Kentish Fire

Kentish Fire, a form of applause at public dinners or meetings of a political character, consisting in clapping the hands in unison in a peculiar rhythm or cadence, thus: u-u-u, intensified occasionally by the cry of 'rah at certain intervals. The effect is very striking if the clapping is well led and kept together, and may be taken to bear some resemblance to the rattle of musketry fire. Hence the name. The origin is more obscure, but the 'vollies' were probably first organised at the great Kentish meetings in 1828-29 to protest against Roman Catholic emancipation. In 1834 at a great Protestant meeting in Dublin (August 15) Lord Winchilsea introduced 'his Kentish artillery' as a novel and stirring feature, and Kentish Fire has ever since been a favourite mode of applause at Protestant, Conservative, or 'Orange' meetings especially in the north of Ireland.