1886 Galway Borough by-election

[4] O'Shea's candidacy had been proposed by the Irish Parliamentary Party leader, Charles Stewart Parnell.

[6] However, like his colleagues, he was aware that Parnell was in a relationship with O'Shea's wife, Katharine, who had had three children by him - a fact not publicly known and likely to cause a scandal.

In an attempt to persuade O'Shea to withdraw, Healy hinted to his campaign manager that Biggar might make public reference to the affair.

[5] Parnell now made clear that support for O'Shea was essential to upholding his authority as party leader and representative of the Irish people.

[5] At a meeting in the Railway Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway, Healy and Biggar made their case to a hostile group of party MPs.

[7] While the imposition of O'Shea as candidate emphasised Parnell's control of his party, the by-election was to have important consequences.

O'Shea abstained in the House of Commons vote on the Home Rule Bill, and did not contest the general election that followed.