Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thomas Francis Meagher (1823-1867)
Waterford's favorite son had a short but amazing life. The son of the town's mayor,
Meagher joined Daniel O'Connell's nonviolent movement to repeal the Act of
Union with Britain. Impatient with the slow-moving political process of constant
compromise, Meagher joined the radical Young Irelander movement, becoming an
inspiring speaker. He went to France in 1848 and returned with the first Irish tricol-
or flag—a gift from the French that represented the Catholics (green), the Protest-
ants (orange), and peaceful coexistence between the two (white).
