Catholic Convention
Catholic Committee or Catholic Convention was an organisation in 18th century Ireland which campaigned for the rights of catholics and for the repeal of the Penal Laws.
In 1757 the Catholic Committee was formed by Charles O'Conor, others involved included the historian, doctor and activist John Curry and Thomas Wyse of Waterford.[1] The committee met in Essex Street Dublin in 1960. The French Revolution and the rise of the more militant United Irishmen, seen a number of the landed gentry and aristocrats leave the committee.[2] In 1792 Theobald Wolfe Tone was appointed assistant secretary of the Catholic Committee. The businessmen John Keogh[3] served as chairman of the committee.
Back Lane Parliament
Members of the committees met on the 2nd of December 1792, in Tailors Hall in Back Lane, Dublin, referred to as the Back Lane Parliament[4] during which a petition to the king (and the Dublin Parliament) was prepared asking for certain rights for Catholics such as the franchise to vote and some other privileges like get degrees and the right to study at Trinity College Dublin on taking an oath. In 1793 many of the measures requested were sanctioned, with the relaxation of the Penal Laws, although Catholics could still not sit in parliament or hold certain offices.
The committee was dissolved in April 1793, but did establish a committee for lobbying for Catholic Education.[5]
Daniel O'Connells Catholic Association was in many ways a descendent of the Catholic Committee.
See also
References
- ↑ John Carpenter (1770-1786)
- ↑ AN INSTALMENT OF EMANCIPATION (1790-1793) www.libraryireland.com
- ↑ John Keogh (1740-1817) www.ricorso.net
- ↑ Tailors Hall Back Lane Dublinks.
- ↑ Maynooth a Catholic Seminary in a Protestant State. History Ireland.
