Reminder of Turbulent Times in 19th-century Irish Politics ...

Hammer

€1,100

Reminder of Turbulent Times in 19th-century Irish Politics

Printed Election Poster, 31cms x 37cms, in which the candidate for County Clare, The O'Gorman Mahon, congratulates the electors of Kilrush for promising him their first vote, and calls on the freeholders of the rest of the county to follow their lead.
Charles James Patrick Mahon (1800-1891), who styled himself The O'Gorman Mahon, was one of the most colourful Irish characters of the 19th century. An enthusiastic member of the Catholic Association, he persuaded Daniel O'Connell to stand as one of the two candidates for Clare in the 1828 election and played a large part in his victory. In 1830 it was O'Connell's turn to persuade him to stand, and O'Gorman Mahon was successful. During the campaign, however, he had quarrelled with O'Connell, and when it was discovered that he had used his wife's substantial income to fund his campaign, he was unseated for bribery. He was acquitted, and stood again in 1831, but was defeated by the two candidates put up by O'Connell. Thus ended his first, but by no means his last, foray into politics. As a poster, w.a.f. Ex. Rare. (1)