The Clonmel Chronicle, 23 January 1830

In early 1830, Daniel O’Connell was at the peak of his powers. The previous year he had led the successful charge for Catholic Emancipation, and a matter of days after this fleeting visit to Carrick on Suir he would become the first Catholic to take a seat at Westminster in modern times. He was feted in fine style wherever he went, and there were very few towns in Ireland that had not generously donated to his testimonial for both his political and personal use. He enjoyed his stop-over in Carrick on Suir whilst on his way to Waterford, where he intended to canvass against George Beresford in the Waterford election. In a letter to Nicholas Purcell O’Gorman about this time he stated

“The greatest blow the aristocracy ever got, the greatest triumph the Association ever attained, would be by beating the Beresfords with the worthy secretary (O’Gorman).”

Beresford topped the poll.