[Letter from Richard Blennerhassett, 26 Nov 1812]
gives his side of the story.
Mary Anne Bianconi
and
[Basil O'Connell, 1948]
give what might be called the O'Connell side.
The dispute began in Aug 1812.
The background was the argument over
Catholic emancipation.
A meeting was held on the issue in Tralee in August 1812.
There was a riot (according to Blennerhassett)
or a rowdy celebration (according to O'Connell).
Blennerhassett said that he used his powers as a magistrate to call out the army to quell the crowds.
Mary Anne Bianconi
says he got the soldiers to load their rifles ready to fire.
O'Connell regarded him as endangering the lives of peaceful pro Catholic emancipation crowds.
O'Connell and Blennerhassett exchanged words.
Mary Anne Bianconi
says O'Connell complained that "Mr. Blennerhassett was a drunken magistrate".
Blennerhassett demanded a meeting to fight a duel.
Blennerhassett said O'Connell repeatedly would not meet him under satisfactory conditions.
After much argument, they met but were stopped by the Sheriff.
At time of writing in the letter of Nov 1812 they had not actually fought.
They finally
met to fight a duel with pistols on Tue 19 Jan 1813 at
Crotto.
Richard Blennerhassett was supported by his friend and cousin
Thomas Blennerhassett
of Caherina, Co.Kerry.
Richard had practiced hard.
He shot
O'Connell in the mouth.
O'Connell was seriously injured, but lived. (He lived on to 1853.)
Article of 30 Jan 1813 says: "The families of the O'Connells and Blennerhassets had previously been on the most amicable terms."
Account of the duel in the notebook of
Maurice Leyne, MD (died 1833).
Printed on p.784
of [Cusack, 1872].
Daniel O'Connell's daughter
Ellen (born 1805)
recalls when her father heard about the duel in Jan 1813
where his brother was so badly injured.
From
p.222
of The Irish monthly, 1883.
From
Mary Anne Bianconi's
account of the duel,
and the arguments over where and when to fight.
This says O'Connell proposed to meet at Blennerville,
but Richard Blennerhassett's representative Mr. Eagar declined it,
since it would disturb the tenants of Richard's father, Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 1st Baronet.
See full page.
Account of the dispute and the duel.
From notes on John O'Connell,
in O'Connell Family Tracts, No.2, 1948.
See p.4
and p.5.
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