The rising of 1798

one of the most barbaric atrocities ever perpetrated in Ireland in the name of the law was committed in county limerick over 200 years ago. two wounded men writhed and groaned in excruciating agony at the bottom of a deep pit as local protestant mercenaries piled quicklime on top of them.

looking on with glee was the chief magistrate of county limerick and his henchmen, urging their forces to speed their vile work. but this hideous outrage was to prove to be the turning point in a struggle which had begun years earlier.

The rising of 1798 was still a very real memory to the people of askeaton. the British military had put the severed head of one of the insurgents, paddy O'Neill, on a spike above the ancient Desmond castle in the town to remind the people of the uncompromising nature of their rule. the people looked at the head and cursed their oppressors.

one young boy, a mere child in his mothers arms who saw this horrid sight was Terence Moran who lived only a few hundred yards away. as he grew up, he resolved to do his part to avenge this indignity. he joined the united Irishmen and by 1821, when he was thirty, had become the undisputed leader of the area.

A clandestine meeting near Rathkeale, held in July 1821, drew up an action plan to burn the tithe books, (every tenant was to give a tenth of his crop or produce to the established church.) which were held at the house of the proctor, Ives, near Askeaton. Terence Moran was appointed commander of the raid. the date for the raid was fixed for 15th august. Moran organized his men in utmost secrecy but an informer, believed to have been Mickey Frawley, gave advance notice to the chief magistrate.

on the appointed night Terence Moran, ignorant of the fact that he had been betrayed, did not join his men for a drink before setting off. Moran bade farewell to his mother who remained behind, fingering her rosary beads. he gathered his men and crossed the river Deel by Hunt's house to Inchirourke.

it was a black stormy night, a high wind, lashing rain and the landscape was lit intermittently by terrible bolts of lighting and crashes of thunder.

the tree's around Ives house creaked in the wind a sorrowful dirge as the volunteers approached. the lights in the house were bright in every window to lure the rebels close to the where a full view could be obtained.

as Moran led his men to the door, shots rang out. Major Going was inside with a detachment of highlanders, while from the outhouses came the palatine mercenaries to surround the little band of insurgents. Moran was badly wounded in the first volley. steel clashed with steel for a few minutes but the rebels were in a hopeless position, outnumbered and exposed. they made their escape as best they could into the darkness.

Moran bleeding heavily, was taken with them and through the night was transferred from house to house for safety.

meanwhile, back at the scene of the battle, other men were wounded and dragged themselves to the cover of the hedges.

but on that fateful night, three wounded men still lay huddled in a drenched ditch, Hayes from Askeaton, Fitzgerald, new rd, Rathkeale and O' Callaghan Darby from cappagh. as the morning dawned, O' Callaghan dragged himself to a spring well near Ives house to quench his burning thirst. but a servant girl from the house saw him and betrayed him. Major Going and yellow George, with their troops, rushed from the house and captured all three.

Hayes, O' Callaghan and Fitzgerald were carried through the streets, doubly lined with soldiers, to their final resting place, the croppy hole, near Rathkeale bridge.

that deep pit, dug at the western side of the river more black in the gathering darkness, was to be their grave.

without coffin, winding sheet of shroud, the three were dumped into the hole. as the burning quicklime was thrown into the hole.

as the burning quicklime was thrown upon them they were seen to crawl about on the bottom of the pit, in a desperate effort to get out.

in the succeeding days, Going paid £1,600 to informers. attempts by the remaining leaders to lay plans were foiled before they began, transportations and executions were an every day occurrence.

the leader of the askeaton insurrection, Moran died in a house in barrigone, he was buried in a field in craggs for a time but his final resting place was church St askeaton.

the burial alive of the insurgents had fired the people on October 21st after consultation with the magistrates of the county Going left for Dublin to seek more military intervention.

despite the intervention of the lord lieutenant, the reign of terror continued for some time but as in all things justice was eventually seen to be done. the tyrant Going, was shot outside Rathkeale and other members of the gentry suffered similar fates.

the arch- traitor Mickey Frawley, after years of foreign travel on his ill gotten money, he returned to county limerick and was brutalized in the blacksmiths forge at blossom hill outside Rathkeale.

in 1900 a fund was opened to erect a simple memorial to the men who died in the raid on Inchirourke.

THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL
Galway, Monday, August 9, 1824

PROVINCIAL INTELLIGENCE
     LIMERICK, AUG 4 - On Friday night, two men were deliberately beaten in the
neighborhood of Askeaton, by a party of disguised villains; and the reason
assigned was, for working on the new line of road, according to Mr. Griffith's
plan, and contrary to the wishes of the people. It appears that Mr. Griffith
insists on having the work performed by task, in gangs of 12 each, while the
labourers require to be paid by the day.
     A most barbarous outrage was committed on the mountains of Ballygerine,
about two miles from Killaloe, on Saturday night last. Some person most cruelly
tortured two cows, the property of William Smith, by forcing sticks into their
bodies, in consequence of which they died in the greatest agony on Sunday night.
     At the fair of O'Brien's Bridge, on the 26th ult. a man in the employ of
John Massy, Esq., was dreadfully beaten, and his skull fractured. He died on
Sunday last.
     On Saturday last, Mrs. Hare, widow of Major Hare, who was murdered at Mount
Henry, in the county Limerick, arrived in that city from Plymouth, to attend the
trial of the person in custody for the foul act. On Monday she had an interview
with them in the gaol, when she identified one of them as being concerned; her
feelings were much agitated on the occasion; and since the murder she has been
in extreme grief.
     Sunday last, Mr. Griffith laid the foundation stone of the new bridge, over
the river Feale, which is to be called Wellesley Bridge, in commemoration of the
Viceroyship of his present Excellency, to whom the public are solely indebted
for so many important works now going on in that hitherto neglected part of the
Country. The three first stones that were laid weighed over seven tons. A
quantity of whisky was poured on them when they were put down.
     The public will be gratified to learn, that the line of Road between
Limerick and Tralee, part of which was executed at the private expense of Mr.
Rice, of Mount Trenchard, is nearly complete, and that a Mail Coach will be
started in August, to run between Limerick and Tralee.- Mr. Rice will be repaid
his expenses by the Grand Jury. It is curious to remark, that Mr. Rice excepted
a piece of road for 200l. for which a sum of 2,000l. was demanded for by
contract.

     ENNIS, AUG 5 - At the fair of O'Brien's Bridge, on Monday week, a bloody
engagement occurred between two factions. A young man named Wixred had his skull
fractured, of which he died on Monday last. An inquest was held on the body by
Thomas Sampson, Esq., and a verdict returned of willful murder against persons
unknown.

     The windows of the Church of Ballybay were demolished in consequence of the
Rector, Mr. St. George, preaching to the Orangemen on the 12th of July. The
parishioners have offered 500 reward for the perpetrators.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Ireland Old News
http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

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