Fr. Murphy Centre, Boolavogue

 As part of my efforts to visit sites relating to the rebellion of 1798, I recently visited the Fr. Murphy Centre in Boolavogue. I've previously written about Fr. Murphy and his role as a leader in my Sharp Practice force. The centre consists of several 18th and 19th century farm buildings, one of which housed Fr. Murphy from his appointment as priest in 1785 until the rebellion. At this time, Catholic priests usually didn't have parish houses, instead often staying with others. Murphy lodged with the Donoghue family.

Fr. Murphy regularly visited his friend Tom Donovan, who was a member of the United Irishmen. It may have been here that Murphy's politics began to be formed, although he would continue to follow official church doctrine and did not openly support the Society. However, Murphy began to organise resistance to British rule after numerous attacks by the Camolin Cavalry. These were spurred on by Cavalry man John Donovan, who,  despite being Tom's first cousin, was possessed of very different political convictions. 

Murphy encouraged his parishioners to surrender their arms to the Cavalry in exchange for guarantees of protection. However, the repression continued. This culminated in violence at The Harrow, the first rebel victory in Wexford. A group of Camolin Cavalry, including Lieutenant Bookey and John Donovan, were attacked by local men, led by Murphy. John Donovan was fatally shot by his cousin, and the yeomen were utterly defeated. Murphy’s role as a rebel leader had begun. 

The Donoghue home. Fr. Murphy's room is the one on the right. 

Fr. Murphy's room. The wooden covering was used to protect the sleeper from insects falling from the thatch! 

Vestments of the fashion worn by Fr. Murphy 

A mid-19th Century farm house, built next to the older house. 

This lodge is another 19th century building. It was used to house migrant workers

I really enjoyed the trip to the centre. It's a bit of a hidden gem, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in Wexford history. There's a lot of fascinating information about local lore and farming in addition to the historical stuff. My visit has inspired me to choose Yeomen as the next unit I'll paint! 

Go dtí an chéad uair eile, 

Beir bua!

Evoy's Forge: A 1798 Pike Factory

 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).

A plaque by the forge commemorates the rebels' march from the camp to New Ross. 

   The Irish translates to "At God's right hand     were they all", a common dedication to         deceased people. 

The forge was restored in 1998 for the bicentenary of the rebellion. The Irish reads "This forge was restored in honour of all the smiths of 1798". 

The front of the forge. The slate roof was originally thatch. 

The interior features a furnace and other equipment. 

I'm really looking forward to making deployment points for my Sharp Practice forces. I think that this building will be perfect. 

After looking around the forge, I headed up Judge's Road in Bagenal Harvey's footsteps. Unfortunately I hadn't the time to explore the hill fully. There's so much to see there, including an ancient standing stone and the ruins of a hedge school, not to mention the rebel camp. I'll definitely be back soon.