John D'Esterre and a famous Irish duel

Arguments, disagreements and grudges were settled differently in Ireland in the past. How about 1815 and Ireland’s great ‘Liberator’ Daniel O’Connell who was the centre of one such argument and ended with one of Ireland’s most famous ‘duels’. As reported by the Bray People newspaper:

DUELS were commonplace in the old days. We had one at Cookstown, Enniskerry on March 24, in 1797 when Lord Meath was killed by a man named Captain Gore. They usually arose over a difference between two persons which sometimes resulted in a challenge to a duel.

The most famous one of all took place at Bishop's Court in Co. Kildare and that one happened on a winter's evening 18y ears after the duel in Enniskerry and involved the famous liberator, Daniel O'Connell. O'Connell who was celebrated for his verbal battles had never fought a duel up to that.

The incident arose as a result of an O'Connell speech describing the Dublin Corporation as a beggarly group. A man named John D'Esterre wrote to O'Connell and asked him if he had used that expression and O'Connell replied in the affirmative. D'Esterre wrote again and O'Connell returned the letter.

Seemingly the return of the letter should have brought a challenge from D'Esterre but it didn't. D'Esterre used every opportunity he could to belittle O'Connell by passing remarks about his cowardice. Eventually D'Esterre issued the challenge by letter and it was arranged that they'd meet at Bishop's Court near Kill in Co. Kildare.

It was timed for 3.30 p.m. in the afternoon. The Church forbade duelling, but it is said that O’Connell brought along a suspended priest. It was almost dark when D’Esterre arrived, relaxed and calm as the ten yards were measured out. There was a referee present and the shooting would start as soon as he dropped a white handkerchief. It seems that D’Esterre fired first and missed, hitting the ground at O’Connells feet. O’Connell fired almost simultaneously aiming low for D’Esterres legs. When O’Connell was satisfied that his opponent was not seriously wounded he returned to the city. Next day he was shocked to learn that D’Esterre died.

Although O’Connell could have been charged for the murder, no charges were brought. How different Irish history might have been if he was.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchives.com )