On this day 29 May in Irish History

29 May 1798: 350 insurgents were slaughtered at the Curragh, Co Kildare, by Crown Forces under Sir James Duff. They had gathered there to surrender their weapons on agreed terms. Once they had laid down their arms the massacre began. The chief culprits in this were Roden's Light Dragoons, including the Monasterevan cavalry along with other militia units. Many others were wounded and others either fled on realising what was happening or feigned death till the troops departed.

At Enniscorthy Edward Fitzgerald and John Henry Colclough, arrived from Wexford Town with a message from the garrison commander there that they should disperse and return to their homes. Fitzgerald and Colclough had both been arrested two days before as suspected members of the United Irishmen and the garrison commander seems to have assumed they might have enough influence with the rebels to persuade them to call off their campaign. In a dramatic moment though, the crowds in the town persuaded both men to join them and the rebel leaders decided to lead the thousands of armed men they now had under their control, southwards to attack Wexford Town.

See http://multitext.ucc.ie/d/The_1798_Rebellion_in_Wexford

29 May 1896: The Irish Socialist Republican Party, secretary James Connolly, was founded on this day.

The 1798 wars happened all over the shop then did they? Why were Carlow and Kildare and other places like that hotspots for attacking and pillaging and doing battle (unless the K club was there then...) ? Is it because they were just outside the Pale or the strong sphere of British governance?

Auditor #9 wrote:

The 1798 wars happened all over the shop then did they? Why were Carlow and Kildare and other places like that hotspots for attacking and pillaging and doing battle (unless the K club was there then...) ? Is it because they were just outside the Pale or the strong sphere of British governance?

Well, Kildare has been a place of great significance for much of our history, hasn't it? It's the western flank of our capital, and if you are coming from Munster/Connacht to Dublin, you will more than likely have to travel through Kildare.

Kildare was the heartland of the Earldom of Desmond, and I remember that the Earl of Desmond was tasked with the role of safe-guarding the Pale by our English occupiers.

There's also a lot of militarisation in Kildare. In Newbridge, a whole section of the town is called "The Barracks" since the British had one their during their occupation and up to this very day, the Curragh is a very important hub of the Irish Defence Forces. There is a very large military base on the Curragh and in fact the Curragh is DoD property.

Auditor #9 wrote:

The 1798 wars happened all over the shop then did they? Why were Carlow and Kildare and other places like that hotspots for attacking and pillaging and doing battle (unless the K club was there then...) ? Is it because they were just outside the Pale or the strong sphere of British governance?

Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford were the main centres. Also Antrim and Down.

In the West General Humbert's expedition later in the year brought revolt to Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.

Though it is important to note that widespread armed resistance at a local level had been ongoing since 1795 - a lot of areas had been repressed by the time the Rising actually broke out.

BTW 21 June next is the 210th Aniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. It also happens to be a Saturday and I intend to travel down there to stand on that hallowed ground on that day.

If anyone would care to join me on the journey or meet me there please let me know.

Brandubh wrote:

BTW 21 June next is the 210th Aniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. It also happens to be a Saturday and I intend to travel down there to stand on that hallowed ground on that day.

If anyone would care to join me on the journey or meet me there please let me know.

Well, that would also be the 100th day of the Glorious Sovereignty of the Machine Nation's existence, so perhaps we can combine the commemorations.