The name of Owen Fitzgerald at this time did not stand high in the locality of which we are speaking.

Men had presumed to talk both to him and of him, and he replied to their censures by scorn.

He would not change his mode of living for them, or allow them to believe that their interference could in any way operate upon his conduct.

He had therefore affected a worse character for morals than he had perhaps truly deserved, and had thus thrown off from him all intimacy with many of the families among whom he lived.
When, therefore, he had come forward as others had done, offering to join his brother-magistrates and the clergyman of the district in their efforts, they had, or he had thought that they had, looked coldly on him.

His property was half way between Kanturk and Mallow; and when this occurred he turned his shoulder upon the former place, and professed to act with those whose meetings were held at the latter town.