Uprising

by C R Dempsey

  “So you won the duel then?”

  “Was he someone you wanted to be killed? What were the O’Rourkes doing in your company anyway? The last I remember of them is you slamming one of their faces into a pot of boiling water.”

  “We are both valued assets to our respective masters. There was no point in wasting our own lives over some petty squabble. Anyway, I knew you could take him.”

  “So you wanted him killed.”

  “You were the very man to do it. I’m sure you’ve become more acquainted with such methods since you have risen in the esteem of the Maguire?”

  “I would never lower myself to such base methods. The Maguires are men of honour with a noble cause.”

  “I see you still have much to learn, or should I dig your grave now?”

  “Do nothing for me. Despite our differences, you are useful to an ally of the Maguire. May you give your life bravely on the field and make up for some of the many crimes you committed during your life.”

  “Don’t be such a pompous ass all your life. Have you accepted the circumstances of your birth? That you are at the end of a long and proud line of Galloglass?”

  “Tell him!” interjected Óisin, for he saw the conversation only leading to violence.

  “Tell me what?”

  “Go on, tell him! Put an end to this bitter feud now.”

  “If you have anything to say, say it to me now. I am ready to tell the world I am your uncle and your only living relative and I say that despite your resentment of me and all your other faults.”

  “Tell him!” insisted Óisin.

  “Your Dervella..”

  “What!? You have news of her?” and Seamus tensed with anticipation.

  “Enniskillen fell a couple of months back.”

  “I heard, as did the whole of Ireland and maybe the entire world.”

  “There were a certain amount of prisoners held within the tower who were released after the garrison was killed. Amongst them were the remains of your Galloglass families. Not all of them survived the aftermath of the siege.”

  Seamus gripped his axe’s shaft in anticipation that he would not like the rest of the tale.

  “However, Dervella had taken to the road and did not know where to turn.”

  Seamus fixed his gaze on Eunan.

  “I took Dervella in and brought her to the islands of Lower Lough Erne for safekeeping. She is with a great friend of mine and my mentor, Desmond MacCabe.”

  Seamus sat back and released the grip on his axe.

  “So this is what it has come to. Is there a bargain to be made?”

  Eunan was a little taken aback.

  “Dervella made her bargain with me a long time ago. Without her kindness during the time we spent creating the village, I don’t know how I would have coped.”

  “So she is not leverage?”

  “No! How could you say such a thing?” Eunan thought for a minute. “Hey, was she… She told me that the O’Rourkes took her prisoner and that she was held there by an English captain who would visit her occasionally to threaten her.”

  Seamus went red and gritted his teeth.

  “I feel I owe you a great debt, Eunan. Take me to her, and all on my part will be forgiven. I will grant you my service to fulfil your greatest desire as repayment for a kindness I did not deserve. But chose wisely so you will not regret your choice.”

  “The island is but two days travel from here at most.”

  “Then let us go while there is a lull in the battle. Sean, look after my men and Óisin you do likewise.”

  They embraced, got on their horses and set off for Lower Lough Erne.

  32

  Reunion on the lake

  They reached the shores of lower Lough Erne and left their horses with a farmer sympathetic to the cause of the Maguire. He was willing to help while equally fearful of retribution if he stole their horses. They hired a boatman and sat at the back of the boat, and reacquainted themselves with one another. Now that Eunan was more experienced and had a more worldly view, they could speak more as equals rather than as mentor and pupil as in the past. Seamus found Eunan more likeable than before, even if the naïve edges still needed considerable honing. Eunan found a much greater appreciation for Seamus’s battle-hardened wisdom, and a form of mutual respect grew.

  They reached the island and saw only Desmond dangling his feet in the water, holding his fishing rod in such a manner as to suggest he had long given up any pretence he was going to catch anything. Eunan jumped off the boat.

  “Desmond!” and he ran to his father figure.

  Seamus almost felt a pang of jealousy at the warmth of their embrace. It was like his last grip on the MacSheehy Galloglass legacy was being slowly ripped away. There saw no sign of his wife and therefore felt no urgency in leaving the boat. He unloaded the bags, paid the ferryman, and arranged for him to return the next day. He carried the bags up to Eunan and Desmond.

  “Desmond, this is…”

  “I well know who this is. Welcome to my humble abode, the mighty Seamus MacSheehy!”

  Their handshake reeked of begrudging respect.

  “When was the last time we met? Was it the Netherlands? Enniskillen some time?”

  “So much time has passed and so many things have passed. It is hard for me to remember with precision. Am I to say you have gone up in the world?” asked Seamus.

  “It may not look like much, but how many men like us can say they achieved peaceful retirement instead of dying in horrible pain at the hands of one of our many enemies?”

  “Your skills are wasted pretending to fish alone on a little island.”

  “There you go trying to reunite me with my deserved horrible, painful death again! Who said I was alone? Arthur! Dervella! We have visitors!”

  Arthur was first to appear from the other side of the island.

  “Eunan!” and he ran to greet his old friend.

  Then from the doorway of the house appeared Dervella. Seamus dropped his bags and weapons and ran to greet her. Eunan did not think Seamus was capable of such emotion.

  “You’ll squash me to death if you hug me so hard,” and Dervella prised herself out of her husband’s arms.

  “Let me look at you. Well, you haven’t been eating properly, I can tell that straight off.”

  But his eyes held a brightness that was otherwise a stranger to his otherwise weather-ravaged, battle-hardened complexion.

  “You could do with a good feed, a bath, change of clothes, and a rest. The usual state you normally show up in. Come on in and let’s get started.”

  Seamus followed her in. She kept the same cheeriness as he remembered, only slightly diminished given her recent experiences. She certainly seemed overjoyed to see him. He reached out to her waist to embrace her again.

  “Tell me what happened? What did they do to you?”

  Dervella shied away.

  “Can we not just enjoy the moment? We have so few of them let us make the most of what we have got,” and she led him into the kitchen. “You sit there now and let me give you a good feed and then we can think about washing you.”

  * * *

  Eunan and the others left Seamus and Dervella to have the run of the house for a couple of hours while they sat outside, fishing and talking. Desmond was up to date with the rebellion but waited for Seamus before discussing anything further. Eunan spoke of his relationship with Seamus.

  “We can make this right, leave it to me,” said Desmond as Seamus finally emerged from the house and came down to join them by the shore.

  Seamus seemed rather calm to Eunan, in a peaceful state never witnessed before.

  “I haven’t seen her in a long tie,” grunted Seamus in response to Eunan’s grinning. “I thought she was dead.”

  “No matter,” interjected Desmond. “This island is a place of peace. A place where weary souls can come and rejuvenate from the war. Seamus, Eunan has something to say to you.”

  “I do?”

&nbs
p; “Say it.”

  “Seamus, I owe you my life. You could have slain me on Enniskillen tower, and you would have had every right to do so. Yet, you saved me and risked your own life. I am grateful and I owe you my life.”

  Seamus bowed his head, conspicuously touched by Eunan’s admission.

  “You are my kin and, like it or not, I am yours. We are the last of our line, the last of the MacSheehy Galloglass. If we do not stand up for each other, then we are forever lost. Just as I saved your life, you saved mine. Dervella is what is good in my soul, what makes me carry on. You may not bear the name, nor come into the world in ideal circumstances, but I am proud of you all the same. I said I owed you a debt when you saved my Dervella, and I still do. Desmond is nothing if not wise and I know I sit here for a purpose and will be told how I can repay my debt. So, Desmond, an arch schemer wasted sitting on a tiny island, tell me of your plan.”

  * * *

  The next day the ferryman arrived and Arthur waved him into the small harbour as Seamus and Eunan prepared to leave. Everyone gave Seamus and Dervella space to say their goodbyes. He grasped both her hands and held them up to his chest.

  “Desmond says you can stay here for as long as you like.”

  “He already told me that, my love,” and Dervella smiled as the rays of sunshine penetrated deep into the chasm of Seamus’ heart.

  “You make me soft, I have to go back to war, remember?”

  “But you can come and visit?”

  “I would wish for more privacy.”

  “You wouldn’t have me live on an island all by myself just waiting for you, would you?”

  “I have just got you back from the dead. Am I not given the allowance of a slice of selfishness?”

  “I’ll look after Desmond and Arthur on condition they make scarce when you come to visit. Is that a sufficient compromise?”

  “At least I know you’ll be safe. For the first time in a long time, I’ll know who to fight for, if only to keep you safe.”

  “It is good that purpose has returned to your life Seamus MacSheehy. I know there is good in you, even though you bury it deep.”

  “You are the good in me and give me purpose,” and Seamus kissed her tenderly on the lips.

  “Come on, it’s time to go,” called Eunan as he threw his weapons into the boat.

  Seamus hugged his wife and walked down to the shore to join his compatriot.

  Desmond and Arthur were there to see them off.

  “You smell of… flowers!” and Desmond smiled at Seamus.

  “Only you would have the balls to make a joke like that,” and Seamus looked back to wave to his wife. He turned to Desmond again. “If she dies, so do you.”

  “Oh sure, I take that as a given. But as long as she stays here, I have the protection of the mighty Seamus MacSheehy!”

  “That you do, Desmond, that you do. You’d better watch out, as I may find you some gainful employment in Enniskillen. That toe rag O’Cassidy may vacate his position soon.”

  “I am happily retired pretending to fish on my little island, thank you very much. Goodbye and I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”

  “You will, and look after her.”

  “And you Eunan.”

  With that, Seamus and Eunan boarded the boat and rowed away.

  * * *

  They returned to their men in western Fermanagh, staying together for a week as Governor Bingham made futile assaults on Sligo Castle. The arrival of the Maguires and O’Donnells from the rear made it unsafe for Bingham to continue the siege, so he retired back to his more secure bases in Connacht. Once the siege was over, O’Donnell ordered the destruction of Sligo Castle, for he did not want to defend it indefinitely and desired free passage between Tirconnell and Connacht. It was time for Seamus and Eunan to part.

  They now shared a sense of purpose. Seamus embraced Eunan before setting out for Tirconnell.

  “Just send the word to me if you need my help. I am assembling the finest, experienced fighting men in all of Ireland, of which you’ll find no equal. They’ll be at your disposal.”

  “Thank you, Seamus. I may call on you sooner than you think.”

  “Goodbye nephew,” and Seamus set off back to join the army of the O’Donnell.

  33

  Mullabrack

  Rejoicing broke out across the north after the brilliant victory at Clontibret, and it breathed confidence into the rebel confederation that the English could be beaten. Many a letter was filled with stories of the glories gained that made their way to potential allies and sponsors in Ireland and the continent.

  However, Lord Deputy Russell did not let the lords of the north rest on their laurels, and in June 1595, he gathered his forces and marched north. He reinforced the Monaghan garrison and established a fort in Armagh, hoping it would be a lance in the side of the rebellion. O’Neill, in return, levelled his castle in Dungannon, depriving the lord deputy of a potential base in O’Neill territory should he continue his offensive. O’Neill refused to give battle, and in July, Lord Deputy Russell withdrew once more to the Pale.

  In August, Sir John Norreys, a veteran of the Dutch revolt and in command of a sizable force, including a large contingent of veterans from Brittany, was given command and marched north to add to Russell’s foundations. Again O’Neill refused to offer battle and instead made proposals for a ceasefire. But September came, and two significant events changed everything.

  First, Turlough O’Neill finally died, resulting in Hugh O’Neill taking the Irish title of O’Neill which he used instead of his English title of the Earl of Tyrone. This confirmed in the eyes of the English his commitment to the rebellion.

  Second, English spies intercepted a letter in which O’Neill and O’Donnell promised Ireland to the king of Spain and restore it to the Catholic faith in return for his military assistance. The crown had always believed the rebels to be in league with Spain, but this was the first definitive evidence. All of O’Neill’s pleas for a ceasefire were subsequently dismissed.

  * * *

  Eunan had made much of his men’s vigour for the fight at the Battle of Clontibret. He returned to Desmond’s island and delighted Desmond with tales of his bravery and leadership and his contribution to the victory. Desmond polished and embellished these stories and dictated the revised tales to Arthur, who converted them into letters. He then went to his trunk and handed a fist full of coins to Eunan.

  “Offer these to your men. Give a coin to each man who can go to a different town, village or marketplace in south Fermanagh and have them read aloud the tales of Eunan Maguire. I guarantee you, you will have at least double the men to replace those who you lost.”

  Eunan was sceptical, but he waited a couple of days for Arthur to make as many copies as he physically could. By the time the Maguire recalled him, he had one hundred and fifty men and had collected enough weapons to arm them all. The legend of Eunan Maguire was spreading.

  When Norreys came north, Eunan was sent with the Maguire contingent to join the O’Neill. Before they left their camp outside Enniskillen, Caolan Maguire came with men from the MacCabe Galloglass. They placed two large wooden boxes in front of Eunan.

  “Another present from Hugh Maguire. He must like you,” said Caolan.

  Eunan took one of his throwing axes and cut the ropes holding the wooden boxes together.

  “Guns! What am I supposed to do with them?”

  “He’ll tell you,” and Caolan pointed to a man who came from behind the Galloglass.

  “Arlo!” cried Eunan to receive back a nod and a grunt.

  * * *

  They arrived in Monaghan and found themselves in the O’Neill camp, sitting out the stalemate as O’Neill refused to engage Norreys. Arlo and Eunan did not waste the time the lull in fighting granted them. They caught up, for they had not met since Eunan and Desmond ‘rescued’ Arlo from the wreaks of the Spanish Armada.

  Arlo told how he did not like the cold, the wet, the food or the quality of the men
they gave him to train, but the women seemed to find his accent appealing, which was some compensation for being held prisoner. Eunan said that the Lord in heaven had many missions for his people, and we would not always appreciate what we were asked to do. Arlo grumbled, but Eunan said he should be grateful he was still alive, unlike many other of his comrades.

  After enduring Arlo’s grumbles, Eunan set about training the men to use the guns he had been fortunate enough to receive. Arlo again proved himself a deft instructor and turned the men from south Fermanagh into a unit that could, under the lightest of scrutiny, pass as a unit of shot. Hugh Maguire was obliging enough to apply such scrutiny as to let the obvious deficiencies of the men bypass him either by passive or deliberate negligence and committed the unit to battle.

  * * *

  O’Neill waited to set his trap as Norreys, the great English general who was supposed to inspire fear in the rebels, reinforced the garrisons in Armagh and Monaghan. Norreys turned south to return to the Pale, but O’Neill was determined that he would not get away unmolested. He set a trap for his adversary with his own men as the pincers for the ambush and his allies, the glue to hold Norreys in place.

  Eunan and Arlo took up positions on their assigned hill as part of the ambush, conscious of their subordinate role. Eunan was in two minds, for he doubted the potency of the guns as weapons, in the hands of his men at least, and considered that they would be a poor substitute for an axe should they find themselves in hand to hand combat. It was a fortunate Maguire indeed who had a gun and a sword or dagger. They went around and gave each of the men a handful of bullets and told them to use them prudently. Spirits were high, given the result of their last ambush, and the men were eager for battle. They took up their positions and rehearsed Arlo’s instructions in their minds.

  Norreys was wise to what had previously happened to Bagenal and spotted where the potential ambush could occur on the road home. He changed route and forced his baggage over the ford at the Cusher River and prepared for a fighting retreat. O’Neill manoeuvred his forced to catch the English before they got away. He struck with his cavalry only to be pushed back. Eunan’s men had to abandon their hilltop positions to pursue the enemy and joined the other Maguire shot who stood alongside O’Neill’s shot in the woods and bog to the left of the retreating English. The rebels laid down a withering fire. Eunan had taken a caliver to set a good example to his men. He joined the crooked line of his men and stood ankle-deep in the waters of the bog and fired his weapon. Arlo wished he stuck to his axe.