CORK 1798Other Published SourcesPrevious - 1797-1799CorkUnitedIrishmen.htm
________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes in italics.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Á GAEIL BHOCHT CRÁIDTHE
Máire Bhuí Ní Laoire (1774-1849)
Tá Gaeil bhocht cráidthe go césta cásmhar
Agus cúirt gach lá ortha mar dhúbailt brón,
Clanna sáirfhear dá gcrocha anáirde
‘S dá gcur síos láithreach ‘sa Croppy-hole;
Tá na loingeas lean díobh dá gcur thar sáile,
Mo chúmha go grá sibh faoi iomad yoke.HE POOR IRISH ARE TORMENTED
Máire Bhuí Ní Laoire (1774-1849)
The poor Irish are tormented, afflicted most sorely
And every day in Court to double their woe,
Splendid young men hung up high,
And put down at once in the Croppy-hole;
The ships are full of them sent over the sea
My grief for ye under many a yoke.________________________________________________________________________________________
THE BANDON EXECUTIONS 1797
________________________________________________________________________________________
George Bennett, 'History Of Bandon,' 1869, Chapter XIV - 1797 - Private DOMINICK GILIGAN, Roscommon militia, and CORPORAL DRUMGOLD, Westmeath militia, were tried by court-martial at Bandon, on the 10th of July in this year (1797); and CORPORAL MCAULIFFE, AND WILLIAM LARRACY (both of the Second Fencible Dragoons), on the 20th of July, also at Bandon; 'for beginning, exciting, causing, or joining in a mutiny or sedition in the corps to which they belong, by having taken unlawful, munitions, or seditious oaths, or being instrumental in their being taken; as also for being present at a mutiny or sedition, or intended mutiny or sedition, and not using their utmost endeavours to suppress the same; or coming to the knowledge of a mutiny, or intended mutiny, and not, without delay, giving information thereof to their commanding officer.'
From the evidence given by John Daly, it appears that GILIGAN was the agent of the United Irishmen at the camp at Mammoor. He also swore that another soldier, named MacDonald, told him 'that they put a coal of fire to the wagon-stores, which was found and put out by a dragoon who had stables near it; and that they were waiting for a letter from Fermoy camp, and when they received that, they would place the cannon on the 30th Regiment's barracks to keep them in, as they could not depend on them.'
Patrick Dangan, of the Galway Light Infantry, deposed: - 'That about three months before, CORPORAL MCAULIFFE and John Purcell, of the same regiment, took him up Cork-road, and told witness, if he would do as they desired, he would never want a friend, a shilling, or a drink while a brother could give it to him. That MCAULIFFE sent Purcell for LARRACY, who asked them what news? They said good news; and then LARRACY said he always thought witness a sober, settled fellow, and believed he (the witness) would become a brother. That Denis Callaghan, the slater, coming up, asked if witness was a brother. He was told that he meant to become one. Callaghan then shook hands with him, and then took him inside a ditch, where he swore him to keep secret what he should see or hear. They all then went to Murphy's public house, and after getting some liquor, Callaghan read the articles which were to be true to a brother, and ever to see one of them want so long as he would have twopence-halfpenny, and that he was to join the French when they'd come. At the bottom of the paper were two hearts and a tree, apparently done with silk. Callaghan said he got them from a Mr. O Conner, in the west, and that the tree denoted liberty. They then showed him signs with the hand, of love and liberty; MCAULIFFE AND LARRACY often repeating them to him; and Callaghan taught him a catechism by which he'd know a brother. They all told him that they intended to rise about the 1st of July, to seize the cannon and the camp, to murder the officers and all who would not join them; and that even if the French did not come, they thought they would be able to march through the kingdom themselves.'
It was principally upon the evidence of a man named Riely that CORPORAL DRUMGOLD was convicted.
In addition to the evidence we have just given in reference to the prisoners, there was other evidence given concerning them and their accomplices, from which we extract that of John Hargrove, who deposed: - 'That, about a month before, he was walking by the river, near Mammoor camp, when he was called by seven or eight men of the Meath, county Limerick, Wexford, and Waterford; when he was told by one of them - a man named Allen - that they intended writing to the North and other parts of the kingdom, to inform them that they would go on with their intentions on the 1st of July; and then to have the kingdom on fire on both ends, and in the middle; and then, with what friends Mr. O Brien, near Bandon, could send them, and what friends they had in the camp (about four hundred), that they intended first taking the cannon, and then the bell-tents, with the small arms (which they would give the country-people that would be sent by Mr. O Brien), and then put General Coote to death, and as many officers as they could, and then retreat to Bandon, and take possession of the battery, and keep it, if possible, until the French would land.
The prisoners were found guilty, and sentenced to be shot. The day after they received their sentence, they were brought in two carriages from the camp of Mammoor, through Bandon, and down to a field midway between Bandon and Innoshannon. GILIGAN AND DRUMGOLD were accompanied by Father Haly; and MCAULIFFE AND LARRACY, of the Second Fencible Dragoons, by Father Shinnick. All the troops in Bandon and at Mammoor camp were drawn up, so as to form the three sides of a square, the fourth being reserved as the place of execution. The unhappy men being brought forward, their sentence was again read to them, after which they were pinioned and placed kneeling upon their coffins. The firing party having moved forward, they were ordered to make ready. At the word 'present!' the men levelled their pieces at the accused, and kept them poised in that position, awaiting the next order. The suspense for a few seconds was agonizing, and then the suppressed feelings, unable to bear the strain on them any longer, gave way, and one simultaneous 'oh!' burst from the thousands of spectators who had assembled to witness this sad scene. 'Fire!' and the loud report which ran along the green hill side told its own story. When the smoke had cleared away, it was found that GILIGAN, MCAULIFFE, AND LARRACY, were shot dead, but that DRUMGOLD was untouched. Upon this, the provost-sergeant leisurely marched up to him, and placing the muzzle of his pistol against his right temple, deliberately blew out his brains. The four bodies were then coffined, and buried in the graveyard of Innoshannon.
For a long time afterwards - indeed up to a few years since - four large mounds of stone marked the place of execution; but the utilitarian spirit of the age has removed even these, and the last time we saw this place de greve, a good crop of turnips concealed beneath their luxuriant leaves all traces of an event, the like of which we hope this locality will long be a stranger to.
According to some patriotic poetaster, who has committed this affair to verse, and whose lucubrations we now give, they were innocent - that is, according to an interpretation often given to that term in this country, however guilty they may have been, they ought not to be punished; and their lives were taken away by traitors, who falsely swore. Nevertheless, he honestly tells us, that General Coote offered to pardon them 'if they'd make discovery.' But that they instantly refused, and told him to his teeth that they would prove constant; and, besides, that they were united, and that they hoped to be rewarded for it hereafter.
*'Assist me all ye muses, and give me no excuses,
Concerning these few verses, I mean for to relate,
On the laws of extirpations, and bribed perjurations,
Which caused great desolations in this country of late.
‘To make a just inspection, it would hazard no reflection,
To treat on that horrid action, done at the camp Mammoor-
By the laws of General Coote, I dare not tell the truth,
Of this perpetual murder, would be treasons, I am sure.
‘There's McAuliffe, Larracy, and his noble brave Drumgold,
Giligan, we learn, is the subject of my theme;
To the time of all duration, and to its consummation,
With grief and great vexation, I moralize on their fame.
‘No heroes could be braver, they were lads of good behaviour,
Until Curran, Reily, and Daly swore their lives away;
of golden ore, the traitors falsely swore,
And left them in their gore at Innoshannon that day.
‘Bandon may remember, these heroes once in splendour.
In all their pomp and grandeur, a-glittering from afar;
Light infantry advancing, and cavalry a-prancing,
And shining armour glancing, all in the pomp of war.
‘The hills and dales were crowed, and all parts beshrouded,
The streets were strongly guarded, most shocking for us to see;
Drums and trumpets rattle, as of veterans going to battle,
And these heroes to be slaughtered for the sake of liberty.
‘The appointed ground they arrived at, their lives to be deprived of,
Then off their garments stripped, and fro them flung away;
Their arms being unbounded, with numerous bands surrounded,
And the trumpets loudly sounded, their valour to display.
‘They held a consultation, to find out the combination,
And in an exultation the general he did say:-
'By me you'll be remembered, and your guilt you'll not be charged with,
And besides, you'll be pardoned, if you make discovery.'
‘They stood awhile amused, their senses being confused,
And instantly refused, and made him this reply:-
'We know the laws which arm, and your threat don't us alarm;
Our souls you cannot harm - we have but once to die.
‘Although we are young and tender, to you we won't surrender,
But like Hibernia's defender, most constant we will prove;
And, besides, we are united, and of death we're not affrighted,
And we hope we'll be requited by He who rules above.
‘There is the noble Father Haly, attended the infantry,
And the noble Vicar Schinnick, the cavalry did attend,
Placed in a hollow square, well guarded front and rear,
The guards did prepare to cause their fatal end.
‘The peace, boys, it will restore throughout the Irish shore;
We'll be present here no more - we'll die for liberty.
The guns they were presented, and their gently breast were entered -
Thousands of souls lamented to see such cruelty.
‘To see those lovely four, a-weltering in their gore,
And their breeched all dyed o'er with this barbarity.
To the coffins they were hurried; to Innoshannon carried;
And instantly were buried -a dreadful sight to see!'*This is what is called a treasonable song, and is never sung unless the doors are closed, and a watch kept lest some myrmidon of the law should be eavesdropping, and get the singer and his auditory into trouble.
________________________________________________________________________________________
CORK CITY - EAST CORK - EDMOND 'MON' ROCHE - MALLOW -
ARAGLIN & JOSEPH BURNISTON - WEST & SOUTH-WEST CORK - OTHER CO. CORK - MILITARY FORCES - BIBLIO.
________________________________________________________________________________________
CORK CITY
('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802) - 'CONSPIRACY IN THE CITY OF CORK -
The conspiracy was infinitely more terrific in the city of Cork than in Dublin, because the protestants of the established church, whose destruction was meditated, were much fewer in proportion to the Roman catholics; and the conspirators were better organised and armed, as the vigilance and the exertions of the executive power were not so active and vigorous as in the metropolis, the seat of government.
It was divided into three divisions, the north, the centre, and the south; and each of them was subdivided into sections. It was discovered, that there were one hundred and thirty of the latter, from North-gate bridge, through Black-pool, and that portion of the city, and that each consisted of a sergeant and twelve men, They were all regimented, and had a regular gradation of officers from a colonel down to a corporal.
An immense quantity of pikes was fabricated in Cork. Measures were concerted for taking the magazine; and so sure were the conspirators of succeeding, that poles were prepared, exactly fitted to the socket of a bayonet, that they might mount them the instant those weapons, (of which there was a great number in the magazine,) fell into their hands.
There was great disaffection among the popish yeomen, particularly in the Cork legion. [SIMON] DONOVAN, [see below], and [ANDREW] DRINANE† continued members of it till they were arrested; and [JOHN] SWEENY*, the chief leader of the conspiracy in Cork, who has been transported to Botany Bay, was seized and committed a short time after he had been expelled from the corps, for disobedience of orders, in which he manifested notorious disaffection. Some of them owned to persons who became approvers, that they entered into it merely to obtain arms and knowledge of military discipline. ROGER O CONNOR, confined in gaol, was the chief director of the union in Cork; and he paid the bills at the house of entertainment which were kept open for the reception of the soldiers, who were regaled in them gratis, with the most delicious fare; and they were even supplied with concubines, the more effectually to seduce them.
As two soldiers [JAMES MURPHY AND PATRICK HALVEY], of the Dublin regiment were condemned to be shot for disaffection, JOHN SWEENY, a woollen draper, distributed printed hand bills, not only among the soldiers, but among the disaffected of the city, and the adjacent county, inciting them to rise in mass, to overpower the garrison, and to rescue the prisoners, but doctor Harding at that time high sheriff, arrested SWEENY in the gaol, while conferring with R. O CONNOR, on the morning of the day that the execution of the soldiers took place; by which the insurrection was defeated. The great vigilance, and active exertions of that loyal gentleman, preserved the city of Cork from conflagration and a general massacre, for which many plots were formed to murder him.
A man of the name of [Denis] Casey, was hired to assassinate him, and was on the point of firing a pistol at him, when fortunately a pig ran between his legs, and threw him down, by which the life of that valuable member of society was preserved. A committee of assassination was constantly sitting in Cork, by which sir Henry Mannix, captain Westropp, Mr. Shaw the collector, doctor Harding, alderman Shaw, messieurs Alexander and Johnson, high constables, and other loyal gentlemen, were condemned; and pursuant to their sentences, sir Henry Mannix was fired at, and wounded, near Cork, by one CALLAGHAN,** the assassin hired to murder him; and who immediately repaired to JOHN SWEENY, and claimed the reward which the committee had offered for killing him; but SWEENY refused to pay it to him, as he was not actually killed; but being a woollen draper, he gave him two suits of clothes, as a recompense for the zeal which he displayed in the cause of the union.
Four men, who became approvers [?James, John, Philip, & William Hill] at an early period of the conspiracy, continued to attend the committees, and constantly gave information to the magistrates of every thing that passed; and their communications exactly corresponded with the evidence which was afterwards given on the trials of the conspirators by different prosecutors.
They often produced black lists of the principal protestant families in the kingdom, who, under the denomination of heretics, were to be assassinated, and the Beresford family, and Mr. Ogle, were among them; and it was often asserted in these committees, that a person would ensure salvation by killing a certain number of protestants.
As captain Westropp's corps, all protestant, were conspicuous for their loyalty, an order for assassinating them was issued by the grand committee, to which all the rest were subordinate; and the bloody deed was to have been performed when they were proceeding to mount a picket guard at Blarney, four miles from Cork, by a band of assassins, who were supplied with blunderbusses for that purpose. When in a deep road, they were to have been fired on from the hedges on each side, which were high; and at the same time they were to have been assailed in front and rear, by men appointed with muskets; but the plot was defeated by the seasonable discovery of one of the approvers to whom I alluded.
The members of the union in Cork were so desperate and sanguinary, that a proposal was made, and it was some time discussed in a committee, to murder the amiable doctor Moylan, titular [RC] bishop of Cork, partly from motives of revenge, on account of his loyalty; but the principal reasons assigned in the committee for it was, that it would be imputed to the protestants, and rouse the vengeance of the Roman catholics against them, as strong stimulants were thought necessary at that time. The protestant yeomen of Cork are entitled to the highest praise for the unremitted ardour which they displayed, and the greatest fatigue which they endured, in support of the constitution, against the confederated traitors, who conspired for its destruction.
The following very extraordinary circumstance occurred in the conspiracy at Cork: A short time before the intended insurrection, an order was sent to all the inferior committee, as if from a committee of twelve priests, to eject them from them any protestant members which they might have admitted. It is supposed that they were afraid of having the plot discovered, after it had come to maturity, knowing that the protestants were loyal, with but few exceptions. All the approvers have uniformly agreed that this order was conveyed to all the inferior societies, as if from the committee of twelve priests; and one Mockler, a shoemaker, who delivered all the orders, has disappeared, lest, it is supposed, he should be led to make a discovery of this transaction, and to disclose the mysteries of it.
As some attempts have been made to palliate the conspiracy in the city of Cork, by asserting, that it was not as dangerous or extensive as has been stated in this work, I think it right to observe, that sir James Stewart, baronet, commanding at Cork, received orders from government to send part of the garrison to the county of Wexford, to assist in the taking of Vinegar-hill; but he had such strong apprehensions of an insurrection of the rebels in Cork, that he refused to obey, and that he did not comply, until he received a second and more peremptory order.'
It appeared on the trial of one SIMON DONOVAN, *** held at Cork, the sixth of March, 1799, that one [MICHAEL] LONG, a schoolmaster, was employed by the county committee in Cork, to organise different parts of the country; and that he was a most active agent for them. He reported to them, that he had made a most rapid progress in a country called Carnavar [Carrignavar]; and that he had formed a committee of twelve there, consisting of the most opulent farmers in that district; but that they wanted the assistance of the people of Cork, to cut off six persons whom they called Stays, because they, by their courage and activity, impeded materially the progress of the business. Sir Henry Mannix was one of these persons, and in about two months after he was fired at and wounded. It was proved on the same trial, that races were set on foot at the fair green of Cork, by the county committee in Cork, for the purpose of assembling the country people to swear them, which answered that design very well. It was proved that DENIS LANE, one of their most active agents, gave the following toast in the company of some United Irishmen at the fair green: 'That the king's skin may make a drumhead to beat the United Irishmen to arms!' which toast Lane and the company drank.'
Extract of a letter found upon Oliver Bond, signed H.W. (HUGH WILSON) and dated, Cork 6th, 1798 - I have been so cooped up since I came here, that, had I known the situation of the place, my mind should never have been so abominably closeted, for any emolument that I may derive before a change of the present government takes place. - You can but faintly imagine how things are going on here; give the people but a little time, and rest assured the progress science is making will astonish the world. The enemies of the human race are much alarmed, and the revolt of the Dublin county militia has increased their fears. Mr. Finlay says, they are all assassins, and he is almost afraid to trust himself with them. I hear they are to be dispersed among the Highlanders through the country. Numbers of preachers of the true gospel are better than few, and those dispersed grains may not fall on rocky ground. - When the news came this morning of the Spanish fleet being out, the aristocrats seemed happy, saying, their doom was at hand, Jervis being after them. - With best regards to Mrs. Bond, and all friends, I am sincerely yours, H.W.
{County of the city of Cork}- THE information of Thomas Boyle, private in captain Ormsby's company of the North Mayo regiment of militia, taken this twenty-eighth day of May, 1798. Deponent being duly sword and examined, deposeth and saith, That some time since he got acquainted with THOMAS MEAGHER, of Half-moon-street, publican; that about a fortnight ago deponent was brought into the house of said MEAGHER, by a seaman, of the name of PATRICK MEADE, who called for a pot of porter, and taking deponent by the hand, squeezed and hurt him with his thumb; on deponent complaining, said MEADE replied, you are not a true brother, or you would return the squeeze; this passed in the presence and hearing of MEAGHER before mentioned.
Deponent further desposeth, and saith, that he frequently met the aforesaid MEAGHER, who was remarkably civil to him, and invited deponent to his house; that about eight or nine days ago MEAGHER, in his own house, told informant, 'that the majority of the people were sworn brothers, and that they would be much better off, if they had been sword long ago.' Said MEAGHER then wanted deponent to swear, and to get his friends in the regiment to swear, as no man's life would be safe, who was not sworn; deponent refused to swear at that time. Deponent deposeth and saith, that he informed ensign Con, and colonel Jackson of the Mayo, of these conversations, and that they advised him to be sworn; that on the same evening, being Friday the twenty-fifth of May instant, deponent went to the house of the said MEAGHER, when the swearing was again spoken of by the said MEAGHER , and he the deponent was then sworn on a book by the said MEAGHER, ‘to be true to the united men, and their party, and never to draw a trigger, or a ramrod against the United Irishmen, or against the French, if they should land here;' said MEAGHER then wanted deponent to go with him to Cow-lane, where he would meet some friends, but deponent declined going there; said MEAGHER advised deponent to get as many of the regiment sworn as he could, and that he would give him money, and also advised him to get fire-arms and ammunition conveyed out of the barrack to him, the said MEAGHER. Deponent further deposeth, that said MEAGHER said he would give him money to treat the officers servants, and desired he would get acquainted with them, and appeared very anxious to know when colonel Jackson and the head officers would dine with general Stewart; for that there was a quarry at Leitrim [Leitrim St.] very convenient to kill colonel Jackson, and that he could very easily make his escape in a boat without coming over the [Northgate] bridge. MEAGHER further told informant, that if he did not wish to remain here, he would give him money and coloured clothes to go to Bristol in the packet.'
†Andrew Drinan - (Hibernian Chronicle 20/10/1798) - Dropped, - ON TUESDAY Evening, the 16th instant, at half past three o Clock, between Richard Lawton, Esq.'s House and the South Weigh House, Cove-street - A Red Leather Pocket-Book, - containing - …Guineas Cork Bank Notes, …John Shea and Sons Notes, 1.10s.10d. and two or three 7s. 7d. Notes, with promissory notes. - Whoever brings said Book and Notes to Mr. ANDREW DRINAN, or PATRICK PURCELL, Bandon Road, shall get TEN GUINEAS Reward, and no Questions asked. They are of no use to the Finder as Payment is stopped.
*John Swiney, or Sweeny, woollen-draper, Shandon St. The 'Hibernian Chronicle' of 1798 carried the following advertisements regarding JOHN SWINY. 2/4/1798 - 'JOHN SWINEY, Shandon-street, RESPECTFULLY informs his Friends and the Public, that his Business in the WOOLLEN DRAPERY Line will be carried on in the same extensive manner as usual, and request all who are indebted to him will order immediate Payment'. And ' 3/12/1798- 'The Debts due to JOHN SWINEY, Late of Cork, Woollen Draper, are to be forthwith paid to JEREMIAH M'SWINEY, of Cork, Distiller, otherwise Proceedings will be indispensable. M'Swiney begs to be furnished with the nature and amount of all Demands against the said SWINEY, that some arrangement may be made for the Payment of them'.
**Timothy Cavanagh in the 'Hibernian Chronicle, 'Timothy Kavanagh [Or Cavenagh], was convicted at the Spring Assizes, 1798, of having, on the twenty-eighth of March, at Sunville, fired a shot at Mr. William Martin, a protestant, whose hat he knocked off with a bullet.'
***Hibernian Chronicle 4/2/1798 - Simon Donovan, Mallow-lane, Corn Merchant, married Miss Jane Galway, dau. of Henry, Esq., of Cork
________________________________________________________________________________________
THE HARP OF ERIN - 'The 'Harp of Erin,' a Cork paper, published by JOHN DALY, at 16 Parliament street, has the following squib:-
Since many a tax has been laid on by thee,
The people to gull and perplex.
‘Twould be well in return if they left out the T
And laid upon thee the ax.'('History of the City and County of Cork,' M.F. Cusack, 1875)
‘2 April 1798. Ordered that 100 guineas be paid the person who shall prosecute to conviction the author of an inflammatory hand Bill, published in this City last Tuesday, addressed ‘To Militia Men,’ with intent to prevent a most loyal part of His Maj. Subjects from doing their duty, and that 20 guineas be paid to any person who shall discover the Printer of such hand Bill…’ ('The Council Book of the Corporation of Cork, &c.,' Richard Caulfield, 1876)
Hibernian Chronicle 16/4/1798 - Last Saturday, MR. JOHN DALY was tried in the City Court for Printing a Libel in the Harp of Erin, and found guilty. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment and to stand on the Pillory.
________________________________________________________________________
‘SHEARES, JOHN AND HENRY - The BROTHERS SHEARES were natives of Cork, whither the younger had proceeded, early in May 1798, for the purpose of organising that county. An energetic co-operator in this movement was a silversmith named Conway*, a native of Dublin. The treachery of this man was so artfully concealed that his most intimate friends never suspected him.
'If those who join secret societies,' writes a Cork correspondent, 'could get a peep at the records of patriotic perfidy kept in the Castle, they would get some insight into the dangerous consequences of meddling with them. There is a proverbial honour amongst thieves; there seems to be none amongst traitors.
The publication of the official correspondence about the end of the last century made some strange revelations. In Cork, there lived a watch-maker, named Conway, one of the directory of the United Irishmen there. So public and open a professor of disloyal sentiments was he, that on the plates of his watches he had engraved as a device a harp without a crown. For a whole generation this man s name was preserved as 'a sufferer for his country,' like his ill-fated townsmen, JOHN AND HENRY SHEARES.
The 'Cornwallis Correspondence,' (vol. iii., p.85,) reveals the fact that Conway was a double-dyed traitor; that he had offered to become a secret agent for detecting the leaders of the United Irishmen, and that the information he gave was very valuable, particularly as confirming that received from a solicitor in Belfast, who, whilst acting as agent and solicitor to the disaffected party, was betraying their secrets to the executive, and earning, in his vile role of informer, a pension, from 1799 to 1804, of £150, and the sum of £1,460, the wages he received for his services.
The fate of the SHEARES has been invested with something of a romantic interest; and not a few traditional accounts describe their end as not less saintly than that of Charles the First. Into their ease, as in that of other political martyrs, some romance has been imported; and as truth is stranger than fiction, we may tell an anecdote communicated to us by the late John Patten, brother-in law of Thomas Addis Emmet. The SHEARESES, though nominally Protestants, were tinged with deistical ideas. 'I heard it stated,' observed Mr Patten, 'that when the hangman was in the act of adjusting the noose round the neck of JOHN SHEARES before proceeding to the scaffold, he exclaimed, 'D--n you, do you want to kill me before my time?' I could not credit it, and asked the Rev. Dr Gamble, who attended them in their last moments, if the statement were correct. 'I am sorry to say,' replied Dr Gamble, 'that it is perfectly true. I myself pressed my hand against his mouth to prevent a repetition of the imprecation.' ('The Sham Squire and The Informers of 1798 &c.,' William J. Fitz-patrick, 1866)
*Tim Conway, see also Robert Swanton, below - (Hibernian Chronicle 27/9/1798) - T. CONWAY, - HAS just received an elegant assortment of Gold, Silver, and Pinchbeck Watches, in addition to his former Stocks. Is also supplied with every article in the Silver, Jewellery, and Hardware line, which he is determined to sell at the lowest Profit; being now enable to give his personal attention to Business, will be careful that all Commands shall …..and dispatch. - Is particularly grateful to those Friends, who during the long period of his Imprisonment, continued their Business at his House.
‘The apprehension and death of the two brothers, HENRY AND JOHN SHEARES, was deeply felt by the inhabitants of Cork generally. Their father* was a banker in the city and had represented the borough of Clonakilty in the Irish Parliament. A gentleman in Cork, who remembers the two brothers - Mr. Humphreys, of the Royal Cork Institution - tells me that HENRY, the elder, had a wine stain on his face, but that JOHN was a very handsome man. Both brothers had imbibed the principles of the French Republican school. They were in Paris, and present at the execution of Louis XVI. O Connell met them on his return from St. Omer and Douai, in January 1793, and expressed his 'horror' - as he told Mr. James Roche of Cork - 'at the language of these unhappy men, in reference to the execution, which they had exultingly witnessed.' ('History' of the County and City of Cork,' C.B. Gibson, 1874)
* Their father, Mr. Henry Sheares established a society in Cork, in 1774, for the relief and discharge of persons confined for small debts.
________________________________________________________________________________________
EAST CORK
(The Hand-Book For Youghal, W.G. Field, 1896) - '1797 - The organisation of United Irishmen, which commenced in the neighbourhood of Youghal in the previous year,* now proceeded with rapidity; and committees of assassination were formed within the town and in the outlying barony. Although the insurgents did not as yet openly show themselves as such, they were wont to reconnoitre within a mile or two of the town, and traverse the country in small marauding parties, inflicting no little mischief upon the peasantry, and causing great alarm to the loyal inhabitants. At last, they proceeded to deeds of blood. One of their first victims was Daniel Cloughnee, a respectable farmer and dairyman, residing near Two-mile-bridge. He had incurred the displeasure of the rebels, by not having complied with one of their edicts, fixing the price of milk and butter. Assembling in a body, they repaired to Cloughnee's house; and having murdered him and his wife, they went off, exulting in their horrible revenge. When they proceed a little way, the murderers recollected the maid-servant whom they had left alive. Fearing her evidence at any future investigation, they returned, and, with her brother's approval who was with them, they made her share the fate of her master and mistress. Then, that they might not leave any creature with the breath of life, they destroyed even the cat and the dog. The military from Youghal were soon after on the spot, but could not find any trace of the murderers. At the ensuing assizes at Waterford, fourteen men were put on trial for the offence, but were acquitted, through want of evidence; nor was a single individual of the rebel party ever brought to justice. The Court at Waterford, during the trial of the accused persons, resembled a military rather than a civil assemblage. Owing to the awful state of the country, the lawyers attended in their places, arrayed in the costume of their respective yeomanry corps, and pleaded with their arms by their side.
In December of this year, Patrick Murphy**, one of the South Cork militia, a weaver by trade, was murdered at Ballymacoda, near Youghal, and was secretly buried in the strand at Knockadoon. Having been suspected of an intention to inform against certain disaffected persons in that neighbourhood, he was condemned by a committee of assassination consisting of nine persons, of which FATHER NEILL, of Ballymacoda, was chairman. NEILL was taken up, and 'confessed,' wrote Sir R. Musgrave, 'that he advised and approved of the murder of Murphy and another man, and that he gave absolution to the persons who perpetrated it.' It is proper to add that this confession was wrung from him by the torture of the lash. He was flogged in the ball alley, at the top of the jail-steps; and was then sent away in the Revenue Boat to Cork, under sentence of transportation for seven years. This punishment he went through, and returned to end his days in Ireland, in more tranquil times.
Youghal, in addition to its own yeomanry, was garrisoned by a regiment of German troops and the Wexford militia, under Lord Loftus and Lt. Colonel Ram. Every precaution was taken for the safety of the town. The hilly avenues, such as Cork Lane and Windmill Lane, were scarped and made impassable. Videttes were stationed at proper distances on all the roads. Gates were erected at both ends of the town; and at each a field-piece, loaded with grape, was placed in position. † The Council Chamber and Court House were converted into occasional prisons and guard-rooms. The lodge at Green park was also used as a guard-house; and the barracks formed the defence of the opposite extremity of the town. The outlying gentry were commanded by Lord Loftus to send in whatever arms they possessed, lest these should fall into the hands of the rebels; and were strongly recommended to come themselves into the town, as into a place of safety - a counsel which they for the most made immediately obeyed.
The manufacture of pikes, meanwhile, proceeded incessantly. Not only country blacksmiths, but even those dwelling within the walls and in sight of these extensive military preparations, did not hesitate to engage in this wicked undertaking; and fearful were the tortures - unjustifiable, unless the danger of the times might be said to justify cruelty - inflicted by martial law, with a view to extract confessions of the secret depots of the rebel arms. †† A Youghal blacksmith, PAUDRIGEEN-NA-GOW, i.e. LITTLE PADDY the Smith, being suspected of helping the work, was flogged on the Mill Road, near the present Gas-house. While the punishment was proceeding, his wife ran in through the crowd; and, in encouraging language, implored her husband not, even on the promise of pardon, to give any information about his accomplices. He remained firm. After the flogging, he experienced (he was wont to affirm) a marvellous change in his constitution for the better. Previous to his being flogged, he had been heavily afflicted with asthma; but ever afterwards, he declared he did not know what it was to suffer from this trying ailment.
And now a dreadful murder, committed in the very heart of the town, appalled the inhabitants. [WILLIAM] DESMOND, a tobacconist, in opulent circumstances, who resided near the Clock Gate, on the S.E. side, was committed to prison on some treasonable charges. While in confinement, SULLIVAN, a tobacco-twister in his employment, was murdered in his house under circumstances of horrid barbarity. 'This unfortunate man,' we quote Sir R. Musgrave, 'was privy to their treasonable schemes; and DESMOND and his associates, fearing that he would disclose them, if threatened with corporal punishment, from his weakness of mind and timidity, had him assassinated. He was found hanging in a garret in DESMOND'S house, with some desperate wounds in his body; and a knife, with which they had been inflicted, lay on the ground near the body. This horrid crime was perpetrated by DESMOND'S brother, and one DUNN, who came to town that day from the place [Ballymacoda] where FATHER NEILL lived..' They were assisted by a maid-servant, who managed to escape. DESMOND, the brother, and his associate in blood were immediately taken prisoners by the infuriate soldiery, who broke into the house, and scattered the bedding, snuff, tobacco, and every thing they found in the street. The guilty pair were tried by court-martial before Lord Loftus, and were sentenced to be flogged and then hanged in front of DESMOND'S house. The sentence was carried into effect without delay. A spar of a ship was procured, and was made to traverse diagonally between the dwelling-house and the adjoining prison. ‡ From this rude gallows the two murderers were, after a severe flogging, suspended. Their bodies, when taken down, were carried in a boat outside the bar, with the intention of sinking them in the ocean with stones; but, a trustworthy authority informs us they were brought back, and were decently committed to the earth in the Mass Yard.
The only other executions in Youghal took place, 12 July, 1798, when again two persons suffered. They were CHARLES BRIEN, a respectable farmer of Ballyvergan, convicted of swearing in one LEAY an United Irishman, and CHARLES GOLLAHER, who had endeavoured to seduce a yeoman, named CURREY, from his allegiance. BRIEN and GOLLAHER were hanged from the windows on the north side of the Clock Gate, ropes being attached for the purpose to the iron grating. At this particular time, the Rebellion, which had broken out 23 May, was at its height; and Youghal was in a very critical state. The Wexford militia had left it, having volunteered to march to the scene of action in their own county, that they might defend their families and homes; and a detachment of insurgents, knowing the weakness of the Youghal garrison, would have attacked the town, had not Colonel Jackson, of the North Mayo Militia, thrown in relief, by a forced march from Cork. Before him, BRIEN and GOLLAHER were tried and convicted.
We have but one more circumstance to record, in connexion with these troublous times. In itself, it will show how fearfully they were out of joint. DR. COPPINGER, Roman Catholic Bishop of CLOYNE, resided at Youghal in the house next CAMPBELL'S Hotel, North Main St. He was to have been prosecuted for some alleged misdemeanour; when a connexion of his, DR. POWER, a member of the Clonmult family, privately conducted him through the Church-yard, and the Bishop made his escape in safety over the town-walls.
Sure: universal feeling will now turn with horror from these dreadful scenes, and will breathe the prayer that they be never again enacted in our beloved country! ('The Hand-Book For Youghal, W.G. Field, 1896)
*'The doctrines of the United Irishmen, and their system, were first introduced into Youghall and its neighbourhood by some soldiers of the Meath regiment quartered there, was the United Irishmen had some missionaries in it, and indeed in almost every Regiment.' - Musgrave's Rebellion, Vo. 11, p.273
**'Thomas Neil [O Neill], a farmer, in very opulent circumstances, was hanged [ROBERT WALSH and PATRICK SHANAHAN were also hung for the murder] at Cork for having been privy to, and present at the murder of Murphy, with a drawn sword; it is supposed at the instigation of his relation the priest. The day before his execution, he confessed to his landlord, Edward Hoare, esquire, a magistrate, that at first he was loyal, and intended to join lord Boyle's corps, but was dissuaded from it by his father, and others of his relations, (among whom it was supposed the priest was concerned) who induced him to swear the following oath: 'I do most solemnly swear, that I will pay no rent or tithes; that I will use my utmost endeavours to destroy all protestants, and false brothers; and be true to the French in case they land in Ireland;' and he confessed, that, in consequence of his entering into this association, he presided at the murder of Murphy; when first apprehended, he made some severe charged against his cousin, the priest, relative to the murder, but said at the time of his execution, that he had them only by hearsay.
Before his confessor was admitted to him, he confessed his crimes in a frank and unreserved manner, and owned that what he had declared was of his own certain knowledge; but after he had been visited by his confessor, he became very reserved, and said, that what he had alleged against his relation, the priest, was by hearsay only.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
† The North Gate stretched across the North Main Street, at the place were is now the entrance into Pim & Co.'s Flax establishment. The South Gate was half-way out (the present Devonshire Place, where some traces of it may yet be seen in the Green Park wall.)
†† Whenever pikes were taken from the Rebels, they were fixed up on the North Gate and exposed to view.
‡ It is hardly necessary to remind the reader that, until 1837, the Clock Gate was the prison of Youghal.
________________________________________________________________________________________
COBH
‘On the trial of PETER SHEA, at Cork, on the thirteenth of June, 1799, it appeared that he and others, endeavoured to seduce the crew of the Venerable and Ajax men of war, stationed at the Cove of Cork.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
‘In 1798 four men are said to have been flogged to death at Walterstown. A blacksmith named WALSH was also to be flogged, but was saved by the intervention of Father Harrington, of Reddington Academy. Another blacksmith, named JOHN WALSH, was brought here from Ballyannan and flogged from the old Market House to the Military Barracks and back, but was stopped at intervals to see if he would tell who were his comrades. He was followed by his sister, who spoke to him in Irish, urging him not to tell them anything, and he heroically followed her advice.' - (From 'History of the Great Island, Ancient Cove and Modern Queenstown', Dennehy & Coleman, 1923)
________________________________________________________________________________________
EDMOND 'MON' ROCHE
Hibernian Chronicle, 28/10/1798 - 'A BASE and unprovoked attack having been made on Me, and my Family, in a species of mock Proclamation, signed T. J. FITZGERALD, Sheriff, which was posted in various parts of the County of Tipperary, and also sent to Cork for publication, I am obliged, though reluctantly, to animadvert on this extraordinary production. - Among a variety of absurd falsehoods, it asserts that ' the invading Army, (which landed at Killalla) are commanded by General ROCHE, a County of Cork man, and Brother to Colonel Roche, of Trabolgan.' This assertion I declare to be false and malicious! And that I had neither Relation, Friend, nor Acquaintance in the invading Army. I feel Justified in the assertion, that it was as malicious as false, from its having appeared at a moment when it may have prejudiced the minds of a Court Martial*, and have been the cause of depriving my Brother [Edmond 'Mon' Roche] of his Life, his Property, and what must be dearer still, his Honour and Character. But this mean and detestable stratagem has failed, in its object. The Court acquitted my Brother, and his Excellency, the Lord Lieutenant has approved of their decision. - An attack of this kind was such as no generous, no brave Man could have made, considering how I was unfortunately circumstanced, absent from my Country, (by the orders of my Physicians, and the permission of Lieutenant-General Sir James Stewart,) therefore incapable of immediately defending myself, agitated by my Brother's situation, and oppressed with apprehensions of a total deprivation of Sight. - I think it unnecessary farther to remark on a production in which I have in vain endeavoured to trace the dignity of the Magistrate, the honour of a Gentleman, or the feelings of a Man. - EDWARD ROCHE, Trabolgan, Oct. 15, 1798
*'Discredited and Perjured Informers,' Chapman and Maum: the decision of the Court-Martial is sufficient to prove the first a discredited informer. The latter is now under sentence of Transported for his Perjuries. - [from a second open letter (5/11/1798) from Edward Roche of Trabolgan, in reply to Judkin Fitzgerald's open letter regarding the trial of Roche's brother, Edmond, 'Mon' Roche]
‘Lord Cornwallis suspected that Mr. Roche, of Trabolgan, was connected with the French landing, under Humbert, in 1798. Writing to the Duke of Portland, he says, ‘We have discovered a Mr. Teeling, of Lisburne, among the French prisoners; and, I believe that we shall prove that a ‘Monsieur La Roche is a Mr. Roche of Ireland. Monsieur satisfied Mr. Cooke that he was born of English parents in France, but, ‘after his departure fresh suspicions arose that he was one of the Roches of Trabolgan, county of Cork, and he was ordered to be arrested; but he had previously escaped.’ – Cornwallis’ Correspondence, vol. ii, p.405. (‘History’ of the County and City of Cork,’ C.B. Gibson, 1874)
Edmond 'Mon' Roche was an extensive landed proprietor from Kildinan, near Glenville. He was the brother of Edward Roche of Trabolgan. In 1798, his neighbour, David Nagle, was arrested in 1798, and later lodged in jail in Cork. 'Nagle was one of the informers who gave evidence against 'Mon' Roche along with a Private Chapman, of the Royal Artillery. Nagle's uncle later gave evidence that he 'was of a generally infamous character from whom one word could not be believed even on oath.'* Chapman was a spy in the pay of Government. He gave evidence that 'he travelled around Imokilly and that he was sworn in as a United Irishman by a MR. KELLY, in the house of a MR. BUCKMASTER, of Glenturkin. He further stated that Mr. Roche, Trabolgan, gave a letter to MR. BUCKMASTER to take to his brother in Kildinan, and asked him (Chapman) to accompany MR. BUCKMASTER. Instead of going to Kildinan, BUCKMASTER took him to Arnold's public house in Watergrasshill, he stated, where a large crowd was assembled at the time. Among them was Mr. Mon Roche to whom Buckmaster gave the letter.'* This letter, and the evidence of Nagle, was later discredited in Court, and Roche was acquitted.
*''Cork Cork Accent', Patrick Barry, 1949
________________________________________________________________________________________
MALLOW
‘In the month of May, 1798, there was a dreadful mutiny in the Meath regiment quartered at Mallow, which was excited by some agents of the United Irishmen sent there for that purpose; one of them, who turned approver, assured me of it, and stated to me the particulars of it. It was occasioned by reports sedulously circulated among them of the plots of orangemen against papists.
Robert Boyd, and James Boyle, privates in the Roscommon militia, swore in their information before Thomas Flyn, esquire, the eighth of March, 1798, that on the seventh of March then last, a man of the name of MICHAEL HORROGAN, and another man, whose name they did not know, went with the informants to a public house, in Mallow, to take a pot of beer; that said HORROGAN asked informants of what religion they were; that informants replied they were Romans; that said HORROGAN then said, that if he could rely on their being true Romans, he would let them into a secret; informants assured him they were. Upon which said HORROGAN put his hand into his pocket, and pulled a book half out of it, with an intent, as he said, to swear informants, but was prevented by the other man who was in company; that informants told said HORROGAN that they had already taken the oath of allegiance, and would not take any other oath; when said HORROGAN said, that informants might do their duty, and that he would do his; and also said, that the magazine of Cork would be burned before five nights were over; that the United Irishmen would rise, and burn all before them; and that they were all United Irishmen from Bandon to the North.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
‘Projected Rebellion in Cork - Secret Services of Fr. Barry. - The appendix to the new edition of the first volume of 'The Lives and Times of the United Irishmen' displays, under the head 'Secret Service Money Revelations from Original Accounts and Receipts for Pensions,' a curious selection from these documents, to each of which, with some few exceptions, Dr Madden supplies interesting details regarding the circumstances under which the pension was earned. At page 395 appears a receipt from the late Rev. Thomas Barry, P.P. of Mallow, who enjoyed a secret stipend of £100 a year; and as no explanatory statement is volunteered, it perhaps becomes our duty to supply the omission, while furnishing at the same time a note to some preceding remarks of our own.
The following letter, addressed to the Very Rev. Dr Russell Roman Catholic Dean of Cloyne, by the Rev. 'I'. Murphy, of Mallow, containing the result of some inquiries instituted at our suggestion among the oldest inhabitants of that town, will be read with interest:-
'Mallow, October 2, 1865. - 'Very Rev. and Dear Sir, - After many inquiries about the subject matter of your kind letter of Sept. 9, I thought it well to await the return of an old inhabitant who was absent from Mallow until yesterday.
'The following is the substance of his account of the émeute, which I believe to be the most authentic. Shortly after the insurrection of '98, the Royal Meath Militia were stationed in Mallow. They had conspired with the disaffected to blow up the Protestant Church, when the yeomanry troops were at service on a certain Sunday. Abundant materials were at hand, as Mallow contained several parks of artillery at the time in a field near the Protestant Church, and hence called Cannon Field to this day.
'On the Saturday preceding, two of the wives of the militia, who lodged at one Canty's, at Ballydaheen, were noticed by Canty's wife stitching or sewing the extremities of their petticoats together, and Mrs. Canty (wife of Canty, a cooper) expressed her astonishment. The soldiers' wives were equally surprised, and asked her did she not hear of the rising about to occur next day. An expression of more unbounded surprise was the response. The poor Meath women expected they could fill more than their pockets.
Canty (whose son still lives in Ballydaheen) communicated the news to his gossip, Lover, (a convert.) Lover went to confession on that Saturday, and Father Barry refused to absolve him except he disclosed the ease extra tribunal. His wishes were complied with, and both Lover and Father Barry went forthwith to General Erskine, who lived on Spa Walk.
As soon as the plot was revealed, SERGEANT BEATTY with 19 men on guard for that night, (all implicated,) aware of the treachery, immediately decamped. The yeomen pursued them in their flight to the Galtees, and when one of Beatty's men could no longer continue the retreat, his wish of dying at the hands of Beatty was complied with. Beatty turned round and shot him! The body of this poor fellow was brought back to Mallow next day, and lies interred near the Protestant church, and SERGEANT BEATTY himself (God be merciful to him!) was taken finally in Dublin, and hanged. Lover had four sons. They all emigrated after arriving at manhood. I am sorry to say one of them became a priest and died a short time since in Boston.
'The father received a pension of £50 a year for life, and Father Barry was in receipt of £100 a year until 1813, (The pension was finally restored to him, as his receipts prove In the Secret Service Money Book, now held by Charles Haliday, Esq., and from which Dr Madden has quoted the salient points, we find Father Barry's name frequently figuring as a recipient of various gratuities exclusive of his pension. - W. J. F.) when a dispute arose between him and the Protestant minister of Mallow, about the interment of some Protestant who became a convert on his death-bed. Father Barry insisted on reading the service in the Protestant churchyard, was reported to Government for not persevering in proofs of loyalty, deprived of his pension, and died, and is buried in our Catholic cemetery adjoining the church. The only prayer I ever heard offered for him was, 'God forgive him!' Yours very sincerely, - 'T. Murphy. - 'To the Very Rev. Dean Russell.'
Dean Russell, in enclosing his correspondent's letter to us for publication, corrects an error into which the Rev. Mr Murphy fell, in stating that Lover received £50 a year in recognition of his timely information. A previous letter from the Dean observes:-
'Protestant gratitude, unfortunately for Mr Barry's character, obtained for him £100 a year, but poor Lover never received a farthing. Having been reduced to great poverty, a petition was sent to Government, signed by 25 gentlemen, stating his services. The answer was, they knew nothing of him; but the rebellion was then smothered in the blood of the people.'
The Dean adds, that this and other information recently reached him from clergymen who were born in Mallow or its vicinity.
It would be difficult to find a pastor who presented a more venerable and paternal aspect than the late Father Thomas Barry of Mallow. His flowing white hair and thorough benevolence of expression impressed most favourably all who came in contact with him, and commanded their entire confidence. The late eminent and lamented Daniel O Connell, on being shown one of Father Barry's receipts for 'blood money,' as it was then somewhat erroneously presumed to have been, started, and, to quote the words of our informant who still holds his receipts, 'became as white as a sheet!'
For thirty years O'Connell had been on terms of close intimacy with Father Barry, and reposed unbounded confidence in his counsel. In the Dublin Evening Post of the day an obituary notice appears of Father Barry, who died January 18, 1828. The singular fact is mentioned, that the priest's pall was borne by six Protestants. Having directed the attention of Dean Russell to this article, he writes: 'The statement that Mr. Barry's coffin was borne to the grave by six Protestants, can hardly be correct, as nothing was known of the pension he received till some time after his death. He was buried in the same respectful way in which Catholic clergymen are usually buried.' - ('The Sham Squire and The Informers of 1798 &c.,' William J. Fitz-patrick, 1866)
________________________________________________________________________________________
BAKER, WALTER - '..a Protestant named WALTER BAKER (whose relatives are still living in this parish), passed through Mourne Abbey a prisoner well guarded on his way from Cork to Mallow to be executed.' He was offered a reprieve on condition that he turned informer but refused and was hung. ('History of Mourne Abbey,' Patrick O Regan, 1901)
________________________________________________________________________________________
ARAGLIN & JOSEPH BURNISTON
‘A committee to superintend and transact the business of the county, sat constantly in Cork; and they sent directions to every part of it, relative to the finances, the seizing of arms, and the military organisation; and they issued orders to all the county committees of assassination, to murder every person in their vicinity, whose loyalty and spirited exertions made him obnoxious to them.
Messieurs St. George and Uniacke were murdered at Arraglin, near Kilworth, on the ninth of January, 1798, by order of that committee.
One [JOSEPH] BURNISTON, a most sanguinary wretch, who had been one of the most active and efficient members of the union at Cork; issued the order for that purpose, to a committee at Arraglin; and they having accomplished the business, their leader wrote a letter to BURNISTON, to inform him of it; and BURNISTON read the letter to a person in Cork, who turned approver, and prosecuted him. - 'CITIZEN BURNISTON, Your order has been obeyed, and St. George and Uniacke are no more; twenty-seven persons have been taken in Arraglin, on account of their death; if you wish, they shall be rescued.' - BURNISTON had been bred a protestant, but confessed that the constant perusal of Paine's Age of Reason, had completely extinguished all religious principles in him.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
Hibernian Chronicle 25/6/1798 - [Advertisement] -WHEREAS, a report has prevailed that JOSEPH BURNISTON, who was executed in this City on Friday last was a Methodist. - The Preachers and Trustees of the Methodist Society in Cork, think it their duty to assure the Public, that he has not been a Member of their Society these seven years, not in any wise connected with them.
Cork and Ross Marriage Licence Bonds
Burniston/i> Anthy. & Eliz. Smith 1788 Deborah & Danl. Denmead 1793 Eliza & Rich. Webber 1818 Joseph & Eliz. Holland 1783 An Anthony Burniston was listed as a grocer, at Princes St., Cork, in the 1810 and 1824 Directories. The 'Burniston Club' was one of the Young Ireland groups in the city in 1848.
________________________________________________________________________________________
WEST & SOUTH-WEST CORK
‘{County of Cork} – JOHN DALY, soldier in the Limerick light company, swore in his information before General Coote, the twenty-eighth of June, 1797, against MICHAEL CANTY, [HC 29/6/1797 - Brought in From Bandon, Dunmanway, &c; charged with disaffection] for administering to him the following oath: 'That he, the said John Daly, should dethrone all kings, quell all nations, and plant the true religion in the hearts of the just; that he should be true to the Roman catholic defenders of Ireland, and to the French at the first attempt of a French invasion in this kingdom, and sooner if called on by the committee men; that he would never see a brother struck or abused by a protestant on any account; that he, said Daly, would not see a brother want when he had two pence, without sharing it with him; that he should never recommend a man of an unfair character to the society; and that he, said Daly, should take the life of any man that would give information.
JAMES COPPINGER, and others, [were convicted at the Spring Assizes, 1798] of having on the thirty-first of March, 1798, at Skibbereen, drank success to the French, and bad luck to their enemies.
JOHN COLLINS was found guilty of having said at the same place, on the twelfth of February, 1798, George the third is a scoundrel and a rascal.
TIMOTHY CARTHY [MCCARTHY], (the murderer of Mr. Hutchinson a few months after,) was found guilty of having, with many others, attempted to enter forcibly the house of Mr. John Gilman, near Dunmanway, and of having fired many shots into it. [The 'Hibernian Chronicle' states that this particular TIMOTHY MCCARTHY SOUNEY/SAWNEY, was executed for his part in this action.]
There were two committees of United Irishmen constantly sitting at Bantry, who organised the whole of the South West of the county, and planned a general rising in that part, in which the Westmeath regiment, at that time much infected, would have joined in, but that the seasonable discovery of their designs, and the critical arrival of the Caithness Legion defeated it. In that immense tract, the house of every protestant was robbed of arms, but none belonging to Roman catholics were molested.
One [Bryan] O Connor, a popish physician, who was independent in his circumstances, was one of the leaders at Bantry.
The rising was to have been begun at Clonakilty, where the Westmeath was quartered, and was to have extended over the whole of the South West. They were to have murdered all the protestant inhabitants, and such of the soldiers as did not join them; but the arrival of the Caithness Legion prevented it.
I have been assured, that the parish priest of Ross and Clonakilty were loyal, and endeavoured to preserve their flocks from the contagion of treason.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
'On the 19th of June [1798], the Westmeath regiment of militia, consisting of upwards of seven hundred men, under the command of Colonel Sir Hugh O Reilly, marched from Clonakilty, where they had been some time quartered, for Bandon. When they had reached within a short distance of Balliniscarthy, several hundreds of the insurgents, armed chiefly with pikes, hastened to meet them. Sir Hugh called a halt, formed his men, and gave the word to load. The order they obeyed, and rammed down cartridges in due form, but without the balls: these they bit off, and dropped upon the road. The rebels still pressing on, the section on the right of the column was ordered to fire; but the harmless discharge only produced merriment. Anticipating little injury after this friendly reception, the insurgents now boldly came up. Some of them shook the soldiery by hand, and familiarly addressed them by name. More of them slapped them on the back, and swore the day was their own. Others bestrode the cannon; and one huge fellow, named TEIG-AN-ASTNA [TADHG O DONOVAN], more audacious-than his fellows, actually walked up, and seized the colonel's charger by the bridle. But a sergeant, who was in the ranks, and one of the few who had loaded with ball, stepped a pace or two to the front, and, levelling his piece at TEIGE, shot him dead; but he did not live long to congratulate himself upon his loyalty, for his rear-rank man, taking aim, discharged his musket through his back, but he fell in agony upon the ground. There were a few rank and file scattered throughout the ranks of the same way of thinking as poor Cummings; and now they began to grow uneasy for their lives, and well they might. Some of their comrades, with whom they had never once interchanged an angry work, now pushed intentionally against them; others spat in their faces, and in a short time, in all probability, they would have shared the sergeant's fate, had not a strong company of the Caithness Legion, under Major Jones, opportunely made its appearance.
This little force had been sent out to reconnoitre, and to keep the Westmeath in check, information as to the premeditated disloyalty of that corps having been received in Bandon the night before. Their unexpected arrival produced a magical effect upon the disaffected. The most turbulent amongst them became instantly silent. They fell into the ranks without even waiting for the word of command; and, when the ordered to march, they set forward with alacrity. Meanwhile the Caithness continued to advance, and having got between the rear of the Westmeath and the enemy's front, they faced to the latter; then, suddenly opening out their ranks, they discharged their two field-pieces at them with much effect. Accompanying this with a volley of musketry, they soon sent them scampering off to the hills.
The bodies of the two men were taken in a cart to Clonakilty. That of TEIG-AN-ASTNA was ignominiously flung into a pool of water in the Strand, called Crab Hole; but the remains of Sergeant Cummings were buried with full military honours in the graveyard attached to the parish church of the town.' ('History of Bandon,' George Bennett, 1869)
'In Munster but one attempt was made to shake off the English yoke. - On the 10th of June an attack was made by some 300 of the Cork peasantry on a body of King's troops, consisting of 200 Weatmeathean yeomanry and 100 of the Caithness legion, while on their march from Clonakilty to Bandon. The peasantry sprang from their ambuscade and charged the Weatmeatheans with their pikes, giving them no time to form. It might have fared ill with the latter had not the Caithness legion hurried up to their assistance, and pouring a sharp fire on the insurgents, put them to flight. The peasantry lost in this action about fifty men, but the loss of the military could not be ascertained, for, as was customary, their dead and wounded were borne away, and a report issued by the commander more creditable to his powers of invention than to his truthfulness.' ('The Insurrection of '98' - Rev. P.F. Kavanagh, Cork, 1874)
________________________________________________________________________________________
‘O’CONNOR, ARTHUR: Soldier and United Irish leader. Born on July 4, 1763, near Bandon, County Cork. Son of Roger O'Connor, landed proprietor, by Anne Longfield, sister of Lord Longueville [brother of ROGER O CONNOR]. From early he held republican principles which he imbibed during the American Revolution. From 1791 to 1796 he was a member of the colonial parliament in College Green, and in the latter year he joined the Society of United Irishmen. Immediately afterwards he and Lord Edward Fitzgerald had an interview with Hoche in France, where they solicited French help for the Irish independence movement. He was arrested in 1797, and imprisoned for six months in Dublin Castle; and in the following year he was again arrested on his way to France with Father James Coigly, was tried and acquitted. Re-arrested immediately afterwards he was, with other Irish leaders, kept in confinement at Fort George in Scotland till June, 1802. He then went to Paris, where he was regarded as the accredited representative of the United Irishmen by Napoleon who, in February, 1804, appointed him General of Division in the French army. His letters of service, which were signed by General Berthier, Minister of War, directed that he was to join at Brest the expeditionary army intended for the invasion of Ireland. When all hope of the materialisation of this project disappeared, O'Connor left the army and retired into private life. In 1815, however, he offered his services to Napoleon to defend the independence of France against the Bourbons. This offer occasioned a reproachful letter to him from Henry Clarke, Duke of Feltre. - In 1807 O'Connor married Eliza, only daughter of Condorcet, the French philosopher and mathematician, and in the following year he settled at Bignon on a property which once belonged to Mirabeau. He was permitted by the British government to return to Ireland for two months in 1834, to arrange for the sale of his Irish properties. A prolific writer, most of his life after retiring from the army was devoted to literary work. He published many pamphlets on social and political subjects, and he helped to edit the works of Condorcet in 12 volumes (Paris, 1847-1849). He died at his château in Bignon on 25th April, 1852. Several of his direct descendants have been officers in the French army up to recent times.' ('A Biographical Dictionary of Irishmen in France, Richard Hayes, 1949.)
________________________________________________________________________________________
SWANTON, ROBERT - ‘Conway [ see JOHN AND HENRY SHEARES, above] and [ROBERT] SWANTON [1759-1840], both Cork men, were very actively engaged. Conway was a watchmaker, and one of the Directory of Cork. Both he and his friend SWANTON were arrested and sent to Cork jail, where Conway lost his health, and offered the government 'useful information' for his liberty.'
‘SWANTON, who lived near Dunmanway, escaped to America, where he became a judge. He returned to this county, tow or three years ago, no doubt a far wiser man than he left it.' ('History' of the County and City of Cork,' C.B. Gibson, 1874)
________________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER CO. CORK
‘DENIS SULLIVAN, and DANIEL KEEFFE, were convicted [at the Spring Assizes, 1798] of having compelled Luke O Brien, a soldier, with a cocked pistol at his breast, to swear that he would not be true to the king, because he was not qualified, or entitled to enjoy the crown.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
‘On the trial of DANIEL WOLLAGHAN, and DANIEL HARRINGTON, held at Cork the twenty-seventh of June, 1799, it appeared, that they, with eleven other ruffians armed with scythes on the end of poles, in the month of September, 1798, issued forth in the night to hough cattle; and that they accordingly houghed and mangled, in a most barbarous manner, the cows of different people.' ('Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.' Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
‘{County of Cork} – William Hegarty, of Gurteen, gentleman, swore in his information before Redmond Barry [? Of Castlelyons], esquire, the twenty-second of March, 1798, that on the eleventh of March then last, informant was sworn by GEORGE WALSH, WILLIAM FOWLUE, and WILLIAM JOYCE, ‘to be true to the French, to kill, murder and destroy all kings and tyrants, lords and earls, ministers and proctors.’ (‘Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ireland, from the arrival of the English, &c.’ Sir Richard Musgrave, 1802)
________________________________________________________________________________________
MILITARY FORCES IN CORK 1797 - 98
WINTER QUARTERS - October 15, 1796 - (Advertisement HC 3/11/1796 - Cork stations and Militias only)
CAVALRY 1st Fencible Light Dragoons Mallow, Bandon, Cork INFANTRY - Cork Militias Cork City Militia Galway S. Cork Militia Ennis [Co. Clare], &c.
Gort [Co. Galway] and Kilrush [Co. Clare]North Cork Militia Sligo
Boyle [Co. Roscommon]
Carrick on Shannon [Co. Leitrim]INFANTRY STATIONED IN CORK Roscommon
ArmaghCork Dublin Co. Militia Cove Forts, &c. Meath Youghal & Midleton Three regmts. From England Monkstown Hutts. [?Monkstown, Cork] Galway Militia Near Cove, Cork Caithness Legion, Fencibles Macroom, Millstreet, Skibbereen, Bantry, Dunmanway Sligo Kinsale Leitrim Charles Fort Invalids 1 ½ Com. Kinsale
1 ½ Com. ClonakiltyMILITARY FORCES IN CORK 1797 - 98 - taken from newspaper and other printed sources, indexed by name as given in the source
Force (title given) Place *Source Date of Notice Year ? Fencibles Cork city HC 28th June 1798 27th foot Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 2nd Regt. Fencible Dragoons Dunmanway area HC 29th May 1797 30th Regiment Cork city HC 28th June 1798 41st foot Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 60th foot (Hessians) Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 60th foot (Hessians) Cork city HC 26th Nov. 1798 60th foot (Hessians) Cork - Wateford HC Dec. 17th 1798 60th foot Hessians Cove - Clonmel HC 11th June 1798 60th Regt. Cork - Bandon HC 23rd Apr. 1798 89th Foot Araglin HC 19th Feb. 1798 89th Regt. Fermoy HC 22nd Feb. 1798 89th Regt. Castlelyons/Rathcormack HC 16th Apr. 1798 Berwickshire Fencible horse Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Berwickshire cavalry Cork city HC 5th Nov. 1798 Caithness Legion Clonakilty Musgrave 1798 Caithness Legion, see also Rothsay Bandon-Clonakilty HC June 1798 Clare Militia Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Clare Militia (Co. Clare) Fermoy HC 22nd Feb. 1798 Dublin Milita Cork City HC 22nd Feb. 1798 Dublin Milita/Co. Dublin Militia Cork City HC 12th Feb. 1798 Dublin Militia/Co. Dublin Militia Cork city HC 29th Mar. 1798 Dublin Militia/Co. Dublin Militia Cork city HC 5th Apr. 1798 Dublin Militia/Co. Dublin Militia Marching out of Cork HC 24th May 1798 Dublin Regiment Cork city Musgrave 1798 Elgin Fencibles Blarney HC 11th June 1798 Elgin Fencibles Cork city HC 14th June 1798 Galway Militia Bantry HC 2nd Jan. 1797 Galway Militia Bantry, Macroom, Millstreet HC 29th June 1797 Galway Militia Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Highlanders Cork city HC 5th Apr. 1798 Hompesch's Chasseurs Cove - Cork - Charleville - Limerick HC 23rd Apr. 1798 Kilkenny Militia ? HC 26th Jun. 1797 Leitrim Militia Kinsale HC 30th Jan. 1797 Leitrim Militia Cork - west of Bandon HC 29th May 1797 Leitrim Militia Bandon HC 15th Feb. 1798 Leitrim Militia (Leitrim Regiment of Militia) Mallow - Doneraile - Charleville Musgrave 1798 Light Brigade (Gen. Moore) Cork city HC 28th June 1798 Limerick Light Company Musgrave 1797 Limerick Militia (Royal Co. Limerick) Cove - Cork - Clonmel HC 11th June 1798 Lord Glentworth's Cavalry Neighbourhood of Bandon - Limerick (ordered from Mallow) HC 5th Jan. 1797 Lord Jocelyn's Cavalry Neighbourhood of Bandon - Limerick (ordered from Mallow) HC 5th Jan. 1797 Meath Militia Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Meath Regiment Mallow - in Youghal 1796 (Field) Musgrave 1798 Middle Lothian Cavalry Cork city HC 28th June 1798 North Mayo Militia Cork city HC 5th Apr. 1798 North Mayo Militia Cork - Youghal HC 11th June 1798 North Mayo Militia (North Mayo Regiment of Militia) Kinsale - Cork city Musgrave 1798 Roscommon Militia Bandon HC 7th Sept. 1797 Roscommon Militia ? HC 22nd Mar. 1798 Roscommon Militia Mallow Musgrave 1798 Rothsay & Caithness Fencibles, see also Caithness Cork - Imokilly HC 23rd Nov. 1797 Royal British Artillery Cork city HC 28th June 1798 Royal Irish Artillery Cork city HC 14-28 June 1798 Sligo Militia Kinsale HC 30th Jan. 1797 Tyrone Militia Blarney - Cove HC 11th June 1798 Tyrone Militia (Royal Tyrone) Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Waterford Militia Clonakilty HC 30th Jan. 1797 Westmeath Militia Ordered to Cork HC 5th Jan. 1797 Westmeath Militia Bandon - Clonakilty - Skibbereen HC June 1798 Westmeath Militia Cork city HC 18th Oct. 1798 Westmeath Regiment Clonakilty Musgrave 1798 Wexford Militia Bandon/Kinsale HC 29th May 1797 Wexford Militia Youghal Field 1797 Wexford Regiment/Militia Bandon HC 26th Jan. 1797 *Source - HC - 'Hibernian Chronicle' Newspaper
________________________________________________________________________________________
Biblio. - Modern Works
Seán Ó Coindealbháin, ' The United Irishmen in Cork County,' in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaelogical Society in 7 Parts:-
Pt. 1 - The United Irishmen in Cork County - JCHAS Vol. LIII (1948)
Pt. 2 - Cork City - JCHAS Vol. LIV (1949)
Pt. 3 - East Cork - JCHAS Vol. LV (1950)
Pt. 4 - Mallow and Mid-Cork - JCHAS Vol. LV (1950)
Pt. 5 - South and South-West Cork - JCHAS Vol. LVI (1951)
Pt. 6 - South and South-West Cork Continued - JCHAS Vol. LVI (1951)
Pt. 7 - The United Irishmen in Cork County - JCHAS LVII (1952)
Murphy, John A., ed., 'The French are in the Bay: The Expedition to Bantry Bay 1796,' Mercier Press, Cork, 1997
Philip M. O Neill, 'The Barrow Uncrossed; Fr. Peter O Neill and the Events in East Cork During the 1798 Rebellion, etc.,' Dublin, 1998
Patrick C. Power, 'The Courts Martial of 1798-99,' 1997
Jane Hayter Hames, 'Arthur O Connor United Irishmen,' Collins Press, Cork, 2001
________________________________________________
© Jean Prendergast 2002 - 2021. All Rights Reserved.
These pages are for the use and enjoyment of website visitors who are researching Cork history and genealogy and they are freely accessible. Some of the material is borrowed from others. Please do not link directly to any images on these pages, as that would constitute misuse.
Last modified: Sunday, 13-Dec-2020 16:26:29 EST