Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-10-01
Resolutions Adopted AdvOcat-
ing Adherence to Principles
of Wolfe Tone.
Deeds of ValOr of Three Cen
turtles Ago Recalled by Mr..
John Dillon.
THE BATTLE OF THE YELLOW FORD


which the latter were defeated and routed
with considerable loss The historic
bridge marks the spot where the English
General, Sir Henry Bagenall, was shot,
and a large bush stands over the place
where it is stated Bagenall is buried.
This bush is called the Great Mans
Thorn" AT an early hour large contin-
gents commenced to pour in from Mona
CHAN, Clones, Belfast, Tyrone and several
of the surrounding towns, each accom-
panied by band and banners, and it is
computed that fully $1,000 persons were
present. The procession was formed at
the head of Irish street, Armagh, and
marched down the city in perfect order,
the whole presenting a most impressive
spectacle. The Boys Brigade was 100
strong, and e@ch had his pike over his
shoulder. The route from the city to the
meeting place was literally blocked with
vehicles and the utmost enthusiasm char
acterized the whole proceedings. The
only member of Parliament present was
John Dillon, NJ. p, but letters of apology
for non-attendance were received from
quite large number.
The following resolutions were proposed
by John McGlone, Lurgyvallen, and sec
onded by James Donnelly, Armagh, and
passed:
THAT we desire on this spot to conf
memorate the anniversary of the battle
OF the Yellow Ford and to place on rec
ord our appreciation of the lrishmen who
300 years ago, under the command of the
gallant Irish chief Hugh O'Neill, over
threw the flower of England's army.
THAT we, the men of Armagh, Mona
CHAN, Tyrone and Antrim, in public
meeting assembled on the famous battle
field Of the Yellow Ford, do hereby tes-
tify our adherence to the principles and
objects for which Wolfe Tone and the
United Irishmen so heroically and de-
votedly sacrificed their lives, and we
hereby pledge ourselves to cherish and
honor their memory.
THAT we pledge ourselves to support
the grand project of erecting a monu-
ment in Dublin to Wolfe Tone and the
United Irishmen."
MIR. John Dillon, who was received
with great cheering, said that it was
privilege and pleasure TO take part in the
meeting, to stand before that vast assem-
bly, of the descendants of those who on
the bloody day of the Yellow Ford saw
the invader and the red banner of Eng
land go down before the Irish forces. In
spite of three centuries of persecution
they stood there today triumphant. In
spite of all the provocations they had suf-
fered the Irish race was, year by year
and generation by generation, beating
back the enemies of Ireland and even i'll
the year in which they lived another
great step had been taken toward restor-
ing to the descendants of the old race
that power which God meant them to
have in the land of their fathers. They
were there to declare that they would
never take their hand from the pillow until
that task had been accomplished, until
the last remnant of the hated ascendancy
had been obliterated from Ireland.
and until the men of Ireland were recog-
nized as the sole masters of that ancient
land. Referring to the battle of the
Yellow Ford, he said it was probably the
only time in the history of their country
when the forces of England and Ireland
met on fairly even terms, when Bagenall
at the head of 5000 men, the flower of
Elizabeth's army, left Armagh for the
purpose of DISCRIMINATING the Irish race
in that country, and he ventured to say
never in the history of war was there a
grander sight of fighting men than the
Irish clansmen when $500 of Elizabeth's
soldiers left their dead bodies on the
field. They were now standing on
ground which would inspire them to
future efforts for the cause of freedom.
The freedom of Ireland in the past had
always been lost, not because the Irish
people were not able for the fight, but
because of divisions and dissensions
among the Irish people themselves, and
it had ever been so in the history of Ire
land. Again and again when the cup of
liberty and freedom was at their lips it
had been dashed aside by the discussions
of Irishmen. Let them now resolve to
bind together as did the men of 1898, and
turn their faces rosolutely towards their
foes, and let them expend their energies
and enthusiasm in defeating the enemies
of Ireland. For his part, as he looked
round the country that day he saw signs
of encouragement on all sides. The
Irish spirit was yet unbroken and uncon-
quered in the land of their fathers. He
refused to believe that the nation, after
having struggled for centuries, were
going to allow their country to be ruled
by the stranger.
Mr.. w. G. Ryan, of the Central Exc
cutiye, and several other speakers having
addressed the meeting, the proceedings
terminated with vote of thanks to the
chairman.
Marriage may not be failure, but