Thomas Lyons Incoming Correspondence

Repository: Cork City and County Archives

Identity Statement

TitleThomas Lyons Incoming Correspondence
Archive ReferenceIE CCCA/SM775
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/thomas-lyons-incoming-correspondence
Creation Dates7 March 1832-1850
Extent Medium14 items

Context

Creator(s): Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850) Mayor of Cork in 1841 - 1842 Daniel O’Connell MP (10 items) John Murphy, Bishop of Cork(1 item) Thomas Francis Meagher (1 item) Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (1 item) Lord John Russell (1 item)

  • Administrative History ↴

    Alderman Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850), merchant, had a business at South Main Street, Cork. Elected in November 1841 as the first Roman Catholic Mayor of Cork since the late 17th century, following the first elections for the reformed Cork Corporation under the Municipal Reform (Ireland) Act 1840, which widely extended the franchise. Belonged to the Liberal Party / Irish Repeal Party. Friend of Daniel O'Connell MP. Daniel O’Connell, MP (b1775 - d1847), ‘The Liberator’, campaigned for Catholic Emancipation and Repeal of the Act of Union. John Murphy, Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork (b1772 – d1847). Supporter of Daniel O’Connell. Thomas Meagher (b c1795 – d.1874), Born in St John’s, Newfoundland to an Irish merchant family. He moved to Waterford in 1819 and became a prominent businessman and political figure in the city. Shipowner, specialising in Newfoundland trade. In 1822 he married Alicia Quan (1798–1827), the second eldest daughter of Thomas Quan and Alicia Forristall of Waterford. A strong supporter of Daniel O’Connell, he was unanimously elected Mayor of Waterford in October 1842, the city’s first Catholic Mayor since 1690, and served as Mayor for 2 years. He was also O’Connellite MP for Waterford City from August 1847 to March 1857. Thomas is best known as the father of Young Irelander Thomas Francis Meagher (b1823-d1867)“Meagher of the Sword”. Thomas died in 1874 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin. Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (b1792 – d1866), political and financial manager to Daniel O’Connell. Lord John Russell (b1792 – d 1878), leader of Whig party and later prime minister.

  • Archival History ↴

    Originally donated in 1969 to Cork Historical and Archaeological Society by William Stanley Harrington, Rushbrook, great grand nephew of Thomas Lyons. Deposited in Archives July 2011 by the Society.

  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Donation

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Thomas Lyons (b1782 – d1850) Mayor of Cork in 1841 - 1842 Daniel O’Connell MP (10 items) John Murphy, Bishop of Cork(1 item) Thomas Francis Meagher (1 item) Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (1 item) Lord John Russell (1 item) ↴

    Series of MS. letters written to Thomas Lyons.

    Main part of the series consists of 10 letters from Daniel O’Connell MP, mainly in relation to political matters, particularly the campaign for the Repeal of the Act of Union (1832 – 1850). A number of O’Connell’s letters contain strongly worded sentiments in support of Repeal and encouragement to his allies and supporters of the importance of this campaign.

    The remainder of the series comprises single letters from the following: Bishop of Cork John Murphy (1843), Mayor of Waterford Thomas Francis Meagher (1843), the former political manager of Daniel O’Connell, Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick (1850), and a note from the leader of the Whigs at Westminster and later prime minister, Lord John Russell (1841).

    The series is an important source regarding the Repeal campaign as headed by Daniel O’Connell, and also regarding the efforts made locally in Cork to advance the cause of repeal for example by putting liberal/repeal candidates forward for election, and holding meetings and banquets, often with O’Connell as the guest speaker.

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention

  • Arrangement ↴

    A. Letters from Daniel O’Connell, 1832 – 1847 (10 items)
    B: Letter from Bishop of Cork, John Murphy, 1843 (1 item)
    C: Letter from Thomas Meagher, 1843 (1 item)
    D: Letter from Patrick Vincent Fitzpatrick, 1850 (1 item)
    E: Note from Lord John Russell, 1841 (1 item)

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Open for research by appointment to those holding a current readers ticket.
Creation Dates7 March 1832-1850
Extent Medium14 items
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Finding Aids Descriptive list Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

Related MaterialCCCA: U/611 Denny Lane Papers YTR/PB Youghal Electoral Poll Books and Registry List U/2 Brief for Daniel O’Connell, Aldworth Case, Cork Summer Assizes, 1819 U/140 Richard Dowden U/229 O’Flynn Exham Solictors U/405 Coppinger Letters 1740 – 1783 BG/118/A /3 Midleton Board of Guardians Minute Book, 1845 – 47 SM/621 White Letter Elsewhere: UCD Archives: Papers of Daniel O’Connell, 1750 -1895 (10 boxes) National Library of Ireland: Various papers relating to Daniel O’Connell Waterford City Archives, Archives of Waterford Corporation

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteBrian McGee
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
Date of Descriptions40756