Catholic ‘Hessians’?

‘At Tubberneering and Ballyellis Full many a Hessian lay in his gore’ By Nicholas Dunne-Lynch The ballad Boolevogue, which celebrates the heroism of the Wexford rebels during the rebellion of 1798, and in particular the campaign of Fr John Murphy from 26 May to 26 June, contains the lines quoted above. Written by Patrick Joseph … Read more

Monstrum horrendum

A newly discovered poem from County Offaly in the 1641 Rebellion. By Jane Maxwell Among a small cache of papers relating to the Digby family of Warwickshire, now in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, is a previously unknown seventeenth-century poem about an event that took place in the Irish midlands during the 1641 Rebellion. … Read more

Monstrum horrendum

‘Monstrum horrendum Upon ye engine tearmed a sow made by ye rebells Dempsies alias deuills in ye vicars house within the church yard of Geshell for ye [?]undermineing of ye Castle   Ryse hellish monster from that sacred den; For thy foule carcass could noe other pen, Or roome be found to make thy filthy … Read more