Daniel OConnell

O'Connell founded the Catholic Association to campaign for Catholic emancipation. The organization used mass membership and the 'Catholic Rent' (a penny a month subscription) to mobilize Irish Catholics politically.

O'Connell won a by-election in County Clare, defeating a Protestant candidate. As a Catholic, he was legally barred from taking his seat, forcing the British government to pass the Catholic Relief Act 1829 to avoid civil unrest.

The British Parliament passed the Catholic Relief Act, allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament and hold most public offices. O'Connell's campaign was the primary cause, though the act also raised the property qualification for Irish voters.

O'Connell founded the Repeal Association to campaign for the repeal of the Acts of Union 1800 and the restoration of an Irish parliament. The movement used mass meetings, known as 'monster meetings', to demonstrate popular support.

O'Connell held a massive 'monster meeting' at the Hill of Tara, attracting an estimated 750,000 people. These peaceful demonstrations demonstrated the strength of the Repeal movement but alarmed the British government.

O'Connell was tried and convicted for conspiracy to incite rebellion, based on his Repeal campaign speeches. He was sentenced to a year in prison but was released after three months by the House of Lords on appeal.