The O’Halloran Sisters
In the small town of Bodyke, Co. Clare, the O'Halloran sisters Annie, Honoria, and Sarah, along with their parents and brothers, resided as tenants under the watchful eye of their landlord Colonel John O'Callaghan…
In 1881, the Second Irish Land Act aimed to provide tenants with greater security, offering rent reductions, long-term guarantees, and even the possibility of eventual ownership. However, Colonel O'Callaghan chose to exploit his power by charging the O'Halloran family a staggering £31 as rent. In response, the court ordered a reduction to £22-10 shillings, a sum that the O'Halloran family believed to be unjust, considering their grandfather had paid a mere £13-10 shillings in the past.
Bodyke Rent Boycott
Fuelled by a sense of injustice and determination, the O'Halloran family joined the ranks of the Bodyke rent boycotts. As June of 1887 approached, the family prepared themselves to face eviction from the land they had nurtured and called home for generations.
Alongside their parents and brothers, Frank and Patrick, the sisters valiantly fortified their dwelling, barricading doors and windows to protect their beloved home. They poured hot water upon the bailiffs, leaving them startled and wounded. In a daring act of defiance, they even managed to snatch one of the bailiffs' bayonets, adding to their arsenal of resistance.
The O'Halloran sisters, united in their cause, exemplified the spirit of resilience and defiance in the face of adversity.
In the aftermath of the eviction, the case was presented at Ennis Courthouse on the 20th of June 1887. Frank and Patrick were sentenced to a three-month imprisonment, coupled with hard labor. Honoria and Annie, on the other hand, received a one-month imprisonment with hard labor. Surprisingly, Sarah and Harriet were not handed any sentences.
The O’Hallorans were allowed to return to their home. Eventually, in 1909, they along with other Bodyke tenants were given the chance to buy and own their land – a hard-won victory.
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