Silas Brennan is the eldest son of an Irish landholder (tenant farmer).
He was born in 1830.
In 1850, Silas married Grace Sullivan,
the youngest daughter of a Protestant minister.
They had 11 children.
Florence b. 1851
Patricia b. 1852
Clementine b.1854
Prudence b. 1856
Douglas b. 1857
Brigid b. 1860
William b. 1862
Charity b. 1864
Aidan b. 1865
Kennedy b. 1866
Silas took over the running of the land in County Mayo, Ireland,
after the death of his father.
Only a small 2 acres of the 43 acres of land was arable.
The rest was rocky or boggy.
Landholders had no right to buy the land they worked,
and faced the fear of eviction without notice for any reason.
After the eviction of one family,
the English landowner had the walls of the stone house demolished,
so that the building could not be inhabited again.
Politically-minded Silas joined the Irish Land League,
fighting for tenant's rights,
against high rents and arbitrary eviction,
and for Landholders' rights to buy the land.
In 1881, Silas Brennan was interned without trial
for fighting for tenancy rights.
Four years later, in 1885,
he was able to buy his land.
By 1923,
all tenant farmers gained the right to purchase their land if they desired.
He was born in 1830.
In 1850, Silas married Grace Sullivan,
the youngest daughter of a Protestant minister.
They had 11 children.
Florence b. 1851
Patricia b. 1852
Clementine b.1854
Prudence b. 1856
Douglas b. 1857
Brigid b. 1860
William b. 1862
Charity b. 1864
Aidan b. 1865
Kennedy b. 1866
Silas took over the running of the land in County Mayo, Ireland,
after the death of his father.
Only a small 2 acres of the 43 acres of land was arable.
The rest was rocky or boggy.
Landholders had no right to buy the land they worked,
and faced the fear of eviction without notice for any reason.
After the eviction of one family,
the English landowner had the walls of the stone house demolished,
so that the building could not be inhabited again.
Politically-minded Silas joined the Irish Land League,
fighting for tenant's rights,
against high rents and arbitrary eviction,
and for Landholders' rights to buy the land.
In 1881, Silas Brennan was interned without trial
for fighting for tenancy rights.
Four years later, in 1885,
he was able to buy his land.
By 1923,
all tenant farmers gained the right to purchase their land if they desired.
For reflection ...
It is a basic human right to have adequate shelter.
How do I help the homeless, the refugee, the immigrant?
It is a basic human right to have adequate shelter.
How do I help the homeless, the refugee, the immigrant?