Title: Pro-Repeal and anti-Orange broadsheet printing the names of those who voted against the Repeal candidate, Charles Carroll MacTavish, at the Dundalk election.
Date: 1847
Description: Clearly one-sided this Pro-Repeal and anti-Orange broadsheet prints the names of voters in Dundalk from the 1847 general election, with the purpose of ‘naming and shaming’ the ‘pro-Orange’ voters, ie those who voted for the Whig candidate, Torrens McCullagh, as well as celebrating those who voted for, or supported, the pro-Repeal candidate, Charles Carroll MacTavish. A close election (only 3 votes separated the candidates), initially MacTavish was thought to have won, but controversy followed with a challenge that MacTavish was not eligible to stand as he was an American and not a British citizen. While this challenge ultimately was not proven, his victory did not stand as an examination of disputed votes decided several voters had not been eligible, thus reducing MacTavish’s tally, and McCullagh was subsequently declared the winner. The list provides the name, occupation and address for many of the voters, while some entries have occupation or address only.
Source: PRONI, T2519/11/4
Compiled by: UHF volunteers
As the Public are ost anxious to have the names of all the Electors published who voted against Charles Carroll MacTavish, Esq., MP, at the late Election for Dundalk so that the may know them, it has been thought well to give their names to the world. The Orange Catholics particularly should be known, for they acted as traitors to Repeal and Old Ireland, and did all in their power to sell the Borough of Dundalk to Lord Roden and his Orange Faction. The vile Orange Catholic Traitors are without shame and devoid of principle, and should be shunned as a plaque by every honest man in Ireland. They came forward to support McCulllagh, the son of a man who was a drummer in ’98 and who flogged the unfortunate Catholics to death while he was in the Dublin Militia; and they opposed the grandson of Charles Carroll who was an Irishman, and who helped to gain American Independence, and who established the Catholic Colony in Maryland.
The publishers of the Dundalk Election poster break the voters into the following categories:
Orange List
The following Orangemen voted for Mr McCullagh and against Mr MacTavish.
Repeal List
The following Honest and Brave Electors voted for Mr MacTavish and Repeal, and by their bravery and Noble conduct gained a great victory for Old Ireland and saved Dundalk from being sold to Lord Roden and the Orange Faction. They are deserving of every praise for their patriotism and noble conduct.
Orange Catholics
The following Orange Catholics having no Votes, Were paid Agents of the Castle Hacks, gave all the opposition in their power to Mr McTavish.
The Greatest Traitors
The greatest Traitors among the Orange Catholics are … .
In favour of Mr MacTavish
The following Gentlemen acted n the most noble manner during the Election, and were warmly engaged against Mr McCullagh, the Drummer’s Son, and in favour of Mr MacTavish.