The Terry Alts was an Irish
secret society
A secret society is a club or an organization whose activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence a ...
allegedly named after a Protestant army pensioner.
The Terry Alts was one of many clandestine societies founded in Ireland. The society was set up in 1828 in the
Corofin/ Klnaboy area and was active in rural communities of
County Clare
County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,817 ...
until 1831.
The society can be traced back to the collapse of the local tillage system after the Napoleonic Wars, which was followed by an increase in cattle rearing. This new agrarian focus resulted in many labourers losing their livelihood. When the potato crop failed in 1830 the labourers were forced to borrow money from wealthier farmers. This led to disputes regarding the repayment of these loan and eventually resulting in labourers joining to actively protect their rights.
References
{{reflist
Who was Terry Alt? Michael Mac Mahon, The other Clare, vol. 43 Shannon Archaeological & Historical Society (2019)
External links
Clare Library
19th century in Ireland
1828 establishments in Ireland