SIR T. ESMONDS (Dublin Co., S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that on St. John's Eve the police, armed with batons and blackthorns, prevented a number of children from lighting the usual bonfires at Cashel; and, if so, upon what grounds and by what right did they thus interfere with this ancient custom, and by what authority?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the hon. Member has in mind certain occurrences at Cashel on Monday night last, I have to say that what the police interfered to prevent was the lighting of bonfires in the centre of the three principal streets of Cashel. The people were told to move them into a more suitable position which they did.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at that time of night the streets of Cashel would be perfectly destitute of traffic, and that, therefore, there would be no obstruction?