Canon Thomas Doyle PP, known as the Land League Priest, was a champion of tenants’ rights during the land wars.
Born in Tombrack near Ferns on December 21, 1817 and ordained a priest in Enniscorthy on May 17, 1845 was the son of a large tenant farmer of 76 acres.
His first appointment in September, 1846 was a curate in New Ross parish. His natural interest and strategy in politics began in 1852, when he campaigned for Charles Gavin Duffy, in the General Election against the expressed instructions of his Parish Priest, Rev. Patrick Walsh PP.
The following year he was transferred to Duncannon (1853 – 1858), then to Carroreigh (1858 – 1862) and then back to Ramsgrange as Administrator and later as Parish Priest when Duncannon and Ramsgrange formed a parish, divided from the Hook parish.
His fiery speeches and aggressive writings in the local newspapers made him a local leader of tenant farmers. He travelled widely and was in much demand to arouse widespread support for the land agitation movement, which most of the church supported until 1888.
His presence at tenant evictions was enough to calm tempers and avoid bloodshed with the well-armed Militia and police who were always on site in large numbers. His leadership would end up in the courts on numerous occasions, defending himself and others for slanderous accusations and non-payment of rents, but not always on the losing side.Canon Thomas Doyle PP died on October 21, 1903 and was laid to rest in front of his beloved Saint James’s Church in Ramsgrange.
The next lecture by the New Ross Historical Society will take place on Thursday, September 18 at 8pm in the Dunbrody Visitors Centre, The Quay, New Ross.