In those days society required Dare-devils, and if old stories be true, Dare-devils galore arose to supply the want. But what were they all to Mick Connell of Thurles? The desperado whose name is still remembered with terror and admiration through the district which was the scene of his turbulent career fifty years ago, was, as my informant described him to me, a man of the most indomitable resolution, endowed with a strength of body truly formidable, though of small stature and mean appearance, and withal one of the most mortal opponents of the king’s writ that ever figured, even in Tipperary. This fellow was not slow to perceive that a more pleasing and profitable occupation could be found for the exercise of the daring qualities which he possessed, than was afforded in the occasional outbreak at fair or pattern, to which he had hitherto in his simplicity restricted himself. A gentleman in the neighbourhood got into difficulties, and, poor man, had not a soul belonging to him who could direct the laudable exertions his tenants and followers were willing to make in his behalf, or show them how even to dispose of a bailiff. Common humanity induced Mick to come forward, and never was an act of humanity more richly rewarded. The most brilliant and unexpected success crowned his labours. Under his guidance the tenants became a phalanx, able to bother the twelve judges themselves, or tire the patience even of a Chancery suit. Writs were sent out, but had no return, and now and then the same might be said of the bailiffs who ventured to bear them. Everything was reduced to the most perfect system; and the attorneys, dismayed and discomfited, declared themselves conquered by a line of tactics hitherto unknown, the discoverer of which deserved to be immortalized. The result was, that the party who had been so fortunate as to awaken for his service the slumbering energies of this determined partizan, was allowed an honourable capitulation, while the discovery of these happy improvements in the noble art of self-defence gained for Connell himself the character of public benefactor of all distressed country gentlemen.