and in it he claimed that the Dublin Evening Mail  was reconsidering its opposition to repeal.  It's possible that this change of heart was prompted by the reverend N J Halpin.  As it turned out, the paper held to the party line, and continued to oppose repeal.  But it's an incident that may have resulted in Halpin being ostracised by members of the Anglo-Irish community - provided he was in fact behind the paper's flirtation with O'Connell's campaign.
     These are just a few things to consider when thinking about the Reverend N J Halpin and his relationship with the Dublin Evening Mail.

[Shanachai]

     It may help us put the Reverend's activities into perspective if we look briefly at the historical context in which he became prominent. 
     
     What is known as the Tithe War took place in 1831-36.  At that time Catholics were obliged to support the (Protestant) Church of Ireland by paying a tithe.  Naturally, this caused resentment.  Daniel O'Connell led a non-violent campaign of opposition to the tithe - essentially, it involved a refusal to pay up.  But the campaign turned violent when the Irish Constabulary seized land and property in lieu of the tithe.  Throughout this 'war', the Rev. N J Halpin (still a curate in Oldcastle) wrote powerful critiques of O'Connell's campaign.  I'm guessing that the decision to appoint Rev. Halpin to the editorship of the Dublin Evening Mail was made in response to his arguments in defence of the payment of a tithe.  By virtue of those arguments he had proven himself an articulate proponent of the Castle's preferred view.
     After his campaign against the tithe, O'Connell focused on Catholic Emancipation and a Repeal of the Act of Union (1801).  The Repeal movement met with huge public support, resulting in a series of "Monster Meetings", at which O'Connell addressed crowds of over 100,00 people.  Unnerved by the popularity of O'Connell's campaign, Peel's government banned a proposed monster meeting at Clontarf, Dublin.  O'Connell's refusal to defy the ban resulted in dissent within the Repeal Association.  That dissent was led by four men: a Mr. Keeley, a Mr. Halpin (described as a "prominent Dublin businessman"), a Mr. Crean and a Mr. Hollywood.  Together they produced a 'remonstrance' (a written critique), which was regarded with contempt by O'Connell's supporters.  A split in the movement then occurred, and (along with others) Halpin and Keely formed their own organisation, called the Irish Confederation, which was led by William Smith O'Brien, leader of the Young Irelanders, who went on to stage a pathetic rising in 1848, which was quickly put down by the authorities.  Part of Thomas Mathew Halpin's account of his subsequent arrest can be read above (see Reply 243, Tues. July 13 2010).  Needless to say, throughout all of this unrest, the Dublin Evening Mail remained loyal to the Crown - that is until someone at the paper (possibly the Reverend N J Halpin), made their dissatisfaction with the government known to a traveling diarist.  On 12th October 1849, the Dublin Evening Mail summarized British rule in Ireland since the Act of Union (1801) thus:

     England has for fifty years had in her hands the supreme authority over Ireland.  She has not been restricted in the exercise of her power, even by the shadow of an Irish representative system; for those who are elected Irish members of Parliament, seldom bring with them to Westminster the slightest tincture of national feeling; and even if the whole hundred and five were to join in opposition to the Minister's Irish policy (as they may be said to have done in opposing the poor law), still their united voice would not be heard amid the clamour of five hundred and fifty-three opponents.  Well, what has England done for Ireland during the half century now closing...According to Downing Street...Ireland is, for her own good, passing through a purgatorial time, which is to eventuate about the time of the millennium in a state of freshness and hope.  ('The Result of British Rule in Ireland.')

     This is fairly hard-hitting criticism from an ultra-Tory newspaper supposedly loyal to Dublin Castle (the seat of British rule in Ireland).  It's also unsigned, so it's impossible to know if it is an editorial written by the Reverend N J Halpin (was there more than one editor at the paper?).  Rather than attribute such views to a radical change of heart at the Dublin Evening Mail, I think we have to change our assumptions about the kind of people who wrote for it - they were not blinded by ideological blinkers to the reality of life in Ireland.  They could plainly see what was plainly visible.  I'll say no more than that for now, since I think it's a little early to be interrogating the mind-set of political adversaries in mid-19th century Ireland.  We can conduct those inquiries in our own time - I'm certainly not well-informed enough to do it here.       

[Shanachai]

     In July 1849, a murderous Orange Order (ie, ultra-Protestant) clash took place at Dolly's Brae, County Down.  It resulted in the deaths of a 70 year old woman and a boy.  The local Magistrate, Lord Roden, was dismissed by Clarendon for supposedly approving of the fratricide, a dismissal roundly applauded by the Times in London.  The Dublin Evening Mail (and the Reverend N J Halpin?) must have approved of Clarendon's action, because it reprinted the piece in the Times on the 19th October, 1849 - only seven days after its criticism of fifty years of Ireland's Union with Britain (see immediately above):

     "You may starve, shoot down, even corrupt, a generation of Mitchels and O'Briens, but with Rodens still reminding the people that they are a conquered and contemptible race, your pains are worse than fruitless."

     These aren't the sentiments I'd expect to find in an Ultra-Tory newspaper like the Dublin Evening Mail.  Do they indicate a shift in loyalties, or a softening of attitudes?  Are they indicative of an editorial change-of-heart?  At this point in time it's not possible to answer these questions, and they may remain unanswerable, because as far as I can tell there have never been any studies conducted into the private lives of the personnel behind the various newspapers published in Dublin in the early to mid 19th century.
     And what does the writer mean when he says "your pains are worse than useless"?  What was the British administration in Ireland "at pains" to achieve?
     I'll finish here by reminding you that this climate of famine and political unrest was the very atmosphere in which Charles G. Halpine formed his political worldview.  C G Halpine was the son of the Rev. N J Halpin, and he would later become one of the most effective political journalists in Civil War America, placing his skills as an Irish persuader at the service of Lincoln and the North.  He must have learned a great deal from his father, even though his political sympathies were much closer to those of his uncle - another journalist, and a Whig - William Henry Halpin.

[BillW]

1915.  Halpin, Richard of Lord-street Coventry retired watch glass manufacturer died 4 April 1915.  Probate Birmingham 4 May to Robert Halpin gentleman and Catherine Wickes (wife of Henry Wickes).  Effects £2549.14.3.
[Age given elsewhere as 85, born Dublin 1830]

[Ayetalian]

    "I'm told that John is still alive, in his 90s now, living in the centre of Dublin city."

Dear Ray, forum members,

Apologies if this is slightly off-topic.

I stumbled on this forum, while looking for information on locating and old friend of mine.

His name is John Halpin, he was born in XXXX and we've been great friends for nearly 20 years, since we met in Dublin in 1991.

John had a land line installed in his XXXX flat only a few years ago, and he does not use a mobile. The last time I spoke with John on the phone was in Autumn 2009. I tried several times since then, but never got anyone to answer the phone. Unfortunately, I never in all these years thought of asking for a phone number from one of his 10 children, some of whom I would meet from time to time.

I sent John my Christmas greetings last December, and sent him a book as a birthday present in early 2010, indicating my e-mail, land line and mobile phone in the letter, but never heard anything back.

John had some health problems recently, and that is why I am a bit worried. I won't have a chance to visit Ireland soon (and in any case, it would not be easy for me to trace him, apart from visiting his XXXX address.)

I read with interest Ray's messages in particular, and the information you relate about William Halpin, who took part in the Rising in Connolly's ICA. John told me many stories about his Republican family, particularly about his father William and sister Tilly, as well as about his ancestor, Capt. Halpin of Wicklow.

You write: "John is still alive, in his 90s now, living in the centre of Dublin city." I'm 99% sure you may be referring to my friend John.

Would you have any information that might help me in tracing John? Pls feel free to send me a private message. I would be really grateful for any help.

Many thanks for your time.
Carlo

[aghadowey]

Carlo- Rootschat isn't a forum for tracing living people and we arem't allowed to post their details here.  After you've made 3 posts you can use PM (personal message) to contact another member (as long as they also have at least 3 posts).

[Ayetalian]

Sincere apologies. I should have read forum rules more carefully.
Carlo

[Shanachai]

     Dear Carlo - if you post a few more messages, even just to ask for clarification about some of the details I've passed on recently, you'll rack up enough posts to qualify for access to the personal messaging system.  That way we'll be in a position to exchange personal details securely - addresses, emails, phone numbers and the like.  I have never met your friend John, but a couple of years ago I met his nephew Colm at a political rally here in Dublin.  It was he who told me that John was still living in the city center.  Hope to hear from you soon, mate - regards, Ray H.   

[BillW]

Carlo, welcome and a very interesting post.  We are all very interested in John's stories.  As I have said many times, we have to record the stories of the elderly before they are lost.  In particular we would love to have recorded John's stories about his ancestor, the Captain.  Bill

I read with interest Ray's messages in particular, and the information you relate about William Halpin, who took part in the Rising in Connolly's ICA. John told me many stories about his Republican family, particularly about his father William and sister Tilly, as well as about his ancestor, Capt. Halpin of Wicklow.