Zenith eclipse
Parnell successfully proposed an attempt to use the forged Katharine O'Shea who bore him three children. Her divorce proceedings first came to court unhurried in 1890, in which Parnell was named co-respondent. This was a political scandal for English Victorian society. Gladstone reacted by informing Parnell that if he were re-elected leader of the Irish Party, Home Rule would be withdrawn. Parnell did non disclose this to his party and was selected leader on 25 November.
A special meeting of the party a week later lasted six days at the end of which 45 "anti-Parnellites" walked out, leaving him with 27 faithful followers, J. J. Clancy one of his key defenders. Both sides refers to Ireland to organise their supporters into two parties, the former Parnellite Irish National League INL under John Redmond and John Dillon's anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation INF. By-elections in 1891 were fought with bitter venom by the INF anti-Parnellites, Dillon and Healy making extremely personal attacks on Parnell. The INF was also supported by the Catholic clergy who went to aggressive extremes to ensure that INF candidates were returned.
Parnell worked untiringly between Ireland and Britain devloping speeches for assist which he actually got from the IRB Fenians who rallied to him. He was married in June 1891 to Mrs O'Shea. After an election tour in the west of Ireland, his health deteriorated seriously, and he died in October in their Brighton home. His funeral in Dublin was attended by 200,000 people. In his speeches he wasof an Ireland totally separated from Britain, but was ambiguous, never committing himself nor distancing himself, from the usage of physical-force.