The Welshmen of Tyrawley

by Graham Barratt

  At the end of the meeting, the travelling Brehon stood up and addressed the clan elders. The re-formation of the church along with the growing influence of the English was making the interpretation of the law very difficult, at least in a manner that would be acceptable to all parties. The selection of a tanist heir though was internal to the clan and an aspect of the old law that the community could exercise with relative freedom from external interference.

  ‘My brothers, I will be direct and to the point. The eldest son of Chief Walter has for many years been the assumed the Lochtar Bourke Tanist and elected successor to our great leader Walter. There has been much talk in the homes, streets and drinking houses, and I would like to resolve the matter concerning William. He is popular and has great talent for the arts, able to jest and make happy. He has these talents above all others. However, I feel we need to examine his suitability and the other choices we may have for the title of tanist and eventual leader of our great people. We must ensure that any successor is the most capable and willing man for the position, even if he was surely Walter’s firstborn.’

  There was a certain amount of agreement in Walter’s mind as he bowed and nodded his head with embarrassment. Although Walter suspected that the discussion would one day come, he was nonetheless disappointed that he hadn’t made the decision himself, and sooner.

  The Brehon continued,

  ‘It rests on my shoulders to maintain the law and confirm the decisions we need to make as a united clan. It has become my opinion that William shows no tendency to be the man we need him to be as tanist. By that I mean a leader of men. Furthermore, there are better men among us who show great promise. In my judgement, I resolve to instruct you here today to appoint a new tanist who will befit the title of Walter’s successor. Walter has been a great chief for many years and there be no intention to succeed him before his death. We recognise his worth and therefore propose that the title of tanist is awarded to Walter’s second born son, James. He, in my judgement, is a most able and fit leader and of the best blood. James provides all requirements to a claim of being the most capable.’

  James’ character had increasingly been recognised by the clan as uniquely predisposed to the position of leader. This decision was also aligned to English Common Law and so would not attract any conflict. In addition, his victory at the fighting stone had been well remembered by the Bourkes. It had been commonplace generations earlier to award the estate to a person not in Walter’s family line. It would be an outrage and unthinkable while a leader has an heir to eject a tanist, however, it was acceptable to oust William as first in line to the title in favour of James.

  When the news was broken to William, he feigned some disappointment. He was not surprised though and felt inwardly relieved and liberated. He was now in a position to decide his own future, play, be merry and to live without constant tattle.

  James’ ratification by the council was a formality and he took up his position as tanist almost immediately. As the years move on, James’ responsibilities will gradually increase.

  The Barretts and the Bourkes of Tyrawley had been covertly funding the rebel cause, which was compounded by further demands invoked by Bingham and the Lord Deputy. Over wide areas of Connaught, the English were billeting their soldiers on the land occupied by the Gaelic clans. In Ballycastle a large garrison had been built, which had been highly unpopular and had caused further resentment amongst the Irish.

  An English agent accompanied by a small unit of troops appeared at Ballysakeery castle. He had urgent news from Galway that would not wait and he demanded to speak with the MacPadine immediately. The English correctly perceived him as the leader of the Barretts in Tyrawley and an elder with a major influence on all clans in Mayo. The English dismounted to rest their horses. After handing his reigns to a soldier, he proceeded to the gates demanding to see MacPadine, giving no indication to the doorman of the nature of his business.

  ‘Chief Barrett, I have been sent by Sir Richard Bingham on the authority of the Lord Deputy, the servant of Her Majesty, the Queen. I have with me parchments signed by the lords that serve notice on you regarding your quarters of land. The Bourkes in Mayo are rebels and will soon be quelled. The Barretts have pleased the Queen and Sir Richard is aware of the support afforded by the Barretts at the court of Her Majesty.’

  MacPadine gave no indication that he and the Bourkes had been supporting the rebels for some years, by way of men, food and money. He got up from his desk and almost ran to the messenger. Putting both strong hands around his throat, MacPadine whispered into his ear.

  ‘Sir, I am a tired man, give me one reason why I should not rid my house of a ponce?’

  There was no answer, his larynx was being crushed. MacPadine released his grip to encourage a word or two.

  ‘Sir, please allow me to make my point before I expire.’

  After composing himself a little, the messenger dusted himself down.

  ‘I beg you, do not attack me again.’

  ‘Attack? Attack? That was manifest affection in these parts! If I had attacked you, you would now be on the floor twitching.’ The messenger massaged his throat.

  ‘Sir, I wish to stress that you are in favour with England and I suggest that you do not risk your position through an assault on a messenger from Dublin. The Queen demands the Irish to co-operate with us further, in return for a great deal of favour from England. The Queen does not recognise Gaelic or Celtic claims to Irish soil and ownership cannot be proved. Sir, you are to recognise English rule over Ireland and in return, as well as an earldom, you will be re-granted most of your quarters of land under English Sovereignty for eternity and tenure where the grant has not previously been given.’

  MacPadine pulled his sword and raised it above his head, ready to strike. The messenger continued his plea.

  ‘Arrh, sir I beg you, allow me to continue! If you do not agree, then the land will be removed from your possession and re-allocated to either English or favoured Irish lords. You will then become their tenants. It is your decision, but I require your answer immediately. Killing me will be seen as refusal and will be repaid with wrath.’

  MacPadine had had his amusement, he lowered his sword.

  ‘I cannot make a choice over what is not mine to make. I have to consult the clan elders and that cannot happen until I am able to meet with them.’

  ‘I must advise you that you should give me your answer now and the verdict of the other Barretts must be a future cede. I am obliged to return to Lord Bingham with the signed scroll. If it is not with me on my return journey tomorrow, then you will face losing your estate and many Barretts will be evicted. The chiefs will all be in agreement since it will relieve them of their cuttings and spendings. I am under no doubt that many lower chiefs will also agree, since they will benefit from the new allotments and will be freed from the Gaelic burden and your levies.’

  MacPadine sent news to the chiefs of the townlands the next day, giving notice that he had to submit to the will of the English. If it became knowledge that the Barretts were financing both the rebels as well as the English, then it was certain to result in conflict and war. MacPadine ordered them to keep silent on the subject.

  The English applied tithes to all Irish landowners of 10 shillings per quarter of land. The increased costs had to be transferred to the tenants remaining on the Barrett quarters, such as the Welshes and the Lynotts. The levy was not popular with the lower clans, and they had no choice but to agree. If they went to the English for land and tithes, there would surely be conflict between the two clans and they were too small to de-ally.

  Part 4 1600

  Emily and Tibbot Return to Dael

  Emily’s father, Walter, developed an abscess in his mouth and died in late 1599. Word was sent to Emily and she travelled back to Crossmolina with Tibbot to attend Walter’s funeral. Her plan was to stay with Ceara and her brothers to provide comfort and then to return to Ballysakeery after a few weeks.

  One eve
ning in the hall of the tower house at Dael, she left Ceara grieving in her chamber and descended the stone steps before sitting around the fire with her brothers. As James had been the elected tanist and heir to Walter’s title and estate, it was he from whom she would now seek moderation.

  ‘James, I crave for remedy to my banishment from my home at Dael. Now that you are the chief, how may I be allowed to return to Crossmolina? We have suffered terribly and fear for both our lives if we continue to live outside of the family and outside of the protection of the clan.’

  ‘Do you tell me that the Barretts do not keep you safe?’

  ’At Ballysakeery, we have been treated very well and Richard has been a gentleman as I have never known. My reputation travels with me and the community do not wish me there. Every opportunity is used to attack me and Tibbot.

  ‘Why does Richard not help you overcome your attackers?’

  ‘If I have learned anything about the Barretts, I know they would never accept my testimony over that of their own kind and I have no council. They are a clan who have even more unity than the Bourkes.’

  Emily watched as James got out of his chair and tossed several dry sods of turf on the fire.

  ‘Richard would not openly defend me in a quarrel over his own clan. I have been attacked and blackmailed in ways that are wicked. Tibbot’s life has been threatened and I have no future amongst a clan that resent me and my son. One day, we will be finished off by them I am sure. I have had to do most terrible things to protect my son. When my actions have been discovered, I will need representation, surety and council, otherwise be certain that the Barretts will put me to death.’

  James walked across the room to comfort her.

  ‘Why would you need representation, Emily? What have you done which is so bad you need a man of law?’

  Emily looked at each one of her brothers opened-mouthed and hesitant.

  ‘What is it, sister?’

  ‘I have been raped by a most ghastly man.’

  ‘The Barretts often do as they please and take what they want but this is too much. I will kill him, who is he? Is it Richard?’

  ‘No, it is as I told you, Richard has been a man of great support and virtue. He is a good man and a credit to their clan. The man who raped me was Toothless Patrick, who was a bully and a slob, but now he is dead as I killed him.’

  William often suspected the integrity and motives of others. He walked up to Emily to challenge her.

  ‘I heard of the death of Patrick, but it was said to have been due to a fire in his home. How can we be sure you killed him?’

  ‘I know I killed him because I saw his brains spill before I set his body alight. Why would I confess to a murder that did not happen? Patrick’s assault on me is still not known other than to Dermot of Nephin. I killed Patrick the night he attacked me. I have hardened and I am not like the women who left here.’

  ‘I think we are beginning to see that,’ said William.

  ‘I had to fight Patrick myself and was able to strike out to kill him. I set his hovel alight and he was burned inside his house. I left him for dead and he was…’

  William looked confused and was about to speak. James gestured to William to lessen the questioning and was eager to hear more of her story. He allowed Emily to continue.

  ‘That was not all. There were other attacks on me. Dermot Nephin realised what I had done and knew the truth. He then tried to blackmail me into becoming his whore. Oh please help us, please James!’

  James’ face went red with rage.

  ‘Dermot.’

  ‘I know of Dermot. He is of poor faith and judgment. He must be punished for his crimes. I will kill him to avenge this evil man.’

  ‘No James, you must not. He has suffered much since. I took his manhood with a knife.’

  ‘You did what?’

  ‘I knifed him at the moment he was to violate me. He no longer has the use of his cock.’

  Emily did not want to re-live any more of her experience. She had said enough, now was the time to help.

  ‘James, you must not start a clan war because of this. I told you these things in order to be granted a return to my home, our home. Please I beg you both, please accept us back at Dael.’

  James thought carefully. He had the need to honour his father’s memory and wishes, but at the same time, he loved his sister and her hardship had to end. He went to his bedroom and gave no answer that night, declaring that he would announce his decision in the morning.

  Early the next day, as he ate a light meal, he gave his response to both Emily and William.

  ‘Emily, we will welcome you back here, but you will do so under certain binding conditions. Acceptance back into Dael can only come about if the shame of what you did with Cirilo is removed. You must continue to deny your story of love, but at the same time, maintain the testimony that the slave raped you. This account must be known as the truth evermore and as Father wished it. Tibbot must believe that you were raped and from this day, this will be something that we will not discuss. Furthermore, you and Tibbot will remain without grant or inheritance. If your baby was from a rape, then you will be more accepted and the reputation of the clan will be safe.’

  ‘Cirilo is the man I still love. How can I continue to rest the charge with him when it is not true?’

  James restated the conditions, ‘You must uphold the story and Tibbot must believe it too.’

  William announced some news to Emily.

  ‘Emily, you need to understand, he is now a dead man. Our father sent me and a gallowglass to pursue and kill him. I witnessed the scene when a cannon exploded and he died.’

  Emily began to cry, she would not survive in a world that had no hope for Cirilo. She had always believed that he could be dead by now, but this confirmation made it no less painful. She was destroyed and if Cirilo was dead, then she would also be betraying his memory and reputation. Somehow, this seemed worse.

  ‘I cannot mar his memory, James. I cannot do this to Tibbot either. Cirilo was a good man. I had planned one day to tell Tibbot of his father and give him the good thoughts his mind needs. Tibbot deserves to know that his father was good.’

  ‘Then I will not allow you back into Crossmolina and this tower house and Ceara will support me now. I have already turned against Father’s wishes in suggesting a plan for your return. The rest must be as Father required. The choice is yours. The account must be as I have explained and Tibbot must believe it too, otherwise you must stay in the company of the Barretts.’

  ‘You could always marry Richard,’ sniped William.

  ‘Sometimes your wit lets you down, William.’

  Emily knew the judgement would be different if it were devolved to James, but it was William who had the power. She had no choice but to accept the conditions and to the disappointment of Richard, she stayed at Dael with her son.

  Tibbot was to face a great deal of prejudice and bullying over the coming years. He would encounter many hostile attacks in the community as he grew up and would never be fully accepted as a member of the community.

  As a young boy, rather than spending time with friends, he became withdrawn, isolated and totally engrossed in his work and his faith. Tibbot seldom felt any loyalty to the clan. He grew up close to James, but shunned the Clan Bourke as much as he hated the man who had raped his mother.

  A Levy Too Far

  To the West of Belleek are many townlands, including the areas known as Garranard and Carn. For centuries, they have been inhabited by the lower clans, most notably the Lynotts at Carn. Despite their relative strength in the barony, they owned very little land. It was mainly administered by landlords who had sweeping territories across Mayo from Erris to Sligo.

  Skirmishes had ultimately led to oppression and exploitation of much of the land resources by dominant clans, who pursued alliances for their own gain and not the collective good. This included the Lower MacWilliam Bourkes as well as the Barretts.

  Over many generatio
ns, the people of simple villages and farming communities had been detached from the wars with the English. They were often confused by such talk of war and conflict.

  For the average person in Tyrawley, there seemed to be few political issues to be concerned with. The notion of contributing to a war had been looked on for many years with suspicion and reluctance, especially amongst the clans with the least to “give”.

  In two townlands, news would be communicated through the specific activities of messengers, travellers and bards. The rebellion for the earls though was becoming more significant as they looked to the allied clans for the raising of funds, manpower and resources. The decisions to fight against the English were gradually becoming accepted by many of the Irish as inevitable. Of course this was only true of those who refused English Common Law and the process of surrender and re-grant. There was a great deal of suffering for many people and communities who now gathered to fight. Teachers, students and professional people were leaving their non-essential work in the struggle to keep their land as well as their political and religious freedoms.

  All over Ireland, as had been the case for many years, the clans had regions of strength and concentration. The Barretts were powerful landlords in Tyrawley and Erris and in many areas were considered the dominant clan in financial terms. They were preoccupied with money and increasing their fortunes. Land and the exploitation of its resources had been the principal means of gaining wealth. Now there were additional pressures to support the earls and rebel causes. Despite relative peace in the counties, clashes with the English were becoming far more common in Ulster: the more they abused the Irish. The English threatened the religion, sovereignty and precious land resources of every Irishman.

  Initially, direct involvement in war would only be a preference for the clan if it involved the accumulation of wealth, as war often did. Despite this paradox, the Barretts now accepted the need to finance the uprisings. Importantly, they craved the funds to maintain strength and security of the clan and its communities. This represented an increased burden on all Irish clans for the precipitation of wealth.