THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Imposing demonstration hears minister urge against state endowed university

From the News Letter, August 14, 1904
Omagh High StreetOmagh High Street
Omagh High Street

The Relief of Derry had been celebrated by the Royal Black Preceptories of Tyrone along with a large number of Orange brethren at a “monster” demonstration which was held at Omagh the previous day, reported the News Letter on this day in 1904.

The Great Northern Railway Company had run several special trains from the various centres and the paper’s correspondent noted that “the meteorological conditions being exceptionally fine” that a large number of people from across the county travelled to Omagh to witness the “greatest demonstration of loyalty ever exhibited in any town in the county of Tyrone”.

On arriving at the rendezvous the various preceptories and lodges assembled in front of the platform which had been erected for the speakers.

One speaker was the Rev J P O’Connor who moved: “We hereby express our determination to resist by all lawful means the establishment of a State-endowed Roman Catholic University in Ireland”.

He added, “in the course of a lengthy address”, that it was necessary for every loyal Orangeman to reiterate his determination against such a “retrograde movement”.

The Rev O’Connor added that opposition to the Government’s plans was not just as Protestant viewpoint, as an illustration he said that a Roman Catholic priest had been overheard to say that not even the rank and file of priests in Ireland did not want the university.

The Rev O’Connor concluded: “What would the result of this movement be? It would be that our country would be governed by ignorance and bigotry to the end of time.”

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