Carlow in the first part of the nineteenth century was a violent and dangerous place. The executions, torture and transportation which were the result of the failed rebellion of 1798 was fresh in the minds of both the Catholic populace and Protestant ascendancy. The Orange Order and its successor, the Brunswick Clubs, were still bent on dominating the town, while the native Irish were campaigning for emancipation.
In this period Carlow also suffered a multitude of social problems – begging, murder, filthy streets, prostitution, poverty and abuse of alcohol. In this Hobbesian sub-culture, life for the poor of Carlow would be ‘Nasty, brutish and short’
In the upcoming CHAS lecture The Judge and the Serial Killer – A Trip into Carlow’s Demi-Monde, John Kelly will bring you into the underbelly of Carlow society in the early 1800s. In this talk you will meet characters who normally would have lived and died largely unnoticed.
These include:
- The experience of visitors to Carlow in the early 1800’s
- The ridiculous court antics of the famous prejudiced hanging judge, Lord Norbury, and learn of his Carlow connections.
- Look at the interminable trouble at Graigue Bridge and the Graigue Fair.
- Troubles on the River Barrow.
- Hear about the correspondence of two historians, Michael Brophy and Martin Morris, and how a famous London murderer led to the uncovering of a similar event in 1830’s Carlow.
- Learn about the woman who dropped dead shortly after she saw her scaffold
- But most notably we will meet a man who was thought to have killed at least 7 people but who’s life and crimes have largely been forgotten.
This CHAS talk will be of interest to people interested in Carlow history, historical true crime or just a good yarn!
John Kelly holds a MA in Regional History. His thesis ‘John Toler – The Law, Politics and Union’ dealt with the second part of the eighteenth century in Ireland through the career of John Toler, who became more famous as Lord Norbury in 1800. John is current Editor of Carloviana. He has researched and published papers on Early-Modern Ireland, and more recently the Eighteen and Nineteenth centuries.
This talk takes place in the Seven Oaks Hotel on Wednesday 20 November at 8pm. As usual all are welcome and admission is free.
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