Massacre of Dunlavin Green
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The Massacre of Dunlavin
Green refers to the summary execution of 36 suspected rebel prisoners by the British military shortly after the outbreak of the rebellion of 1798
. There are several accounts of the events, recorded at differing times and differing in detail.
and many other areas of the country had been subject to martial law
which had been imposed in an effort to crush the long threatened rebellion of the United Irishmen. The campaign was also extended against the military itself as some corps of yeomen and militia
, especially those with Catholic members, were suspected as United Irish infiltrators who had joined to get training and arms. Several days before the outbreak of the rebellion, the yeomanry
and militia
at Dunlavin were called out on parade and informed by their commanding officer that it had been brought to his attention that there were sworn United Irishmen among them. Urging those who had sworn to confess, some twenty-eight did so in hopes of receiving clemency but were immediately arrested and imprisoned with several subjected to flogging in an effort to extract information about the rebels plans and organisation.
One loyalist account of events leading up to the execution is the only to give a different sequence of events. According to this, Captain Ryves, a military commander at Dunlavin received word that a large number of rebels were to attack Dunlavin and he observed that many Protestant houses had been set on fire in the surrounding countryside. In the circumstances, he expected that the rebels' intention was a pogrom
of Protestants and Loyalists in the town and district. A foray by the troops into the countryside failed and the garrison's officers were aware that they were outnumbered by the prisoners held in the Market House. The account is largely dismissed and is the only loyalist account of the event. The Ryves account was only published in one book.
where soldiers from the same regiment as the garrison were stationed. After hearing of losses among their comrades, the twenty-eight imprisoned soldiers and eight civilians accused of rebel sympathies were marched to the town green where they were lined up and executed in batches of five. The motive appears to have been simple revenge rather than fear of the prisoners and the raging rebellion
but the public exhibition may also have been designed to intimidate and discourage rebels in the immediate area from taking to the field. However, news of the massacre
, and of another at Carnew
, spread rapidly and played a part in rapid mobilisation of the rebels in north county Wexford
over the next few days.
An account of the execution by Reverend John F Sherman, recorded in 1866, which might reflect its author's allegiances, gives more detail. According to Sherman, Captain Saunders, of Stratford-on-Slaney
, paraded his troops and called out those men whom he claimed were United Irishmen. Some stepped forward, but others, alerted that Saunders was in fact bluffing, denied their allegiance. Those that had stepped forward were imprisoned in the Market House at Dunlavin, to await a decision on their fates.
The following day, Captain William Ryves of Rathsallagh had his horse shot from under him while on patrol. Although he returned home safely it was decided that Saunders' imprisoned troops and others from Narraghmore
, a total of 36 men, should be put to death. On May 26, market day, the 36 were taken to the green, lined up and shot in front of the townspeople, including, in some cases, their own families. The firing squad returned to the Market House where others were flogged or hanged.
Before the bodies of the shot men were removed, soldiers' wives looted them of valuables, one wounded man protested but he was finished off by a soldier. The bodies were either removed for burial by their families or interred in a common grave ("large pit") at Tournant cemetery. One man survived, despite grievous wounds, and lived to "an advanced age". Two more men, either hanging or about to be, were saved by the intervention of a "respectable Protestant" and escaped.
, which tells the story from the view of a sympathetic local eyewitness, and is one of the best known songs of the era.
In 1998, a commemorative stone was installed in St Nicholas of Myra Catholic church, adjacent to the green.
Dunlavin
Dunlavin is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland, situated about thirty miles south west of Dublin. It is centred on the junction of the R412 and R756 regional roads...
Green refers to the summary execution of 36 suspected rebel prisoners by the British military shortly after the outbreak of the rebellion of 1798
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...
. There are several accounts of the events, recorded at differing times and differing in detail.
Background
For several months prior to May 1798, county WicklowCounty Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
and many other areas of the country had been subject to martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
which had been imposed in an effort to crush the long threatened rebellion of the United Irishmen. The campaign was also extended against the military itself as some corps of yeomen and militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, especially those with Catholic members, were suspected as United Irish infiltrators who had joined to get training and arms. Several days before the outbreak of the rebellion, the yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
and militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
at Dunlavin were called out on parade and informed by their commanding officer that it had been brought to his attention that there were sworn United Irishmen among them. Urging those who had sworn to confess, some twenty-eight did so in hopes of receiving clemency but were immediately arrested and imprisoned with several subjected to flogging in an effort to extract information about the rebels plans and organisation.
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
of Protestants and Loyalists in the town and district. A foray by the troops into the countryside failed and the garrison's officers were aware that they were outnumbered by the prisoners held in the Market House. The account is largely dismissed and is the only loyalist account of the event. The Ryves account was only published in one book.
Massacre
News of the outbreak of the rebellion had reached the garrison at Dunlavin, and particularly of an attack on Ballymore-EustaceBattle of Ballymore-Eustace
The Battle of Ballymore-Eustace was one of the events in the United Irish rebellion of 1798. It took place on 24 May 1798 after the stationing of the 9th Dragoons, and members of the Tyrone, Antrim and Armagh Militias at Ballymore in County Kildare near the Kildare-Wicklow border on 10 May...
where soldiers from the same regiment as the garrison were stationed. After hearing of losses among their comrades, the twenty-eight imprisoned soldiers and eight civilians accused of rebel sympathies were marched to the town green where they were lined up and executed in batches of five. The motive appears to have been simple revenge rather than fear of the prisoners and the raging rebellion
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...
but the public exhibition may also have been designed to intimidate and discourage rebels in the immediate area from taking to the field. However, news of the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
, and of another at Carnew
Carnew massacre
The Carnew Massacre was the summary execution of 38 prisoners being held as suspected United Irishmen by the local garrison in the British army barracks base of Carnew Castle, Carnew, County Wicklow, Ireland on 25 May 1798....
, spread rapidly and played a part in rapid mobilisation of the rebels in north county Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
over the next few days.
An account of the execution by Reverend John F Sherman, recorded in 1866, which might reflect its author's allegiances, gives more detail. According to Sherman, Captain Saunders, of Stratford-on-Slaney
Stratford-on-Slaney
Stratford-on-Slaney , also known as Stratford or Stratford-upon-Slaney, is a small village on the River Slaney in West Wicklow in Ireland....
, paraded his troops and called out those men whom he claimed were United Irishmen. Some stepped forward, but others, alerted that Saunders was in fact bluffing, denied their allegiance. Those that had stepped forward were imprisoned in the Market House at Dunlavin, to await a decision on their fates.
The following day, Captain William Ryves of Rathsallagh had his horse shot from under him while on patrol. Although he returned home safely it was decided that Saunders' imprisoned troops and others from Narraghmore
Narraghmore
Narraghmore is a parish in County Kildare, Ireland. The Parish covers the villages of Ballytore, Calverstown, Crookstown, Kilmead and Narraghmore.-Narraghmore Village:...
, a total of 36 men, should be put to death. On May 26, market day, the 36 were taken to the green, lined up and shot in front of the townspeople, including, in some cases, their own families. The firing squad returned to the Market House where others were flogged or hanged.
Before the bodies of the shot men were removed, soldiers' wives looted them of valuables, one wounded man protested but he was finished off by a soldier. The bodies were either removed for burial by their families or interred in a common grave ("large pit") at Tournant cemetery. One man survived, despite grievous wounds, and lived to "an advanced age". Two more men, either hanging or about to be, were saved by the intervention of a "respectable Protestant" and escaped.
Commemoration
The story of the massacre at Dunlavin green was quickly commemorated in the famous ballad Dunlavin GreenDunlavin Green
Dunlavin Green is an Irish ballad referring to the Dunlavin Green massacre which occurred in Dunlavin in Ireland in 1798 and resulted in the execution of 36 suspected rebel prisoners. The song is written from the perspective of a witness to the massacre. The song is one of the most popular Irish...
, which tells the story from the view of a sympathetic local eyewitness, and is one of the best known songs of the era.
In 1998, a commemorative stone was installed in St Nicholas of Myra Catholic church, adjacent to the green.
See also
- List of massacres in Ireland
- Carnew massacreCarnew massacreThe Carnew Massacre was the summary execution of 38 prisoners being held as suspected United Irishmen by the local garrison in the British army barracks base of Carnew Castle, Carnew, County Wicklow, Ireland on 25 May 1798....
- Gibbet Rath massacreGibbet Rath massacreThe Gibbet Rath massacre was the massacre of some 300–500 rebels by British forces which took place during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 on the Curragh of Kildare on 29 May 1798.-Background:...