Dominick Kirwin
Encyclopedia
Dominick Kirwin was an Irish
Confederate, fl. 1642–1653?
Kirwin was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and led the raiding party that seized a ship anchored near Galway
early in the morning of 19 March 1642. It was a British
naval vessel under the command of a Captain Clarke, and had been sent to reinforce the garrison
situated at Forthill, overlooking the town. The garrison and its commander, Captain Anthony Willoughby, had been harassing the locals and bombarding the town on a regular basis for several weeks, and negotiations had been held between Willoughby and Walter Lynch (Mayor)
, with the Earl of Clanricarde
acting as mediator
.
Shortly before nine a.m., Kirwin led a group of men including Brian Roe Mahon Móre, Walter Óge Martyn and other natives of the town. They rowed out to the ship on pretense of selling goods, but were fully armed and within minutes seized the ship, killing two of the crew and injuring several others. They then sailed the ship into the quays while under fire from the Forthill garrison; they suffered no direct hits and promptly distributed the goods and military supplies that the ship had held for the garrison. Following this the town gates were shut and the town openly proclaimed it was rebelling.
Kirwin may have survived the subsequent warfare, for following the surrender of Galway in April 1653, he and the rest of his followers were the only townspeople explicitly excluded from the Terms of Surrender. If captured, Kirwin would have been executed. His ultimate fate is unknown.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Confederate, fl. 1642–1653?
Kirwin was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and led the raiding party that seized a ship anchored near Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
early in the morning of 19 March 1642. It was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naval vessel under the command of a Captain Clarke, and had been sent to reinforce the garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
situated at Forthill, overlooking the town. The garrison and its commander, Captain Anthony Willoughby, had been harassing the locals and bombarding the town on a regular basis for several weeks, and negotiations had been held between Willoughby and Walter Lynch (Mayor)
Walter Lynch (Mayor)
Walter Lynch , Mayor of Galway, fl. 1641-1642.Lynch was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway and served as Mayor during the outbreak of the Irish Confederate Wars. British troops stationed at Forthill garrison, overlooking the town, frequently fired cannon and shot upon the town. On the night...
, with the Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
acting as mediator
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
.
Shortly before nine a.m., Kirwin led a group of men including Brian Roe Mahon Móre, Walter Óge Martyn and other natives of the town. They rowed out to the ship on pretense of selling goods, but were fully armed and within minutes seized the ship, killing two of the crew and injuring several others. They then sailed the ship into the quays while under fire from the Forthill garrison; they suffered no direct hits and promptly distributed the goods and military supplies that the ship had held for the garrison. Following this the town gates were shut and the town openly proclaimed it was rebelling.
Kirwin may have survived the subsequent warfare, for following the surrender of Galway in April 1653, he and the rest of his followers were the only townspeople explicitly excluded from the Terms of Surrender. If captured, Kirwin would have been executed. His ultimate fate is unknown.
See also
- History of GalwayHistory of GalwayGalway, one of the largest cities in Ireland, situated on the west coast of Ireland, has a complex history going back around 800 years. The city was the only medieval city in the province of Connacht.- derivations of the name:...
- Irish Confederate WarsIrish Confederate WarsThis article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
- Richard KirwanRichard KirwanRichard Kirwan FRS was an Irish scientist. He is remembered today, if at all, for being one of the last supporters of the theory of phlogiston. Kirwan was active in the fields of chemistry, meteorology, and geology...
- Joseph W. KirwanJoseph W. KirwanRev. Dr. Joseph William Kirwan was an Irish clergyman and educationalist, who served as the first president of Queen's College Galway.Kirwan was born in Galway in 1796. He entered the National Seminary at St...