Thomas Cloney
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cloney was a County Wexford
leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
.
He was the only son of Denis Cloney, a prosperous middleman, of Moneyhore, Wexford, and his wife, Mary Kavanagh (d. 1782), a native of Ballybeg, County Carlow
, both Roman Catholics. Thomas Cloney also had three sisters.
, New Ross
, Foulksmills/Goff's Bridge
and led the attack on Borris House. He was often subsequently referred to as "General Cloney".
Following the failure of the rebellion, Cloney was imprisoned at Wexford and, briefly,at the notorious Geneva Barracks
and was condemned to death. This sentence was later commuted to banishment for life to the Penal Colony of New South Wales
. Later, after spending twenty-one months in gaol, he was released on condition that he leave Ireland for two years. Most of that time he spent in Liverpool. (T. Cloney, A narrative of those transactions in the county of Wexford in which the Aauthor was engaged in the awful year of 1798,(Dublin)1832). On his return to Ireland in May 1803 Cloney immediately involved himself with Robert Emmet
and his associates. In Byrnes's Memoirs, he describes a meeting he arranged between Robert Emmet
and Cloney at Harold's Cross Green, Dublin shortly before Emmet's uprising. Circumstantial evidence would suggest that Emmet had appointed Cloney to act as his General for County Wexford, had the anticipated success of the rising in Dublin come about.
Following the collapse of Emmett's rising, Cloney was again arrested and lodged in Dublin Castle and later in Kilmainham Gaol from where he was released on health grounds in November 1804.
After his release, Cloney went to live at Graiguenamanagh
, County Kilkenny
, where his home was nicknamed "Whitehall". Of the principal leaders of the 1798 rebellion, he, along with Joseph Holt
was only one of two rebel leaders to survive and remain in Ireland.
"A Personal Narrative of those Transactions in the County of Wexford, in which the author was engaged, during the awful period of 1798.". It contains an Appendix which includes a report of Cloney's trial by Court Martial which began on 5 July 1799. He had wished to publish his book earlier but was advised against it by his attorney, Peter Burrowes.
in his efforts to secure Catholic Emancipation
and Repeal of the Union. Cloney was visited at his home at "Whitehall" by many prominent Irish figures of the period, including Father Theobald Mathew
, Daniel O'Connell
and Archibald Hamilton Rowan
. In 1848, he was visited there by William Smith O'Brien
, Thomas Francis Meagher
and John Blake Dillon
, just prior to the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848
. In 1849, Charles Gavan Duffy
visited him. Cloney never married but played a prominent role in the parochial and political life of Graiguenamanagh
and lived there for the remainder of his life. He died on 20 February 1850, aged 76 or 77, and was interred at St Mullin's
Cemetery, County Carlow
, where a large tombstone marks his final resting place, overlooking the River Barrow
.
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...
leader in the Irish 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...
.
He was the only son of Denis Cloney, a prosperous middleman, of Moneyhore, Wexford, and his wife, Mary Kavanagh (d. 1782), a native of Ballybeg, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow 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 Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, both Roman Catholics. Thomas Cloney also had three sisters.
Rebel
A United Irishman, as a young man Cloney was appointed a Colonel in the United ranks shortly before the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion. He fought at the battles of Three RocksBattle of Three Rocks
The Battle of Three Rocks was a United Irish victory during the 1798 rebellion against a British artillery column marching to reinforce Wexford town against anticipated rebel attack.-Background:...
, New Ross
Battle of New Ross (1798)
The Battle of New Ross took place in County Wexford in south-eastern Ireland, during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was fought between the Irish Republican insurgents called the United Irishmen and British Crown forces composed of regular soldiers, militia and yeomanry...
, Foulksmills/Goff's Bridge
Battle of Foulksmills
The Battle of Foulksmills, known locally as the Battle of Horetown and also known as the Battle of Goff's Bridge, was a battle on 20 June 1798 between advancing British forces seeking to stamp out the rebellion in County Wexford during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and a rebel army assembled to...
and led the attack on Borris House. He was often subsequently referred to as "General Cloney".
Following the failure of the rebellion, Cloney was imprisoned at Wexford and, briefly,at the notorious Geneva Barracks
Geneva Barracks
Geneva Barracks in County Waterford, Ireland, was a barracks created in 1783 by converting a settlement which had been created for an 18th century colony of disaffected citizens of Geneva. Built near Passage East, the colony was commissioned by the Irish Parliament and approved by British Royalty...
and was condemned to death. This sentence was later commuted to banishment for life to the Penal Colony of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Later, after spending twenty-one months in gaol, he was released on condition that he leave Ireland for two years. Most of that time he spent in Liverpool. (T. Cloney, A narrative of those transactions in the county of Wexford in which the Aauthor was engaged in the awful year of 1798,(Dublin)1832). On his return to Ireland in May 1803 Cloney immediately involved himself with Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
and his associates. In Byrnes's Memoirs, he describes a meeting he arranged between Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
and Cloney at Harold's Cross Green, Dublin shortly before Emmet's uprising. Circumstantial evidence would suggest that Emmet had appointed Cloney to act as his General for County Wexford, had the anticipated success of the rising in Dublin come about.
Following the collapse of Emmett's rising, Cloney was again arrested and lodged in Dublin Castle and later in Kilmainham Gaol from where he was released on health grounds in November 1804.
After his release, Cloney went to live at Graiguenamanagh
Graiguenamanagh
-Recreation:Walking and hillclimbing are among the more popular pursuits of Graiguenamanagh area and with the South Leinster Way meandering through the lovely Barrrow Valley and traversing nearby Brandon Hill, scope is provided for the a gentle stroll or a vigorous,day-long hike. The Barrow's...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny 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 city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, where his home was nicknamed "Whitehall". Of the principal leaders of the 1798 rebellion, he, along with Joseph Holt
Joseph Holt (rebel)
Joseph Holt was a United Irish general and leader of a large guerrilla force which fought against British troops in County Wicklow from June–October 1798. He was exiled to Australia in 1799 where he worked as a farm manager and eventually returned to Ireland in 1814.-Background:Holt was one of six...
was only one of two rebel leaders to survive and remain in Ireland.
Historian
Cloney wrote a history of the 1798 Rebellion which was one of the first written from the perspective of the defeated rebels."A Personal Narrative of those Transactions in the County of Wexford, in which the author was engaged, during the awful period of 1798.". It contains an Appendix which includes a report of Cloney's trial by Court Martial which began on 5 July 1799. He had wished to publish his book earlier but was advised against it by his attorney, Peter Burrowes.
Personal life
Cloney continued his involvement in political affairs, becoming one of the most active and enthustiastic supporters of Daniel O'ConnellDaniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
in his efforts to secure Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
and Repeal of the Union. Cloney was visited at his home at "Whitehall" by many prominent Irish figures of the period, including Father Theobald Mathew
Theobald Mathew (temperance reformer)
Theobald Mathew , an Irish teetotalist reformer, popularly known as Father Mathew was born at Thomastown, near Golden, County Tipperary, on October 10, 1790....
, Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
and Archibald Hamilton Rowan
Archibald Hamilton Rowan
Archibald Hamilton Rowan , christened Archibald Hamilton , was an Irish celebrity and a founding member of The Dublin Society of United Irishmen. He was the son of Gawen Hamilton of Killyleagh Castle, Co...
. In 1848, he was visited there by William Smith O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien was an Irish Nationalist and Member of Parliament and leader of the Young Ireland movement. He was convicted of sedition for his part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, but his sentence of death was commuted to deportation to Van Diemen's Land. In 1854, he was...
, Thomas Francis Meagher
Thomas Francis Meagher
-Young Ireland:Meagher returned to Ireland in 1843, with undecided plans for a career in the Austrian army, a tradition among a number of Irish families. In 1844 he traveled to Dublin with the intention of studying for the bar. He became involved in the Repeal Association, which worked for repeal...
and John Blake Dillon
John Blake Dillon
John Blake Dillon was an Irish writer and Politician who was one of the founding members of the Young Ireland movement....
, just prior to the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848
Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848
The Young Irelander Rebellion was a failed Irish nationalist uprising led by the Young Ireland movement. It took place on 29 July 1848 in the village of Ballingarry, County Tipperary. After being chased by a force of Young Irelanders and their supporters, an Irish Constabulary unit raided a house...
. In 1849, Charles Gavan Duffy
Charles Gavan Duffy
Additional Reading*, Allen & Unwin, 1973.*John Mitchel, A Cause Too Many, Aidan Hegarty, Camlane Press.*Thomas Davis, The Thinker and Teacher, Arthur Griffith, M.H. Gill & Son 1922....
visited him. Cloney never married but played a prominent role in the parochial and political life of Graiguenamanagh
Graiguenamanagh
-Recreation:Walking and hillclimbing are among the more popular pursuits of Graiguenamanagh area and with the South Leinster Way meandering through the lovely Barrrow Valley and traversing nearby Brandon Hill, scope is provided for the a gentle stroll or a vigorous,day-long hike. The Barrow's...
and lived there for the remainder of his life. He died on 20 February 1850, aged 76 or 77, and was interred at St Mullin's
St Mullin's
St Mullin's is a village situated in the south of County Carlow on the eastern bank of the River Barrow in Ireland. It is located less than 2 km off the R729 regional road.-History:...
Cemetery, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow 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 Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, where a large tombstone marks his final resting place, overlooking the River Barrow
River Barrow
The Barrow is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest and most prominent of the three rivers...
.
Sources
- Edward Hay, "History of the Insurrection of the County of Wexford, A. D. 1798" (Dublin, 1803)
- Stephen Gwynn (ed.), "Memoirs of Miles Byrne - edited by his Widow", 2 vols. (Dublin & London, 1907).
- K. Whelan (ed) & W. Nolan (assoc. ed.), "Wexford: History and Society" (Dublin: Geography Publications, 1987)
- Joyce, John. General Thomas Cloney: A Wexford Rebel of 1798 (Dublin: Geography Publications, 1988)