Thomas-An Aehig.—Parson Moriarty, late of Mill-street, County Cork, a native of the Dingle District, was so-called because in his writings addressed to outsiders he placed under false colors the religious practices of his Catholic neighbors, and manufactured crimes on paper out of trifles.
(See my book on the Skellig, Blasket Islands and the West of Dingle for the state of religion in those parts during the Souper Campaign.)
Tithes.—This was a tax of one-tenth of the produce or its value authorized by law to be paid for the support of the clergy and the Church of England. Because the Church of England was not the church of the people of Ireland, the payment of tithes by Roman Catholics caused famines and was resisted with bloodshed. Often a poor man's cow was seized in our parts and sold for eight shillings (less than two dollars) to satisfy the tithes. The case was still worse when he did not belong to that church for which he had to pay. A short time ago the tithes were transferred from the tenants to the landlords, but the landlords saddled them on to the tenants again by increasing their rents.[11]
It appears payment of tithes to Pagan priests existed long before the Christian era. Until the English introduced their system into Ireland, the Irish Catholic clergy were content with a voluntary offering, mostly in kind.
Tithes Artificial Famine.—This famine started in the winter of 1739 and ended in 1748. The start of it was caused by a frost which penetrated very deep into the ground, destroying potatoes. In an effort to escape payment of tithes to ministers of the established church, people sowed only as much potatoes and grain crops as were absolutely necessary. A dreadful famine came. Black '46 and '47 were no comparison to the famine which ended in 1748.
(See Supplementary History, Co. Kerry-Corkaguiny.)
Treaty of Limerick.—The Treaty of Limerick was made on the 3rd of October, 1691, between King William's army (English), and the Irish, on the fall of Limerick and Athlone. By the articles of the treaty, full religious liberty and the exercise of their trades, professions and callings were guaranteed by the English to the Irish Catholics. The Irish soldiers sailed away to France. Immediately England broke every article of the treaty and for religious liberty gave Penal Laws allowing no man to live in Ireland, possess property, exercise a trade or profession, if he was a Catholic.
Turn Coats.—Persons who changed their religion for lucre during the Souper Campaign were called "Turn Coats" by their Catholic neighbors.
United Irishmen.—The Society of United Irishmen was founded by T. W. Tone, a Protestant. His object was to unite Protestants and Catholics of the North and South to join hands for the freedom of Ireland. The United Irishmen rebelled against the English in 1798.