Edward Hay (County Wexford)
Encyclopedia
Edward Hay was the author of a book on the Irish Rebellion of 1798
, and a witness to many of the events of that time.
, into a Catholic
family. His family were large landowners and were long-established in the County. Hay was educated in France and Germany. His father was Harvey Hay.
Ballinkeele house and estate was sold in 1825 to the Maher family, who shortly afterwards replaced the old Hay home with a new house.
town during the Rebellion. Hay's brother, John, was a prominent Rebel leader, who was executed near the end of the Rebellion on Wexford Bridge, 26 June 1798. John Hay was buried in Kilmallock graveyard, Co. Wexford. Another brother, Philip, was a member of the British Army, and was buried in England.
Edward Hay was tried for involvement in the Rebellion, but was acquitted. It is clear from Hay's own account and from Miles Byrne's Memoirs that Edward Hay himself had little involvement in the actual fighting, but his actual role is in organizing and promoting the Rebellion is far less certain.
. He was Secretary of the Catholic Association
, 1806 - 1819.
, Dublin, where his headstone
can still be seen.
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
, and a witness to many of the events of that time.
Early life
Edward Hay was born, about 1761, at Ballinkeele (near Crossabeg), Co. Wexford, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, into a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family. His family were large landowners and were long-established in the County. Hay was educated in France and Germany. His father was Harvey Hay.
Ballinkeele house and estate was sold in 1825 to the Maher family, who shortly afterwards replaced the old Hay home with a new house.
Rebellion
Hay was witness to many of the events in WexfordWexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
town during the Rebellion. Hay's brother, John, was a prominent Rebel leader, who was executed near the end of the Rebellion on Wexford Bridge, 26 June 1798. John Hay was buried in Kilmallock graveyard, Co. Wexford. Another brother, Philip, was a member of the British Army, and was buried in England.
Edward Hay was tried for involvement in the Rebellion, but was acquitted. It is clear from Hay's own account and from Miles Byrne's Memoirs that Edward Hay himself had little involvement in the actual fighting, but his actual role is in organizing and promoting the Rebellion is far less certain.
Book
Hay's book was first published in 1803 as "History of the Insurrection of the County of Wexford, A. D. 1798". This was one of the first accounts of the Rebellion. It was reprinted many times, usually under the slightly altered title of "History of the Irish insurrection of 1798", presumably to appeal to a wider audience. Most of these reprints omit Hay's 1803 Introduction and Appendix, as well as his large fold-out map of Co. Wexford. Hay's original 1803 book is now scarce, but is now available on the Internet - less the map. However, an exact copy of his map was reprinted in Wheeler and Broadley's, "The War in Wexford: An Account of the Rebellion in the South of Ireland in 1798" (London & New York, 1910).Dublin
Hay lived in Dublin in later years and was a prominent member of the Catholic Committee and a very active member of the Catholic AssociationCatholic Association
The Catholic Association was an Irish Roman Catholic political organisation set up by Daniel O'Connell in the early nineteenth century to campaign for Catholic emancipation within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was one of the first mass-membership political movements in...
. He was Secretary of the Catholic Association
Catholic Association
The Catholic Association was an Irish Roman Catholic political organisation set up by Daniel O'Connell in the early nineteenth century to campaign for Catholic emancipation within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was one of the first mass-membership political movements in...
, 1806 - 1819.
Death
Edward Hay died at Dublin, 13 October 1826, and is buried in St. James' graveyard, KilmainhamKilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
, Dublin, where his headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
can still be seen.