In a key example of situational irony in the story, the Nationalist Party canvassers claim to worship Charles Stewart Parnell—hoping to continue his strong moral and political legacy—while actively undermining his legacy by behaving in lazy and immoral ways. For example, rather than performing their jobs well and canvassing even in the rain, all of the men end up in the Committee Room, drinking and gossiping by the fire.
What’s more, most of the men are clearly inefficient canvassers when they are out trying to solicit votes for their candidate—Henchy tells lies about Tierney (claiming he doesn’t belong to the Nationalist Party if that’s what someone wants to hear) and Crofton is “not worth a damn as a canvasser” because he belongs to the Conservative Party (and only begrudgingly joined Tierney’s campaign after his candidate dropped out).
All of this is ironic as, were the men truly taking Parnell’s political legacy seriously, they would be much more strategic and focused. That they are all wearing the ivy leaf pins to honor Parnell while spending the day bickering amongst themselves in the Committee Room shows that the youth are hypocritical actors leading the Party in an ineffectual direction.
While sitting in the Committee Room with his fellow canvassers by the fire, Henchy jokes about becoming a “City Father,” or a leader in Dublin politics. He and the other men sardonically envision such a situation, using verbal irony in the process:
– By God! I’m thinking seriously of becoming a City Father myself. What do you think? Would I do for the job?
Mr O’Connor laughed.
[…]
– Driving out of the Mansion House, said Mr Henchy, in all my vermin, with Jack here standing up behind me in a powdered wig – eh?
– And make me your private secretary, John.
– Yes. And I’ll make Father Keon my private chaplain. We’ll have a family party.
This whole conversation is an example of verbal irony, as none of the men are earnestly envisioning a situation in which Henchy would be a City Father, Old Jack his valet, O’Connor his secretary, or Father Keon his “private chaplain.” The men are clearly being sarcastic when they envision Henchy traveling to and from the “Mansion House,” or the home where the Lord Mayor of Dublin lives.
The verbal irony here communicates the Nationalist Party canvassers’ cynicism. Rather than envisioning a future in which Dublin politics are free from corruption, they imagine a scenario in which they are the beneficiaries of said corruption, reveling in luxury and power. While they are clearly joking, their lack of moral and political integrity is also on display.
