Fethard-on-Sea boycott
Encyclopedia
The Fethard-on-Sea boycott was a controversy involving Sean and Sheila Cloney (née Kelly) a married couple from the village of Fethard-on-Sea
, County Wexford
, Ireland
. It led to a sectarian boycott of some members of the local Protestant community in 1957.
church in Hammersmith
, London
in 1949.
They had three daughters: Mary, Eileen and Hazel, who was born after the controversy.
At the time non-Catholics spouses of Catholics who wished to be married in the Catholic Church had to agree to bring their children up as Catholics as a result of Ne Temere
.
Éamon de Valera
condemned the boycott on 4 July 1957.
Time magazine
coined the term "fethardism" to mean a boycott along religious lines in an article on the events.
A film, A Love Divided, was based on the boycott, though some dramatic licence was taken with some events.
including abuse and stealing money. Sean had compiled a dossier on the priest including a list of seventy young people who had been in contact with the priest. Fortune left Fethard in 1987, eventually committing suicide while on trial in 1999.
Fethard-on-Sea
Fethard-on-Sea , or Fethard, is a village inn south-western County Wexford, Ireland on the eastern side of the Hook peninsula. It is in the parish of Templetown in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. Neighbouring parishes are Duncannon, Ramsgrange and Ballycullane.- History :Now known as a fishing...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It led to a sectarian boycott of some members of the local Protestant community in 1957.
The Cloney family
Sean Cloney came from Dungulf in Fethard-on-Sea and Sheila from Johns Hill also in Fethard-on-Sea. They married at an AugustinianAugustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
church in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1949.
They had three daughters: Mary, Eileen and Hazel, who was born after the controversy.
At the time non-Catholics spouses of Catholics who wished to be married in the Catholic Church had to agree to bring their children up as Catholics as a result of Ne Temere
Ne Temere
Ne Temere was a decree of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Council regulating the canon law of the Church about marriage for practising Roman Catholics....
.
The boycott
Parish priest Fr. Stafford told Sheila Cloney she had to raise her children as Catholics. Sheila refused, leading to her leaving the town with her daughters. The parish priest organised a boycott of the local Protestant population which was endorsed by Bishop Michael Brown. Sheila Cloney went first to Northern Ireland, then Orkney. Eventually Sean traced her to Orkney, they were reconciled and their daughters were taught at home.Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
condemned the boycott on 4 July 1957.
Time magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
coined the term "fethardism" to mean a boycott along religious lines in an article on the events.
A film, A Love Divided, was based on the boycott, though some dramatic licence was taken with some events.
Father Sean Fortune
Sean Cloney was one of the people from the area who complained about the behaviour of Father Sean FortuneSeán Fortune
Fr. Seán Fortune was an Irish priest accused of child molestation, who allegedly used his position to gain access to his victims. He was never tried, but committed suicide before any charges were proved against him,...
including abuse and stealing money. Sean had compiled a dossier on the priest including a list of seventy young people who had been in contact with the priest. Fortune left Fethard in 1987, eventually committing suicide while on trial in 1999.