O'Reilly Family History Page 7

Many O'Reilly's left Ireland for good, seeking a new life in Catholic countries in continental Europe. These were titled or rich folk for the most part and this was happening all over Ireland at this time. Many common folk felt abandoned with no way out. Not all left, some stayed to see it through. For those that stuck it out, the future was inevitable. Like all people facing ethnicide, eventually a time to stop taking it comes to an ugly confrontation.

The Baltrasna O'Reilly's were descendant's of Edmund of Killnacrott. From these grew a legendary figure of almost mythical proportions. A distinguished cavalry officer, Myles was to become a family folk hero daubed 'Myles the Slasher'.

His skill with the broadsword was renowned, hence his title. The town of Fiodh an Atha (Finea) has a monument to Myles who stamped his memory here forever in the 1641-53 rebellion, but once again I leap ahead. And you may have guessed...

In 1641 enough was enough...

Sir John O'Reilly's grandson, Philip Mac Hugh O'Reilly had served in the Spanish army. When he returned home to Ballnacargy, the change of circumstance for the once proud and prosperous family must have been a shock. He was married to Rosie O'Neil, sister of Owen Roe. Along with Myles (also known as Mulmore), Philip roused the clan. Myles had adopted himself as County Sheriff and indeed was passionate enough about his people to take a much-weakened tribe into open full-blooded rebellion.

The O'Neill (Phelim O'Neill) had raised the rebellion into a realisation and The O'Reilly alleged to the cause.

Clogh Oughter Castle had been taken as an English troop garrison during the Plantation of Ulster and was under the command of Captain Hugh Culme. On the day of the rebellion, the O'Reilly's re-took the Castle and Culme was taken prisoner. The Castle was now firmly in Philip's command. Bishop William Bedell of Kilmore was soon a prisoner too.

The Essex born William Bedell was a rare man indeed. Much travelled and a skilled biblical scholar, theologian and linguist, he gave an honour to life that was not born from politics but came from respect and compassion. He did not see that people were to be aggressively subdued but respected their traditions and beliefs.

When he arrived in Ireland in 1627 he immediately began to study the local language that he came to master and love. Indeed, apart from others at this time, he did not think that the local folk should learn English but that the clergy should learn Gaeilge.

Bishop Bedell began the first translation of the Bible into Gaeilge. He had completed the Old Testament when the rebellion started. A document published by Archbishop Marsh and Robert Boyle in 1865 is credited as the William Bedell translation. It is still in the Marsh Museum today, opposite Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Obviously a liberal before his time, Bishop Bedell even arranged student grants so the religious students had the opportunity of studying Irish and thus could reach their 'flock'. Indeed after becoming the Bishop of Kilmore he insisted that his Clergy all spoke Irish. It was his way to wear native clothing and not to use the badges of state such as coaches and retinue but always rode on horseback, alone.

Rather than put him in jeopardy, this approach actually earned him great respect.

He had to effect great restoration over run down Churches and the Cathedral, often with help from the Irish community and that caused derision from many among the Anglo-Norman society. When the Rebellion broke he refused to run away and seek refuge. The Irish Bishop, Dr. McSuibhne, offered refuge but it was politely refused.

The day the rebellion broke, Feidhlim O'Raghallaigh visited Bishop Bedell, promising him that he and his family were safe from molestation and would remain safely undisturbed. But some promises, no matter how well-intentioned, are hard to keep.

Almost two months into the conflict and Feidhlim rode upto Bishop Bedell's door as a retinue with Bishop, Dr. McSuibhne who claimed the Church and residence. Feidhlim arrested Bishop Bedell, his two sons, their wives and a stepson-in-law, a Mr. Clogy.

Although imprisoned at Clogh Oughter they were kept in reasonable quarters and allowed unrestrained religious practice. It hit the Bishop's health though. He was released in exchange for captured rebels with his family but died shortly after on the 7th of February 1642.

Both sides mourned their loss although Dr. McSuibhne objected to having Bishop Bedell buried in his newly acquired Church Yard. This despite Bishop Bedell's wife being buried there in the shadow of a Sycamore tree that Bishop Bedell had planted himself.

The Rebel leaders did not agree and the good Dr. McSuibhne lost this argument. Myles the Slasher formed part of the military guard of honour.

But where were we...

The rebellion kicked off on October 23 in 1641 and within a week the County came under the control of the O'Reilly tribe once again. Two garrisons held out longer.

Locked away in two castles at Croghan and Keelagh were garrisons of English troops. English and Scottish settlers from Leitrim and West Cavan had become fugitives, many taking refuge. There had been some provision for this but not for the presence of a further seven hundred refugees seeking asylum.

Myles had sent his father Edmund to take the two castles near to Killeshandra town but it was a disaster from the start. Sir Francis Hamilton was a canny foe and obviously kept his ear to the ground. He gained advance warning of the rebellion and not only fortified the castles for a bitter struggle; he burned the town of Killeshandra to the ground, removing any accommodation for the rebels.

Hamilton had two hundred infantry and some cavalry. With three barrels of powder and provisions for six months at Keelagh alone, he must have been sure of drawn out victory. The extra seven hundred refugees must have come as something of a shock though. His trump card had to be the difficulty of laying siege over winter in the open now that the town was destroyed.

And another twist was in this tale. Old enemies had alleged themselves to the common cause. A force of O'Rourke's from Carrigallen and Ballinamore had joined Edmund making a force totalling two thousand men. It is doubtful if Hamilton had quite expected that either.

During a Skirmish near to Keelagh Castle, Edmund was repulsed. Loughlin and Brian O'Rourke were taken prisoner. Bishop Bedell and his son-in-law were soon traded for the two O'Rourke's as mentioned earlier. All went pear shaped again though.

Hamilton had had the wit to burn away the country for a three-mile radius around the castle, which removed cover for any attack. This left the attackers out in the open and when Father O'Rourke, a Friar, led such an attack, he was killed in his habit while two important leaders of the rebel cause were captured and immediately seized as hostages. The two were Owen O'Rourke and Philip O'Reilly.

Myles was not impressed by his fathers' failure and withdrew from the siege at Drogheda and marched on Cavan. Although three hundred men of Robert Nugent's from Westmeath and men from Leitrim joined his force, the rebels failed again in a skirmish near to Cavan at Windmill Hill and Myles was now livid with the failures. His response was not worthy of a great leader.

There was a settlement of sixty English people who had been allowed to stay in the town of Belurbet. Myles had them thrown off the town bridge over the River Erne. It was detestable murder and Hamilton's response was even more despicable though under the circumstances, not unexpected one assumes.

At Derewilly on the Leitrim border, some sixty Irish folk were sheltering in the woods. Hamilton, with a force of one hundred infantry and thirty cavalry, raided the camp killing twenty-seven. He then hung fourteen others. The rest escaped but were cut off by Sir James Craige who killed ten more and hanged four.

The artillery made a strong case for not storming the castles. The easy option was to stick it out and hope for starvation to quickly bring surrender. By March the following year, 1642, both castles were suffering from a lack of supplies. They had realised by now that all hope of help arriving was in vain. They were on their own and to compound things, Sir James Craige died on April 8 and disease was rife in the cramped and unhygienic conditions. One hundred and sixty died from hunger or disease and the remainder were not well enough to defend the castle and so responsibility fell on Hamilton's shoulders to defend both castles. His problem was the disease.

Each day he sent some men over to Croghan Castle to defend it but they daren't stay there because of the rampant disease. One man named Barlow, escaped from Keelagh and sought asylum with the insurgents. He informed them of the terrible plight of the defenders and a decision to raid the castles was taken.

Philip Mac Hugh O'Reilly led a force of two thousand men upto the two castles and promptly fouled the water supply by throwing a dead dog and a man's body into the well that was the source of the Croghan Castle supply. Thirst added to the misery. And things were only a little better at Keelagh.

Hamilton had Keelagh well prepared which gave them some extra time. They eventually depended on their milch cows for meat but this could only give short term relief. Soon, hungry eyes turned to the horses and even the dogs. As the hope of rescue died, so too did the food supply. The defenders were eventually reduced to eating the hides of the animals that had fed them, some from many months previous. It was bad.

Mutiny was inevitable. A small group ran away to join the insurgents who must have felt a grand surge in confidence. By now, even Sir Francis Hamilton himself was sick. It was time to negotiate. Sir Francis knew he had lost but he also knew that he had to protect the people in the castles. Added to the knowledge of the insurgents that they could refuse to talk and still take the castle was the balanced view of the dreadful artillery. Talking was the sensible option and so talk they did.

To the authors knowledge the official record of the mediators is incomplete and any recording must only have been done on the English side. Other than the Irish party being formed between the O'Reilly's and the O'Rourke's, I have no reference. The English party is well documented as Sir Francis Hamilton, Sir Arthur Forbes, Masters Bedell and Price. An agreement was reached that complete surrender of the castles would be on the understanding that the garrisons would be free to leave and travel unharmed to Drogheda.

And so on June 15 1642 the English forces were lead from Keelagh Castle by Sir Francis Hamilton enroute for Drogheda. They marched proudly, torches burning and to the beat of drums with full colours flying. The O'Reilly's kept their word and escorted them unharmed to Drogheda. Which also kept the English force contained it must be added.

Hamilton, a Scot, must have earned himself serious respect though as today Keelagh Castle is named Castle Hamilton. Its gateway is photographed below.

Keelagh Castle
This is the oldest remaining section

Owen Roe O'Neil, a hero of the rebellion and brother to Rosie (Philip Mac Hugh O'Reilly's wife) died near to Clogh Oughter on November 6 1649 and is buried at the Franciscan friary in Cavan town as stated previously. The modern military barracks in Cavan is named Fort O'Neil in his honour. His allegiance to the new confederacy was sporadic it's true, but his part in the rebellion was significant, also he still fought to preserve the state occasionally and defeated General Munro in the Battle of Benburb. General Munro's army had been sent by the Scottish Parliament to fight for the Ulster settlers. An insight into more recent problems.

Benburb was Myles the Slasher's finest hour.

Myles acted as Owen Roe O'Neill's right hand man during the rebellion and without the sacrifice offered by Myle's and a few loyal followers against the odds, the battle of Benburb on June 5 1646 may well have ended differently.

Any battle can turn on an instant. The romanticised accounts of Myle's heroic stand make proud reading. The author suggests that it was truly more basic and much less pleasant.

It seems that they faced an enemy numbering less than twenty cavalry. When an army is suddenly and effectively flanked, panic seizes hold and discipline is lost. Ranks break and scatter senselessly; all order is lost. Rout often follows and a small cavalry force with savage mobility has the ability to promote this effect. Myle's had to stop or severely delay the reinforcements. And a bridge is as good a place as any to make a stand.

Hence the statue at Finea. Myth has Myle's the Slasher, standing with broadsword in hand, defying the Scottish Cavalry on this very bridge. Well, there is academic dispute that this was the bridge of Myle's last stand and to paraphrase Tolkein: history becomes legend and legend passes into myth. The author recognises the tendency for fact to become lost or masked in fable but offers no opinion on this. One bridge is as another when you stand out numbered with a broadsword, a banner and but a few stout hearts to help you.

It is difficult to place ones self on this bridge, the fear and the need and the desperate necessity to stop the foe. Many common folk were burned out and murdered by the marauders and there was only one way to protect them from further harm. Win this contest, drive back the enemy. But there is a thorn in your side. To hold this thorn from thrusting deep is your only chance.

This means one thing only. You die!

There is no barter. You can't win against the odds, this isn't a movie. How would you feel on this bridge? My heart misses a beat for thankfully I have never needed to know. If this force is severely weakened and held up until it is too late to help then you succeed. You die but you win. Could you stand there, banner fluttering impatiently in the breeze?

When the steel flashes and the blood flows you cannot go back. You need to fight with every ounce of aggression and strength that you can muster and just when you are feeling immortal, the telling blow falls. It kills you outright if you are lucky but most likely you are unable to defend yourself and feel every killing blow until the trampling and the light dims forever. The banner lies in the dust.

Myles the Slasher. Last great warrior of the Celtic world fell, broadsword red and blunted. He is buried in the graveyard of the Cavan Monastery. Kinsmen would join him, including eventually, Owen Roe O'Neill. But for now, O'Neill routed the enemy at Benburb. He tactically tied knots in Munroe and a crucial part of the plan depended on Myles the Slasher.

As for Philip, he saw the end finally come at the hands of Cromwell's forces on April 27 1653 when he surrendered his forces at Clogh Oughter Castle after a bitter siege. Oliver Cromwell was the Tudor hero of the day. Called the Lord Protector, Cromwell's forces blew a large cannon-ball breach into one wall of the castle and surrender was the honourable result.

This was the very last castle in the whole of Ireland to fall. This saw the end of a twelve-year war. Philip didn't stay in Ireland and took his men to serve in the Spanish army fighting in the Netherlands. He died at Louvain in 1655.

The castle was excavated in 1987, remains of those who died in the famous last stand were recovered among the artefacts. A great deal of work has since gone into its preservation.

As for Myles, his family fame did not die with him. His son John (Colonel John O'Reilly) followed in his dad's tradition. Parliament elected him a Knight of the Shire of Cavan in May 1689. He lived at Baltrasna in County Meath and among his military achievements list raising a regiment of Dragoons for King James and serving with the Jacobites in the Williamite war. He also fought at the siege of Derry, the Boigne and Aughrim. Because he had been specifically mentioned in military articles at the Treaty of Limerick he kept his lands and he died in February of 1717. This is a different tale though, one that deals more with Cavan's story (and indeed all of Ireland) and not that of the Clan O'Reilly. John is buried at Kill. But it doesn't end with him.

His own son, Alexander, also had a colourful career serving both in the Spanish and Austrian army. Indeed, he is immortal as his name was given in honour to O'Reilly Street in Havana, Cuba.

In the 1860's, Drumlane Parish Priest Fr. Patrick O'Reilly successfully built a new Church in Milltown adjacent to an older Church site. He had wanted to build at Monea Cross but failed to gain permission. The Church had been designed by a renowned Cavan architect called William Hague Jr and received the unexpected bonus of a fine bell that local rumour states was due for Killeshandra Church but was too heavy to transport.

In truth of course it was all over. The romanticism, the power, the mighty force and influence was all gone... forever. But for as long as the name lives there will be tribal history. Not just for those named O'Reilly of course but for all offspring deriving their heritage from the Kings of East Breffni. It all started from Conn of the hundred battles when the first millennium of Christ had hardly begun. And it came through terrible times until the final curtain, or was it the final curtain?

Or did we then evolve?

Not only did the clan not become extinct, it thrives today. And it thrives on every corner of the globe. Check out the internet. No matter what subject you research, if you dig hard enough, the O'Reilly name snaps out at you. We are still flourishing, more in the background than when we walked as warriors to be feared it's true. But we are still here none the less.


[Back]		[Site Index]	[Email]

Many images in this history section are sourced from the internet and are not the authors copyright