Charles Stewart Parnell felt full brunt of the Church over his personal life

On the 125th anniversary of the death of CS Parnell, Ryle Dwyer looks at the historical implications of the Church leading a heave against him.

Charles Stewart Parnell died on October 6, 1891, in the midst of what was essentially the first major democratic heave in modern Irish history. This was to have profound historical implications.

Parnell was at the height of his power at the end of 1889 when Captain William O’Shea filed for a divorce from his wife Catherine (Kitty) on Christmas Eve, citing Parnell as a correspondent in the case. Parnell assured colleagues that he had nothing to fear, and they would understand when the truth came out.