Anthony Daly 1

In 1820, Crown forces in East Galway face attacks from the White Boys, replacing earlier agrarian groups like the Rye Boys and Defenders. Violence escalates after local magistrate Edward Brown's murder. St. Clarence and Roxburgh House are targeted, with Anthony Daly, leader of the Ribbon Men, accused. Ribbon societies, mainly in Ulster, were Catholic male groups opposing Orangism, spread across Ireland in the early 19th century. The year is 1820 and throughout the East Galway countryside Crown forces are being constantly watched and attacked. Local agrarian movements such as the Rye Boys and the Defenders have dwindled away and a new society, the White Boys, has risen. In the previous year local magistrate Edward Brown was murdered. With violence continuing into the following year local gentry sees the St Clarence and Roxburgh House outside Loughrey are attacked. The accused, Anthony Daly, leader of the local Ribbon Men society. But what role does he play in these attacks? Ribbon societies were founded dotted throughout Ireland in the early decades of the 19th century, strongest in Ulster with groups in Leinster and Connacht too. The society was seen as an opponent to Orangism in Ulster with Ribbon Men being Catholic males of the lower classes.