A series of mass meetings in all…
October 1843 CE
A series of mass meetings in all parts of Ireland leads to O'Connell's arrest for seditious conspiracy.
Irish Protestant MP William Smith O'Brien, who actively favors Roman Catholic emancipation but also wishes to maintain the Anglo-Irish legislative union, had therefore in 1828 opposed the parliamentary candidacy in County Clare of O'Donnell.
O'Brien continues to support the union until 1843, when he is angered by the British imprisonment of O'Connell.
In October, O'Brien joins the anti-union Repeal Association, serving as deputy leader while O'Connell is in jail.
O'Connell is released on appeal after three months' imprisonment (June - September 1843).
Troops and artillery are called out in October to suppress the mass meeting arranged at Clontarf outside Dublin.