Along the route, he used every opportunity to speak with farmers and travellers to spread the misinformation. Within two miles of Moyry, he was fortunate to meet with a group of rebel scouts, clothed as farmers who did not know him. He told them that he had had seen the reinforcements heading toward the pass. The scouts believed his story, thanked him and returned to Moyry. Thomas’ mission with the English was over and he could now continue the journey to his home townland.
The rebel leaders held meetings to discuss the tactics for maintaining the gains. Although the English defeat was significant, it was clear that the Irish would not have the resources to hold the pass indefinitely. Furthermore, the rebels were cold, damp and hungry. There were many mercenaries, but at this time, there were less quality gallowglass warriors than needed.
While mercenary warriors were salaried, many of the Scottish redshanks were taken on as summer fighters and were resistant to further uncomfortable encampment at the pass and were ready to leave. With so much rain, the damp powder and usage of matchlock weapons made it look increasingly probable that a full hand-to-hand battle with halberds swords and spears would be necessary. Given the recent artillery successes, this was not a popular option. At this point in the discussions, the scouts appeared with the news that the English had been re-enforced. Accepting that the rebels had inflicted a significant defeat on the English, O’Neill realised that he was not going to be able to sustain a force capable of holding the pass indefinitely against an increased English force. He eventually gave the order to abandon the pass in favour of tactics of disrupting other supply lines to garrisons and meanwhile recruiting fresh mercenaries from Scotland.
The English were very guarded over how the departure of the Irish was achieved and so reported their surprise over the retreat. Thomas Welsh had delivered on his promises and the English were pleased with their investment. Mountjoy capitalised on the withdrawal, reporting fewer of their own losses and exaggerating the Irish losses to the Lord Deputy in Dublin. In London, as Moyry Pass had now fallen into English hands, the accounts and reports were accepted. Even Mountjoy’s reports of English deaths through disease, rather than battle, were accepted as fact.
The turning point for Duald and Donovan’s rebellion was the surrender of Spanish Forces at Kinsale in 1601. After two further years of skirmish with the English, Hugh O’Neill eventually signed the treaty of Mellifont, renouncing Brehon law, his Gaelic title and taking up a position in the Irish House of Lords. Eventually, O’Neill was to flee with the other earls in a single boat to Spain to seek help from the Spanish in establishing a new rebellion, but it effectively ended any strong rebel resistance and placed Ireland at the mercy of the English.
Part 5 1613
Foster to Prosper
In Carn and Garranard, whole communities of blind and poor-sighted men folk had paid a great price for the mob beating and killing of Dermot Nephin. Their wives and children suffered, squalor perpetuated and the struggle lasted for many years. The Lynott houses changed, becoming shabby and cold places. Roads and paths were left unmaintained, muddy and with great ridges, making passage by carts very difficult. Many main routes through the area were diverted around the townlands, further increasing the isolation of the Lynotts. Labour intensive work such as ploughing and reaping now required the women folk to perform many of the tasks of work. Where men were physically able, they still needed a visually able guide to be present and children were set to work at a much earlier age, missing most school lessons. Consequently, the sighted older people, who were spared the fate of the younger men, were employed on more demanding tasks.
Women and children now performed many other tasks in the home as well as working the markets. Crafts, activities and the arts, which required eyesight gradually died out. Skills requiring eyesight such as shoemaking and metalworking became scarce. Traders exploited the scarcity of Lynott goods at the markets. They could charge more for the goods they sold to the Lynotts than other clans, while purchasing goods from the Lynotts at much lower prices.
According to Irish tradition, it had been the women who were required to attract potential husbands, usually with the added appeal of a dowry. Now many unmarried men were ageing. Because they were blind, they failed to attract partners for fear of becoming paupers. Many young women would therefore seek out lovers in other communities and clans. The elders and Nemed Council realised this and reluctance to marry unsighted men, imposed new clan conventions and by-laws. In order to maintain the integrity of the clan and prevent young women from leaving their communities, unmarried women were banned from leaving the boundaries of their crofts without being accompanied by a male, albeit a blind one from the same family.
Lynotts were targets for thieves and muggers. Without protection, robberies, rapes and abuse by outsiders had become commonplace and often went unpunished, through lack of witness. The Lynott community became guarded and suspicious over all new visitors to their townlands. This acted to further isolate them and the clan endured this hardship for many years.
For most of them, hardly a day passed without reflecting on the Dermot reprisal and the suffering that the Barretts inflicted on them. What many saw as the justified death of a foul man was etched on their minds, others reflected on a cruel excuse by the Barretts to crush and exploit a community of good people. Without their sight, the thoughts of the men as well as their senses became more concentrated. When humans are deprived of their sight, the other senses often become more acute and they adapt new skills to compensate. Deprived of their sight, many Lynotts became stronger and more capable thinkers.
There was no doubt that the subjugation of the Lynotts over many years had increased the financial wealth of Barretts and other landlords which further decreased the power of the Lynotts. On the other hand, if the Lynotts became too weak and there were no new families, they would die out, leave the townlands and the landlords would lose vital revenue. Though this was not a concern for the Barretts, it was now a consequence of their crime.
Niall had good reason to despise the Barretts. He was a brave man who was spending his prime years blind. He was a man with great intelligence and potential to lead people. Through his behaviour and the consequences, he looked to God for solace. He regained his faith and had become a much-respected leader of the people. He had also matured into a God-fearing Catholic worshipper, losing his tendency to be hot-blooded. Niall was ordained as a Catholic priest some eight years after the atrocity.
In the thirteen years since the Lynotts suffered brutally at the hands of the Barretts, the Lynotts had been afforded little justice from the authorities and hatred for the Barrett clan had never diminished. As the thirteenth anniversary approached, discussions in the streets, churches and inns more often than not involved plans for inflicting vengeance on the Barretts. The youths of the community, who were spared punishment watched their fathers and elders suffer. Life was difficult for the younger people who were with sight as they had the burden of blind fathers with which to cope with. Young Lynotts were aggressive towards their lording neighbours and their inexperience made them highly capricious, as were the many men-folk when they murdered Dermot of Nephin. The elders frequently convened within extended communities and with many other Irish leaders (excepting the Barretts of course) but failed to gain justice and recompense.
Niall walked the boggy route to the church at Carn to perform his religious and pastoral duties. The building had been built on slightly higher ground to be visible from the townland and Carn Castle. It was constructed to resemble a cottage with local stone that had been recovered from several old and abandoned Celtic strongholds. It had wooden shutters on the windows which helped conceal its purpose. This place of worship appeared very similar to many of the other stone dwellings. However, it was adorned with a cross-mounted on the chimney stack, which could be removed if English patrols were in the area. Whereupon, it would appear to be just another dwelling, albeit a rather large one.
The blind priest walked with a sto
op and round shoulders, both to maintain his brown habit across his shoulders, but also to avoid objects and branches from striking his face. If he fell to the ground, then the stoop would help him to fall gently, putting out his hands and would also minimise any injury. As he approached the stone church, the path turned to cobbles. Niall seemed to know every stone under his lightly leathered feet as he reached forward and opened the unlocked door. An onlooker would not realise that this man was blind. Since his irises had been destroyed, light entered his eyes, but there was no definition.
Inwardly, Niall wrestled with many of the arguments and deliberations. He was very matter-of-fact and regarded many of the theological questions as acceptably difficult to answer. Why did God allow such suffering on this community? When will the Barretts be punished for their sins? God was all-present and only He could answer these questions. Niall was acutely aware that within such a small un-allied community, further conflict would be the end for the Lynotts. He came to believe that the answer was worldly and the Lynotts needed to control their own providence, rather than believe that God would release them from their suffering. The clan would need to build strong bonds with others in order to regain their strength, stability and wealth.
Niall conducted the Sunday mass with a suitable sermon for the time of year, but on this day, his mind was on other issues. He decided to address the congregation at the close of the sermon.
‘My dear friends, I asked the Lord why our prayers were unanswered and why there has been such little justice dealt the culprits and architects of the wrongs which beset our people? Who here does not pray to our Lord to hold them to account for the way they exacted their will at Ballintubber and the Dubhán River? He did not speak to me that night and I trust that was his answer. I believe that He wishes us to control our destiny and this is His test of our faith. We, every one of us have suffered since the Daille La’, the Day of the Blind and there is much talk of revenge. We have been suppressed and do not prosper. Our young men have been denied occasion to serve in the wars and they live meagre lives, unable to do the tasks of the proud. Be assured though, that in the eyes of our Mother, we have atoned our sins many times over and our Lord will protect us. If we think and pray with our heads and show faith, then we will receive the wisdom of the Lord. If our Lady shows us one thing, it is that we must not expect our Lord to do our work and provide us with our destiny. In this kingdom, our Lady encourages us to use our skills and abilities to decide how to overcome our adversities. Do not think with your hearts as this trouble will make you cry with grief. The test set by our Lord will be how we use the wisdom He gave to us in order to overcome our oppression. We will only outdo our foes through strength of faith and the nimbleness of minds. The strands (beaches) are ever changing and we should adapt ourselves with the other clans and move like sand.’
Thomas Lynott, the elder was also at mass. He resisted the urge to interrupt Niall and allowed him to finish. He believed that such discussions were better placed at the clan Nemed but decided that such a public statement required a public response. As the pause in Niall’s speech lengthened, heads turned towards Thomas. As an elected leader, he was respected too and the congregation clearly expected that the challenge or response should come from him. Thomas stood up.
‘Ach my son, I am a man of peace and have brought you up well, but are you really suggesting that we make peace with the Barretts?’
‘No my lord and father, I have struggled much with our burden, for it is the Christian way not to seek advantage over others but to seek the greatest goodness, however, our Lord has not given us atonement, and I now believe this to be because he requires us to act through our freewill which is also God-given. I advise that we should use our allies to better advantage. As with Christ, I do not forget our suffering but penitence for the passing of Dermot has been fulfilled. We should not cease looking for ways to prosper and come out from under the stone. At the same time, our salvation will depend on our desire to fight evil, wherever it may be.’
Thomas raised one brow as if indicating to Niall that his judgement was conditional. He sat down and was thankful that Niall was not advocating an alliance with the Barretts. He would therefore restrict any further discussion for the meeting of the council of the Nemed. A wild and dirty looking girl approach the pulpit in bare feet with jet-black hair, unbrushed and matted. Her face was weather-beaten with a sullen expression of bitterness. People in the crowd beckoned for her to return to her seat, but she scolded and continued her stomp towards the pulpit. She tried to push Niall away from the wooden lectern, but he held fast.
‘Father, it was only through me and my actions that our clan has suffered. Each day I feel shame for what happened. I made fault by approaching Dermot when he called to me that day. No person wishes more than me good fortune for our clan and also much pestilence on the race of rats we call Barretts but how will we do this now, without the help of others. My torment lies with having eyes that see when men are blind. I see so much suffering and I yearn for the day when it comes to an end. Since it happened and the shame I felt, I will never bed a man and will never have children.’
‘Molly, you have understood more than any person how much suffering there has been, but we must find new ways to prosper and make great partners of a strong clan. Our exile has been too long in this place and we should now reach out to the Bourkes and ask for their hand.’
‘They are bastards too, and the Barretts are wedded to the devil himself. I tell you this brother! Only when all the Barretts are either dead or away from this land will this clan settle and prosper in Tyrawley.’
Niall knew that he would have to handle his distressed sister with care. She was volatile, wild and unpredictable. A woman deeply scarred by her experience at the hand of Dermot.
‘Yes, they may be, but it is only with the help of the Bourkes that we can overcome the Barretts in these parts. Once we have a new friendship and bond, we will be the strongest people in Tyrawley.’
Molly ran screaming back up the aisle and out onto the road to Garranard.
‘Jabber!’ came a voice from the back of the hall. It was Skiddy Wogan.
‘You ask that we sell ourselves to the Bourkes rather than be over-ridden by the Barretts. Surely it will then be the Bourkes who will come at us for even more funds to pay for the fight against the English.’
Niall scratched his beard. This was a church, it was not the place to debate such sensitive and emotional topics.
‘Skiddy, please accept my apology. This is no place for such a discussion, but I wanted to share my thoughts with the community and ask for support at the council. Let us pray for guidance and I will speak with the council tomorrow evening. Before your witness, I would like to put forward my proposal. Pray be there with us brother.’
Skiddy nodded and sat down.
After sunset the following day and following the conclusion of the days farming, schools, chores and markets, the Nemed Council met in the church. Niall was guided in by his other sister Shibby and sat with Thomas to work through the agenda. When it was time, he stood and addressed the noisy council.
‘My lords, what I am about to say should not be written down. Please keep it from any record, but after many prayers, I now feel it is time for our family to ally more closely with a clan to gain strength. Unless we are content with the bondage inflicted on us for thirteen years by the Barretts, I suggest we make additional ally to the Bourke Clan and combine our blood and our strength. If we succeed, then we will become stronger. This way, we will protect our family, our future and we will eventually prosper. It may take many years, but we should delay progressing no longer.’
Skiddy stood up and struck the table to command silence.
‘But the Bourkes are with the Barretts and we have no strength in dispute. We will not see support from another clan, without great payment. Who would join us? How can we do this without help?’
‘We are all Welshmen in descent and we are all allies in faith, but it was n
ot the Bourkes who did us wrong. It was the Barretts who broke that bond for the sake of the devil from Nephin. We may attempt many things and they may not work, but if one helps us in our plight, then we must try. It is my belief that the time is nigh to foster new blood into the clan. I deem we should take steps to elect a new leader, one from the Bourke family to be fostered by Thomas. A man with leadership, sight and vision.’
Niall’s plan was bold and this political idea seemed to be out of the jurisdiction of a Catholic priest, but it was typical of the man. He had courage and was not afraid to challenge any issue with any council, regardless of standing or importance. During the remainder of the session, he explained his ideas in more detail. His proposal was to assign a new political leader outside of the clan. Apart from Thomas, who was now ageing, the Lynotts did not have a viable warrior clan leader and there was insufficient alliance to other clans in Mayo as most came down on the sides of their landlords. The community needed a leader who would attract the necessary high status support. The candidate would form the alliance and be an aspirant with vision in both the literal and political sense. His plan was to use the common approach of fostering to elect a young elder.
Because able young men were in short supply, the blind ones were considered un-useful for leadership and the clan had so far failed to foster out their sons. He believed that somehow they should “foster-in” a new and strong leader. Niall proposed that the new leader from Bourke stock should be selected through a warrior competition, which would be irresistible to some adventurous young men of the county. He suggested that they should go to Crossmolina to build relations with the Bourkes and to announce their plan. It would entail a competition of mental and physical skill. By implication, it was doubtful that it would be entered by unsighted Lynotts or the contemptuous Barretts, and so an alliance with the Bourkes must surely arise.
The Welshmen of Tyrawley Page 27