... secure emancipation. * Thousands of people joined this and paid a membership fee of 1 penny a month. This helped to raise a large fund. * By 1826 the Catholic Association began supporting candidates in parliamentary elections. However, as a Catholic, O'Connell was not allowed to take his seat in the House of Commons. * The Clare election in 1828 was a turning point. O'Connell had a huge victory against the government. He was well supported by the clergy. * The Catholic Association grew rapidly and in 1829 Sir Robert Peel, Duke of Wellington and other leading members of the government began arguing for reform. The whole country was aflame as also in 1829 the British Parliament passed the Roman Catholic Relief Act, which granted Catholic Emancipation. However, despite Daniel O'Connell forming the Repeal Association, the Act of Union remained in place. * The fee was then raised to 10 pounds which ...

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