The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-06-26
the PATRIOTIC PARISH PRIEST
OF NOOLAvOGVE WAS THE FIRST
IN THE FIELD.
INTENSELY THRILLING NARRATIVE.
HIS FIRST VICTORY WAS NOT AT
OlLART hill.

by Cd we're one night too late"
was the exclamation Of batiled rage and
disappointment given expression to by
John Donovan, captain Of ycomanry cav
airy, when, on the evening of Saturday,
25th of June, 179S, lie beheld Father
Murphy's signal fire shoot up from Car
rigrua Hill. The fire was lighted as an
intimation to the people of Wexford that
the time had come to band themselves
together for mutual protection with arms
in their hands, says Il writer in the Dub
lin Freeman.
Ii had become known to the people
through the exulting hints let fall by a
yeoman somewhat mguardedly over his
cups. that on the night but one follow
ing the corps contemplated one of their
nocturnal expeditions of pillagc, outrage,
burning. and massacre in the parish and
neighborhood of Boolavoguc. and on q,
more extensive scale than had yet been
experienced by a much suffering and ter
rorzed pcasantry. the expressed purpose,
as the yeoman put II with brutal frank
ness. being to spill more blood than has
yet been shed altogether
The outcome of the intended raid of
the yeomanry and the banding together
of the peasantry. goaded beyond all
bounds Of endurance to desperation, was
the conflict between the combined Ferns
and Camolin corps of Father John Muir
ply, at the Harrow, on the Saturday
hight preceding. Whit Sunday, 1898,
wherefrom the yeomanry forces spurred
away in object terror and utter panic,
both their commanding officers, Buckley
and Donovan. being killed ut Il small
rivulet. still known as" Buckeyes stream, "
which passes under the road a short dis
tance on the Ennisrorthy side of the
Harrow.
"hus Father Murphy's first actual bat
tile. and first victory won, was at The
Harrow, on Whit Sunday, not at Oulart
Hill on Whit Sunday, as is frequently
said.
1t has sometimes been suggested by
people having no sympathy with the pop
ular cause that Father Murphy urged his
people to rebellion because his chnDel
was bnrncd--the Inference being that he
was actuateh by motives of revenge.
1t is also observable that ardent Ma
tionaIists who justify in fact glorify-
the act of the rebellion, criticse Father
Murphy somewhat adversely on the same
point--possbIy without being in full pos
session of the facts-their strain of crit
icism being that Father John advised his
people to give up their arms while they
were subjects to outrage and then urged
I them to rebellion directly he was
touched. though his chapel being burned.
| complete answer to both suggestion
is the nndcniablc fact that, Father Muir
ply was heading the insurgents on Oul-
art Hill before Boolavogne Chapel was
| fired.
The writer has a perfect recollection
of hearing his grandfather relate chow
the rebellion broke out" as told by his
father who used !; muSkci against the
Royalists." The circumstances, as then
related agree in every respect with par
ticulars recently obtained at Boolavoguc
whore the present patriotic priest
! Father Long. c. G.: Mr.. G.. Cough. a
resident gentleman and author of an
Irish work. and "lhc old inhabitants
were interviewed, including the veteran
| patriots, MesSrS. Tom Fortune Tim
7 Kinsclla, and Tom Murphy, of whose
venerable conntcnancc, bcfllrr0wed by
fulness of years and the effects of honest,
rugged toll, we have the privilege Of Civ
| ing sketch. Mr.. Thomas Murphy is the
grandson of "old Jack Murphy" the con-
! fidential messenger who brought round
! the fiery cross so to speak for Father
| John Murphy.
! Each and all Of the gentlemen named,
! in fact everyone interviewed upon the
F., subject, cmphaticaIIy states that the in
| snrrcction, so far as County Wexford
was concerned, was not in any way ac-
! tuated by the United rishmen's Associ-
| alton, that the people did not want or
favor rebellion; that they were gOad-
| ed beyond endurance; and rose simply
! and solely from instincts of sclf-prcser-
walton. "Ii was the government that got
It up" they say The dwellings of the
! peasantry were burned down at night
| the people set upon the ycomanry and
| logged, maltrcatcd. and pitch-capDed
without prov0cation. The official pre-
tcncc for wrecking houses was Search
ing for arms for any other outrage, that
| the people were "d---d rebels"
"All the people wanted" said Mr.. Tim
| Kinsels, was to be let live and let alone
| They weren't talking so much about
fighting as some other parts Of Ireland