The Irish standard., 1893-08-12
OWEN ROE O'NEILL
The Victor of Benburb With His
Pikemen Defeats the English
Under Lord Moore.
THE BATTLE OF PORTLESTER

II { DAl LIE UT IUn LED EItu
1t Was a Fiercely- Fought Combat
as the Opposing Forces Were
Equally Matched.
What multitudes of the generous youth
of Ireland have had, and in all future
time will have, the flame of love OF coun-
try and liberty lighted up in their hearts
by the brief and glorious story of Owen
Roe O'Neill and his heroic companions!
AS they read-and their hearts warm as
they read-the story of the struggle for
national independence, undertaken with
raw material against their Saxon foes,
they may we'll fancy themselves marching
to the battlefield OF Portlester. They
cannot fail to hear the shouts of the
combatants the din Of battle, and the
Celtic cheers with which the men of Ire
land eeted the hero Of the day as he
sounded the bugle OF victory. The stu
dent of Irish history, on his arrival at the
sacred ground-if he possesses the true
historic instinct-cannot but hear him.
self, in imagination, addressed by the
spirits of the departed heroes in the
words of the sublime epitaph of Simon
ides on the field of observation-disclosures,
tell the Lacedemonians that We lie here
in obedience to their precepts:''
And how shall we tell the story Of those
who fought and died at Portlester? Come
away with us from the dust and heat and
idle gossip of the gay city of Dublin and
join few enthusiastic members Of the
Antiquarian and Historical Society, on
exploration bent, and ramble over the
battlefield in the county Meath, says q
writer in the Drogheda Argus.
With the desire to illustrate the site OF
this long-forgotton battle, our visit was
made in the interest which has lately
been awakened in the life and career Of
the renowned Catholic general, Owen
Roe, the hero of Benburb. 1t is passing
strange that neither Sir William Wilde,
in his Justly celebrated book. ''The Beau
ties of the Boyne," nor the erudite eccle-
eiastical author of the 'History of the
Diocese of Meath"-Dean Cogan--has
alluded to this battle. It is only of late
years that research has brought to view
the literary resources which throw light
upon this field of action and the heroes
of the fight.
About i've miles in a westerly direction
from Trim lies this famous battlefield.
Placing ourselves under the guidance of
the distinguished President of the Soci-
ETY., Mr.. O'Byrne, who acted as cicerone
on the occasion, we commenced our ex-
plorations at Scariff BSidge-a fine, one
arch structure, erected under the Drain
age Act. The Boyne here flows silently
along by the we'll. preserved demesne of
Lord Darnley, an absentee landlord, and
the black, rushing water of the Stony
ford empties itself into the historic
Boyne, just above the wood which di-
vices the village of Kilmurray from the
townland of Portlester.
Portlester is now studded with villa
residences of we'll to. do-fsrmers, and a
good road frlnges the battlefield and
leads on to the town of Ballivor. On che
other side, 6 good road leads to the an
cient town OF Kildawkey; both towns
stand on the environs of the historic site
of the battle. Numerous strong holds
still stand around it, notably Dunore
Castle, Trimbleston Castle, Ticroghan
Castle, Kildalkey Castle, and many earth
works, all fast crumbling into irretriev-
able ruin. Portlester Castle vas G great
fortress, and stood on the celebrated
s'paes'' which led to the north of Meath
and to Ulster direct. 1t was built BY the
Geraldines, and was one of the strong
holds of 'sSilken Thomas" in 1866. The
lordship of Portlester passed to the Earls
of Kildare, but the castle has been de-
molished long since.
Various dates are given as the time the
battle was fought, but it is generally
averred by the contemporary chroniclers
that the 18th September, 1884, was the
eventful day. Owen Roe, after landing
in Lough Swilly, marched to Loughdale,
near Armagh, having but 1000 men and
two troops Of horse. Here the British
and Scottish armies joined together and
made furious attack upon the little
army of the Irish commander. He
charged their horse in the front with
such impetuosity that they made hasty
retreat, the Irish following them in hot
pursuit, till Oharlemont fort secured
them q temporary refuge. Owen Roe at
tackled this stronghold and soon put the
garrison to fight. Finding the place un-
tenable, Owen Roe marched his army to
Clones; and here in ambuscade, at anar-
sf