As part of my current project, I've made it my goal to visit some of the sites associated with the 1798 Rebellion. As I pass by many of these places on an almost daily basis, it's easy to take them for granted. I realised that it's been years since I visited these locations, so I still have lots to learn from them.
Here are some photos from a recent trip to Evoy's Forge. It's at the foot of Carrickbyrne Hill, where the United Irishmen camped before the Battle of New Ross. It is located on lands that were part of the Brown-Clayton Estate. The estate includes the Brown-Clayton Column, constructed in 1836 in honour of Ralph Abercromby, who, among other things, was briefly leader of British forces in Ireland during the rebellion.
The forge was used to produce pike heads, which were then attached to ash staves. A variety of pike designs and sizes existed, based on regional and personal preferences. They could be between 8 and 14 feet in length (See F. Thompson, "The Uniforms of 1798-1803". A valuable resource).
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