The Welshmen of Tyrawley

by Graham Barratt

  ‘Yes, I killed Patrick, he raped me and I struck him hard, but I was able to do this only after he was satisfied, and he hurt my baby. I will never let a man take me for pleasure without my agreement. I will kill any swine who tries to force himself on me, regardless of his clan, influences and status, including you.’

  ‘I beg you. Please show me mercy.’

  ‘You are a rat, not fit to be called a clansman and you deserve to die. Listen to me, you beast. Your wound will be the proof of what I have done to you. If you say anything of this evening, then I will tell the Barretts what you have done. This time, I have the evidence. It will be the scar that I carved into you tonight. Do you agree to leave me be and say nothing of Patrick?’

  He diverted his gaze in what appeared to be shame and nodded. Dermot quickly released his grip on her neck as he became weaker. She pulled out the knife as the bleeding continued and he curled up in pain. He could not reply and with sweat beads on his face, his eyes rolled and he passed out.

  Emily got up, raised her skirts and spat on him before running out of the house, leaving the door open. This time, there were no tears, just a look of determination and a feeling that she had taken revenge on Patrick as well as Dermot. She no longer cared what would become of Dermot after she left. Further suffering or even death was his making. Perhaps she had avenged other women whom he had attacked and maybe she had prevented attacks in the future.

  Emily ran across the yard to the horse, kicking and neighing against the stone walls. The beast was being spooked further by the hungry wolves. They were the last of the wolves in Tyrawley after centuries of slaughter by farmers. They sounded much louder now and were even circling the cottage, but she was not worried. She felt invincible and if they attacked her, she would fight them off too. She calmed the nag before climbing up onto her back. Making her way back to the townland, the horse became calmer as the sound of the wolves diminished.

  Dermot awoke to an even greater pain in his groin and had no idea how long he was unconscious. When Emily left the cottage door open, she allowed some unwelcome guests to enter it. There were two wolves inspecting him. The first one he saw was licking up the blood that had spilled into the cracks of the floor. Then there was intense pain as he realised that a wolf had bitten into his scrotum, shaking its head as it tried to detach the flesh. Dermot was going to die unless he could drive out the beasts. He found the knife that Emily had left and he thrust it into the neck of the wolf attacking him. With a squeal, it ran away and the second wolf followed. Luckily for Dermot, the rest of the pack was less motivated to attempt a kill once they heard the squeal of the first animal.

  Dermot pulled himself to the door and pushed it shut. Covering his wounds with clothing, he drank water to quench his extreme thirst. His body was already in shock and he would need the fluid in order to recover from the loss of blood. He was lucky to have escaped with his life. The next day, he managed to send for a physician to get the wound dressed properly with an herb poultice.

  It took him many weeks to recover from the wounds to his genitals, but the emotional scars would never heel. Uncertain whether it was due to the wolves’ bites or Emily’s knife attack, from that day on, he had no sexual function. He was now unable to exact retribution on Emily and unable to repeat such an attack on any other woman.

  To report Emily for the murder of Patrick would be to reveal his own crimes as well as his impotence. Even worse, if Emily was believed, then he would be exposed as a rapist. Rape within the community, especially amongst staunch Catholic clans, such as the Barretts was a very serious crime. The rape by Patrick was un-provable following his death, but Emily would be able to describe Dermot’s wounds. Dermot could lose his livelihood and status within the clan if his actions became known to the elders. He was not a popular character and with his disabilities, would most likely become a pauper, rather than living in the comfort for which he was accustomed. It was not a chance he could take and for his own benefit, he chose to remain silent over the death of Patrick and silent over his violent crimes against Emily Bourke.

  Very quickly, the stigma of his impotency took its toll on his mind. He developed a hatred for women, which would stay with him for the remainder of his years; however, he kept the events of that evening to himself, and he hoped that Emily would too.

  Part 3 1595

  The Great Earl at Clontibret

  By March 1591, Brian O’Rourke was dead. The resistance and rebel forces now came under the leadership of Hugh O’Neill, the 2nd earl of Tyrone. The majority of the artillery, gunners and cannons were assigned to the new force based in Sligo as it concentrated its attentions on Ulster and the English.

  O’Neill had been given his title by the Queen, but when the English further encroached into Ulster, he turned against her to fight for his people. He believed that the Irish were defending their sovereign territory from political and religious foes. According to the Irish, it was considered to be a legitimate army, put together using the resources at hand, help from the Scottish and a constant hope of support from Catholic Spain.

  Despite the uncertainty of war, it was a new and exciting time for the rebels. The rebellion since O’Rourke’s leadership had grown stronger. They were now better equipped and trained. The Welshmen of Tyrawley gunners were duly assigned to protect the camps of around eight thousand of the O’Neill’s rebel troops and participated in many engagements and ambushes against the Queen’s army.

  The Welshmen of Tyrawley now included Thomas Welsh and had continued to be involved in the protection of a variety of strongholds but had endured comparatively little action up until now. However, the complexity of the task had further intensified through the use of many different types of firearms and various quality and calibres of powder and cannon balls.

  Donovan and Duald endured life as gunners and increased in experience. Despite this, they had seen several of their teams killed through a multiplicity of errors, mishaps and at times, lacking protection from the caliver-men. It was though commonplace that the role would result in death for most men. Despite this fact, it never lessened the feeling of sadness for the team when a fellow Welshman was lost or badly injured.

  In late 1595, following the first offensive on the English stronghold at the Blackwater River, O’Neill rode out from the tower house courtyard to make a major speech to rouse the troops which would mark a step up in the war against the English. Cantering up to the lookout battlements erected on a nearby hillock, he turned the horse on the spot as he calmed his mount to stillness. After the beast was sufficiently still and the thousands of troops were sufficiently quiet, he waited a few further minutes to prepare himself mentally.

  Donovan and Duald were dressed in the uniform of the kern and looked on the swathes of people, tents and campfires as O’Neill addressed the army. Most of the men were poised to listen to his speech, but it didn’t stop a group of organised whores from winding through the men and touting for business arranging a time for later. One man recognised his niece and pulled her away from the camp before setting her off on the road back to her townland.

  O’Neill’s words would need to be simple and from the heart if he was going to rouse the fighters to war.

  ’My friends and fellow Irishmen, we are confronted with a fight to preserve our land and wealth, but most of all, to retain our Irish ways. From the days when King Henry imposed his domain against our counties, we feared that one day we would need this battle and many more to keep our freedom and property. We shall feed you, train you and dress your wounds, and there will be a soldier’s bounty.

  ’The fight is to rid ourselves of the bondage and burden of the English and to keep our freedoms. We do this for our clan and kindred folk. If you are not willing to fight for your families, then you must leave now and join the English, since you will not be welcome in this place. The English are strengthening their hold at the borders, and we must make a stand in our townlands. We will weaken them and turn them back. We have greater resolve and hav
e greater resource, that being Ireland.

  ’The gallowglass and redshanks will help us in battle, so guard yourselves first and look after the man at your side. If you have time for another swing of the sword, then aim it at your friend’s aggressor. Remember, killing English is less important, it is better to wound them to cause burden rather than death. Also, you should release your victims from their powder horns, pouches and weapons since it not only denies them further attack but provides you with fight for another day.

  ’We will win. It is time to watch the blood pouring from the noses of the English. If they fight back, then the blood will be from their necks. If they turn and run, then do not chase them. Let them return to tell their queen of the bravery of the Irish. Follow your leaders and give good service to your people. I will lead you to your foes, but it will be your place to expel them and make them run back from whence they came.

  Fight the fight not for me, not for yourselves, but for the honour of your country, in which there are millions better than me. If you are true to Ireland, then I will lose the last drop of my blood for you.’

  A huge cheer lifted the mood as weapons were raised and hats flung into the air before the Great Earl said his final few words.

  ‘May Ireland come to her own before I die.’

  The army moved out in good spirits toward the English. This was not preparation for another skirmish with the English, but it would mark an escalation in what was to become known as the Nine Years War.

  O’Neill quickly laid siege to the English Garrison at Monaghan Castle and all supplies to the English were cut off. This was to prompt the exposure of other English contingents from other strongholds and allow the Irish to plan their ambush by lining the likely routes with snipers.

  Donovan and the gunners were ordered to set up the heavy cannons at several positions on slightly higher ground overlooking Monaghan. The teams of gunners were helped by many kern, who constructed the battlements and earthworks for their protection. The extra height on hillocks gave them extended firing range and visibility as well as protecting them from attack. Any army moving uphill would be slowed down by physical exertion which would deliver a slower and much improved target for the English.

  The assigned gun emplacements were usually out of the range of light arms but were made visible in order to deter progress along the pass. They targeted the garrisons and castles and any English travelling to or from them. Powder supply from Grace O’Malley was low, and if pike battles were to be avoided, then they needed to conserve and capture as much powder as possible. It was not long before the gunners were ordered to cease fire on small groups, allowing O Neill’s specially trained red-coated caliver-men to protect the gunners and provide the front line assault against the English.

  On the first Sunday of June, Sir Henry Bagenal, who commanded the English forces in the region, marched a freshly assembled army of 1,750 infantry from the stronghold at Dundalk to Monaghan. In order to confuse the Irish, the route was via Newry, and the moon was a full. The backlighting would help betray any ambusher’s positions against the glowing sky, should a fight ensue or extend into the night.

  The rebels though, famously succeeded in inflicting heavy losses on the forces of the Queen. They used caliver guns, arrows, cannon and personal arms as the English moved people and supplies into and out of the strongholds. However, it did not prevent them from getting to the castle. Travellers to and from Monaghan soon relayed the situation to the English. At Crossdall, the Irish realised their effectiveness during the ambushes against the English during their successive attempts to pass. On several roadsides, including at Clontibret, O’Neill’s 4,000 men continually ambushed the English supply parties.

  O’Neill realised, as did the gallowglass and the Templers before them, that the sight and sound of wounded men in the field was bad for morale. A wounded man would need at least two other able men to carry them away from the field. O’Neill therefore gave orders to cause wounding wherever possible. At Crossdall, the losses were significant at about 42 casualties, but it did not prevent the English from achieving the greater good by re-stocking their garrison.

  Donovan’s reputation as an expert gunner was enhanced the more he gained experience in the field. It was not long before Duald was awarded rank for their efforts too. Donovan remained a humble slave with no accolade other than the respect of Duald. Thomas, on the other hand, became more jealous with every day he saw success with Duald. This was a further affront to his rights as a clansman. Donovan was the slave who should rightly have been given to him. Instead, it seemed that Thomas was now a subordinate to the slave, which was becoming an increasingly difficult notion to live with. Anger consumed his soul until one day he secretly vowed he would take his revenge on Donovan and the Bourkes.

  One evening, he sensed his first chance to damage the reputation of Donovan and the Mayo gunners. Thomas had been rostered on night duty guarding the gun positions while the others slept in tents. It was raining heavily, but the powder kegs were covered over with greased canvass. He loosened the plugs of the three barrels closest to Donovan’s gun position and pulled the cover slightly away, exposing the seals to the rain. Releasing the lids would allow humidity to permeate into the powder. Once his shift on duty was completed, he pulled the covers back over the barrels. Damp powder, particularly in cannons was unpredictable and dangerous. Wet powder was useless. Thomas’ intention was to dampen the powder and put Donovan at risk. Unfortunately, it became too wet. Both sides had been short of dry powder, and pike battles were looking increasingly more necessary. The rebels would then lose much of the advantage of an ambush. What had been more selective, isolated attacks were received by the English as snipes and toying. It was though mainly to conserve powder and to maintain the mental pressure on the English. Although the castle had been reinforced with more men, Bagenal needed additional supplies and much of the powder for the return journey the next day.

  The rebel powder had been conserved and O’Neill hoped there would be enough for cannon and gunfire on the second day. He was wrong. It was soon discovered that Donovan’s powder was wet. It was the gunner’s powder that was kept as back-up for the caliver-men and was important should they need to sustain a heavy ambush or fight off a counter attack. There was now insufficient to maintain an attack on any aggressors, let alone the English. It was obvious that a sustained attack on the English would not be an option and was a disaster for the rebels. Making the situation worse, O’Neill had been injured in combat, and to Bagenal’s surprise, after re-grouping at Ballymacowen and expecting a further onslaught, the Irish did not execute the expected counter-attack. Bagenal was surprised by the lack of fight but declared the event a victory for the English.

  Donovan had suspicions over the cause of the wet powder, which led to the strategic failure of counter attack and flanking. The covers had been secured well the evening before. This was all part of the gunners drill and routine and was an error that he just could not understand.

  The catastrophe was an inner embarrassment for Thomas too. It was not his intention to cripple the rebels. Nonetheless, should he meet up with the English again, he would cite the wet powder as his doing and claim it as an act against the rebels. Whilst Thomas wished to discredit Donovan, he had no intention to impact the activities of the rebels. If this were known, it would mean summary execution for the young man.

  The Welshmen of Tyrawley were losing credibility with O’Neill. If there was any more doubt as to their competence, then they would all be assigned as kern and replaced.

  Surrender and Regrant

  William was not a typical Irish man. He was very fond of the arts, music, fashion and the finer things. Despite at times trying very hard, it became evident that he disliked the idea of life as a warrior and a rebel fighter, one of the priorities for any self-respecting Bourke. He had no appetite for killing in any circumstance, but instead enjoyed the company of women not as an object of love and desire, but more as friends and equals. Contrar
y to any opposing influence, he seemed to have grown up to become a-sexual, without sexual relationships with either females or males. The latter being through lack of opportunity rather than preference. Opportunity was further limited due to his higher profile befitting the son of a wealthy clansman. His tendencies did not go un-noticed by the extended clan and was the frequent subject of gossip and harassment. If he had not been the son of a chief, then he would almost certainly have been tormented by the males of the community, or even worse, as had happened many times when a person seemed to be different, beaten to death. As it was, his position allowed him to perpetuate his life as a gentleman who loved the finer things, within the confines of his own home. As long as there were no scandals or rumours, his behaviour was tolerated.

  William and the gallowglass had failed in their quest to bring back the head of Cirilo. This was another of a long string of disappointments for his father. He was no leader of men and his feminine tendencies (at least that’s how it seemed to many of the clansmen) continued to play on the mind of Walter. As the eldest and firstborn to the chief, William was his father’s tanist. It had therefore been anticipated that he would be heir to the title and more importantly, Walter’s estate and wealth. For years it had been assumed by his immediate family, including Emily and James, that William would inherit everything. As he matured though, things were beginning to look less certain for William’s future as the tanist.

  Despite the English actively imposing Common Law in the county, the Brehon system was still very much alive in the communities. At a covert meeting of the elders, the Brehon was in attendance and there to provide judgement on a number of issues. One strength of the Brehon system was the efficiency at which clan matters were executed. If anything was a virtue of Brehons in Mayo, it was that there was little delay in implementing and fulfilling the requirements of law.