The Welshmen of Tyrawley

by Graham Barratt

  As long as they continued to have the wealth to do so, the earls maintained deployment of mercenary redshanks and gallowglass warriors. This not only strengthened their forces, but reduced the burden on the clans to offer up young men from their communities. It was though a strategy requiring money and a lot of it.

  In the Barony of Tyrawley, the homes, strongholds, land and infrastructure all involved maintenance. Shot, powder and artillery supplies were expensive and difficult to source and there was never enough with supply plans being constantly disrupted. This dictated the strategies of the rebels, requiring more “bloody” hand-to-hand battle than it would if powder, cannons, calivers and shot were available. Many skirmishes were restricted to ambushes with pikes, halberds, swords and bows, rather than assembling forces for field battles. Since this option was bloody for both sides, it was not popular.

  Tyrone’s rebellion, mainly in Ulster, came at a significant cost to the Irish, but capitulation was not an option. If the clans were to be seen to support the rebels in return for their freedoms, then they needed to provide real resources, such as fighters, money, food and victuals.

  Only lesser quality land plots were now available in Mayo and the “Plantation” was well under way in the Ulster, Munster and the Pale. The pressures of religion, law and sovereignty were being met with increasing backlash from the grass-roots Irish.

  The costs and diminishing funds were becoming a huge problem for Richard, the MacPadine. Selling land could be an option in the short term, but due to the influence of the English, policy of “Surrender and Regrant”, and the tenuous nature of Irish deeds, prices were low. Selling also diminished the assets of the clans. The Barretts had no alternative but to raise the rents of the tenants.

  Life was already difficult for the people who lived the simple life and more levies would be extremely unpopular. Pressure to accept English rule in return for the grant of their land was looking like an increasingly attractive proposition for many clan elders.

  Since before his attempt at corrupting Emily, Dermot of Nephin had worked as accountant and steward for the Barretts in Tyrawley, based at Ballysakeery for many years. He had foreseen the issues and had proposed higher rent since capitulation to English rule some years earlier. Also, the loss of Belleek to the Bourkes through the Belleek “Agreement” further fed his resentment of rival clans. Dermot’s simple and uninspired solution was to raise rents on the lease of their land. His opinion was that the plan had to be executed immediately, there was no other option.

  The clan had prospered in wealth and power, but they were now losing assets at a great rate. Their Welsh allies, the Bourkes, had acquired vast stretches of land, but they were less dependent on tenancies. They held much influence over Tyrawley, although far less since Henry VIII’s assault on clan titles, Brehon and church laws. The English increasingly considered the Bourkes as rebels, which delighted the Barretts. They were though, conscious of the Bourkes influence in the region, the dual funding of both sides needed addressing, especially if the Bourkes decided to inform the English or, indeed, the rebels of the double-dealing.

  Dermot remained a devoted Barrett clansman, who argued for many years that the clan allies should be of a business nature only. Strength and clan identities should be maintained and that all agreements between tribes should inevitably be breeched if it suited the needs of the Barretts. To that end, it was important that the clans should not ally, unless there was clear financial advantage. Even then, there would need to be a plan to ditch them if it went wrong. Crucially, Dermot believed that the tenants should be further exploited for income. He felt that levies should be raised to the highest level and that the tenants would tolerate without eventually moving on. Once a few families started to leave their land, then this would provide the indicator to the optimum rate of rent, which would then be lowered slightly to maintain tenancies.

  Dermot did not relent on the subject. After many discussions and representations made to clan leaders over the years, it was now becoming certain that something needed to be done to address the losses being made and to the imperative to maintain revenue. Dermot had conceived a revised schedule for rent levies from all tenants and planned to impose it on them as soon as possible. As well as being a money strategist and businessman, he was a strong clansman and had no sympathy for those who had difficulty in paying their way. He also lacked tact and displayed contempt for anyone who did not share his views, even amongst the rest of the leaders and elders. Dermot had now won the argument. His plan accepted and standing before his audience, he displayed a smug grin while eyeing the Nemed Council.

  Along with representation from other elders and leaders, the MacPadine had now agreed, though reluctantly, to a new levy that would be applied to all householders who lived on their combined territories. Richard the MacPadine was a hardened clansman, brilliant battle strategist and was astute when it came to matters of the purse. He had unchallenged respect and authority. He had been an excellent horseman and in his younger years and was considered a warrior. Now though, what he lacked in warrior attributes, he made up in wisdom. These days he typically preferred the political solution over confrontation. Dermot took a different view.

  ‘You cannot avoid it, MacPadine, we need to enforce a cess according to the wealth of each tenant. If you apply these changes and increase the levies payable, then we will raise the funds needed, the clan will stay dominant and you will not regret it. I must stress that we do not need families such as the Lynotts and should be rid of them from our lands unless they can pay a decent rent.’

  ‘Dermot, I know you better than the other chiefs know you and this time it seems you are right. If we are to increase the levies, then I ask you not to have sport with the people. They work hard for what they have and taking further levies will not please them. I would be happy to crush the lower clans if we needed to but they increase our numbers, we need their skills and trade and… I beseech you, please show tact at all times and the changes we make will be better received. The Lynotts are Welshmen like us and we are all kindred, united in our beliefs and values. Do not forget that it is the lesser clans who supported us with tenancies over many years. Many of our people have married with them and we should treat them as one. Our common enemy at this time is the English and we should not forget that, but I accept, we need the income to maintain our favour with them. I do not wish to enter conflict with any Irish people. If it means that we will suffer the loss an alliance, it could be the downfall of all of us. Do not goad and whip up bad feeling. Explain yourself and explain our reasons for the changes. Inform them that the rents will not be so high for long and one day we will reduce them and they will prosper.’

  ‘I do not believe that to be the case, MacPadine. I would wager my own salary on the rents staying as they are, with no reduction. I will travel from Ballysakeery today and approach the Lynotts at Carn and Garranard. They are the tetchiest and will be a test for my plan. They will heed my demands, have no doubt, MacPadine.’

  ‘Remember my words, Dermot, do not cause unrest!’

  Dermot’s final words were typically defiant.

  ‘Lynotts are low in skill, low in class and make good dong (shit) farmers.’

  With a walking stick in his right hand and the scroll in his left, Dermot belched and made his way across the hall to doorway to the council chamber. He held up the scroll and waved it as a gesture of acknowledgement as he walked towards the door. He was now a great deal larger than he was when he attacked Emily and as a consequence of his size, the pressure on his joints was greater, made worse by arthritis. On his way out, he positioned himself sideways in order to squeeze his body through the exit. His wide trunk touched both sides of the doorframe. With one skilful movement of his walking stick, he hooked the door and closed it behind him. He then moved across the courtyard of the market square and climbed up onto his waiting cart. He allowed his weak limb to drag onto the footrest, lodging the scroll under the seat.

  The driver picked u
p the reins, but the old mare refused to move. She was tired and had rested too long. Impatiently, Dermot reached forward and struck the nag with his stick before prodding her rump hard. The driver pulled back the reins, but Dermot resisted. In a show of strength and defiance, Dermot pushed the driver away, placed his good leg on the thigh of the young driver and ejected him from the cart. As he fell back, his legs were left behind and he tumbled from the cart headfirst. He hit the ground on his side as a crack was heard. The young man’s collarbone had been broken by the impact of the fall.

  ‘You fool! If you can’t control this horse, then your weight on this carriage is a burden the beast does not need. Go and enter the employ of another crack-whip, I have no further use for you as a Jarvey.’

  The young driver got up, ignored the dirt and dust and begged Dermot to keep him employed. Dermot disregarded his pleas and he whipped the beast again.

  ‘Move you lazy ass, before I baste you to hell.’

  He turned to the young man and sneered,

  ‘Be gone, you lazy wet sod. If you’ve broken your body, then you have but yourself to blame.’

  The old mare walked on and gathered speed, looking at the ground but lifting her head slightly to check her course. Her years pulling the carriage with a canter gait were long over. She was no longer a cost effective working animal. He failed to understand the suffering of the horse and was unforgiving of anything that did not pay its way and provide profit. Before long, she would become meat at the markets.

  Dermot’s temper and lameness were made worse by an episode of Gout. His bodily pain and lack of mobility had added to his resentment of everything around him. He had become a cruel and merciless brute who held everything and everyone in contempt. He had no role models and no respect for anyone other than those in authority.

  Dermot continued to strike the horse as they made their way across the wooden bridge and out of the town. He reached Ballintubber Bridge just before Carn and allowed the horse to drink from the river before whipping it once more. As they reached Carn, the lane became a townland with a mixture of stone and turf cottages on either side of the road. Dozens of people had noticed Dermot and the cart as it advanced through Ballintubber. The cart progressed up the track as people recognised the rent collector and returned to their homes, closing the doors behind them. The cart gradually made its way directly to the modest and ageing tower house at Carn, the home of Thomas, the Lynott chief and elder. As well as being the respected leader of the Lynotts in Tyrawley, he was a modest farmer who had raised his family since his wife, Fidelma, died while giving birth to Shibby.

  Dermot scrambled down from the carriage, tied the horse upon an iron ring, mounted on the wall before walking up the hill to the castle. He hobbled over to the large oak door and using his stick, parted the knocker and let it swing down to hit the door as loudly as he could. Knocking once, he waited. Dermot believed he should not have to make any further effort by providing them with any more knocks. A young man, Niall opened the door. Before he could speak, Dermot belched his order.

  ‘Bring me Thomas and bring him quickly before I fall to the ground. If he resists, tell him that others will come in my place. They will be less courteous than myself and will take what is needed by force if I require it.’

  It was difficult to imagine that anyone could be less courteous than Dermot.

  Niall sighed in disgust and closed the door before making his way to the room of Thomas.

  ‘Hurry up!’

  He realised he had no choice but to bring his father to Dermot and within minutes, both had appeared at the door. By this time, a few people had become curious to know why the rent collector was back in the townland ahead of the usual visit. He had made the journey regularly, but this visit was unscheduled and unannounced. Dermot looked around at the curious gathering of people. Rumours and conjecture quickly spread through the townland, but the popular opinion was that the news would not be good. From the overt demands being made by Dermot at the gates of Carn, they were right to hold such opinions.

  ‘What is your business and why do you mock my people?’

  ‘I mock the ridiculous, the idiotic and the weak and I can see that you and your tribe are all three.’

  Thomas was determined to impose his authority with his own people as well as Dermot and so spoke up before anyone else had time to heckle a reply.

  ‘I trust you will get to the point shortly, but let me tell you now. You have no jurisdiction over these townlands. Our people may dream of the riches and land of the Barretts and the Bourkes, but we live simple lives. We also live our lives in accordance with the morals of the Lord, our God. We do not ask or seek benefit from your taxes and see not one reason to agree.’

  ‘Please spare me the sermon.’

  ‘I will not! Our people are strong, will brawl and resist you. We will defy any plans to take anything more from us which is not given and in accordance with agreements.’

  ‘You may be strong, but your poverty is the product of your own making. From Garranard to Belleek I, or one of my clerks, will take what we need as rent for the people of the townlands, hovels and plots which sit upon the land of the Barretts.’

  ‘Dermot, you are mistaken, the houses are not hovels, but kept simple because you would re-value our improvements and charge even higher rents. More importantly, the land here and in other places has been handed to us. Many years ago, it was agreed that the rents would stay as they were until the death of the head. We gave up other land to secure this. You should also realise that tenure of land in Gaelic Law is not recognised by the English. We could have accepted the rule of the Queen and been given title to the land in English law. We would have gained much from this, but we resisted for the sake of our allegiance to the Irish and the Clan Barrett because there is no strength without unity.’

  ‘Do not make me laugh, Lynott, the only title you would be given would be that of king of the dong. We both know that you would have met with the wrath of the clans if you had accepted an offer from the English.’

  Dermot was careful to conceal that the Barretts had already accepted English rule, but more importantly were double-dealing with the rebels. Until the deal with the English had been sealed and the rents accepted, the details needed to be kept secret. The last thing Dermot wanted was the lower clans converting their Irish tenancies into leases with the English, or even worse, deeds of right.

  Dermot continued with his argument.

  ‘The strongest clans own the regions and as well as holding the Barony, they provide protection to all the lower clans and those inner costs require funding by all that receive the benefits. You people cannot put yourselves above these rulings. This new rule is the same for us all. We require an additional ten percent from all as well as a cess according to wealth within the borders of Tyrawley, and that means you miserable people.’

  As the crowd jeered, Thomas put up his hand to appeal for silence.

  ‘When a tax is levied, the need by the landlord levying a certain sum of money must first be ascertained by a competent authority, as the case may be. Then the law-making power must then, according to a prescribed elect, enact that to raise such a sum is lawful. You are not empowered to do this evil to good people such as these, MacPadine would never allow it.’

  ‘You are wrong, Thomas Lynott. You state the laws of the Lord Deputy, not of the Irish. I have the authority of MacPadine and he has commanded such through legal counsel. I can do whatever I wish to you and your like. You people are lowly filth and I strongly suggest you advocate to your people an agreement to my demand and do so with the utmost of speed. Today, each tenant will confirm for my ledger the means by which they will pay, whether it be grain or livestock. If this is not accepted, then armies of clansmen will come and take what they need.’

  Dermot scanned the groups of people and looked intently at four young women. He had hated and despised women since the day Emily Bourke stabbed him in the penis. She not only inflicted a large degree of pain
and discomfort on him, but he lost his much-loved ability to enjoy an erection.

  Standing on the hill of Carn Castle, he beckoned a young and attractive jet black-haired girl to him with his walking stick and emphasised with a nodding grin to coax her towards his one side. Naively, Molly moved away from her friends towards Dermot as much through inquisitiveness as anything else. He was a man of authority and she respected authority in adults.

  ‘What does he want from me? Has he had a change of heart? And does he want to ask me about the clan?’

  Molly was wrong. As she approached him, his hand thrust forward and as if in one movement, he ripped the linen bodice from her chest, exposing her young breasts. At first, Dermot was surprised by the sight of her body and the ease by which he had exposed her. Then without further thought, the evil man decided to use the opportunity to impose his power and reveal his contempt for them all. He put his left hand on Molly’s shoulder and heaved her body towards him. In one movement, he pulled her breast toward his lips with his right hand and then bit her nipple hard. Molly screamed in horror. This lewd act was his personal display of contempt for the clan. He thought that it would demonstrate the power that he wielded over these people. Instead, he had overstepped his mark by far and had misjudged the unity of the clan. Dermot maintained his hold and grip on the girl as he made sarcastic sounds of pleasure. She increased her resistance, pushing and kneeing him in the groin. In a desperate attempt to get free, she scratched his head with her nails and drew blood. Dermot’s best leg faltered and they both fell to the ground as young men ran up the banked road to pull them apart. She screamed as the impact forced his jaw to close and his decaying teeth sliced into her nipple. She screamed in agony as she looked down at her blooded breast and saw the wound. Her nipple was almost badly cut and a stream of rich blood was oozing onto her clothing dripping onto the ground. Her chest was by now covered in blood and Dermot’s face bore more evidence of the defilement.