It would be a long time before Cirilo would be able to shake off the conditioning he had received as a slave and the notion of his previous status as an expendable life. He felt uneasy kissing her in front of others and could not adjust to the idea that he could now look a woman in the eye. This would still take many years to adapt to, indeed if he would ever fully adjust to being a free man. The morning before, he had been under the ownership of a lord, but by the end of the week, he will be in Tyrawley with the Lynotts. A rebel hero, he would be welcomed back into the house of the fostered chief. His tattoo marked him as a slave, so he would never be a legitimate free man whilst in Ireland. There was no system of earning freedom and so Tibbot would always be the owner of his own father until his death. If Tibbot were to die before Cirilo, then ownership would fall to his tanist, on paper anyway.
Cirilo had saved the life of many, including his master Duald as well as training countless men to fire cannons, Spanish muskets and calivers. He had been denied many years of fatherhood and had unjustly been labelled a criminal. He had served many years for the rebel cause, risked his life daily and never complained. Tibbot was resolute in his view that his father would be welcomed in Tyrawley and accepted as an Irish warrior. In his eyes, any man who refused was a traitor to the clan.
The next morning, the party set off together to Garranard. The pace was much slower than on the outward journey and Cirilo sat with Emily alone in the cart. As the cart bumped up, down and sideways, they both pondered their lost years and made plans for the years to come. Emily wanted the love and companionship of her lover for all of her remaining days and Cirilo hoped for the chance to devote his life toward making her happy each day from there on. They did not stop speaking, touching hands and they did not lose sight of one another. Emily and Cirilo’s hearts were reunited and they hoped for love and a new peace in Tyrawley. In life, they would never be apart again, always associated with each other but could never know what their faith and deeds would bring them in death.
Eventually, William came to Carn to seek out Emily and Tibbot for the first time since Tibbot had been fostered. He was introduced to all the main people and gave himself an amusing introduction.
‘So this is Duald and Cirilo that so many people have speaking about, so big, strong and handsome. I am overjoyed to have failed in my quest to kill you.’
Duald and Cirilo were charmed and amused by his character, but Emily was quick to bring the conversation into something which was rather more worthwhile and constructive.
‘William, I would like you to explain why you believed that Cirilo had been killed by the gallowglass all those years ago. You convinced our father that he had been killed.’
William’s persona changed immediately. He had some big questions to answer. Why indeed had he informed Walter that Cirilo was dead?
‘I am sorry, Emily, I bore false witness to Father and declared that he had been killed. Firstly the scene was one of blood and bodies, it seemed to me that he was one of them. I was sure he had been killed but fled quickly in fear. I also feared the consequences had I failed in my mission and informed Father that I was more certain of his death than I actually was.’
Duald laughed at his revelation.
‘Why do you laugh at him, Duald? Is it because of his lady ways?’
‘No, do you not see? What would have become of Cirilo if William had reported that he still lived? There would have been more search parties sent until the task had been completed. Cirilo would have been murdered at a later time and most probably would not have saved my life. Do you not see? Through his false witness, William saved Cirilo’s life,’ William continued his testimony.
‘I assume that Thomas did not return from the wars either and that is a good thing.’
‘Why do you say such things about the husband of my cousin?’
‘I say that, sister, because I have one other disclosure. It is better that Thomas were dead and if he is, then I am glad. He murdered a young kern at Templeboy. The kern was from Crossmolina and did not deserve to choke in a cesspit. I believe that this was due to jealousy of James and the outcome of the contest at the fighting stone. Thomas killed him in order to infiltrate the rebels and get close to Cirilo.’
Duald and Tibbot suddenly realised that if Thomas could have been the cause of several mishaps such as the wet powder at Clontibret. It was most likely he was an agent of the English and had passed on misinformation which led to the withdrawal of the rebel forces at Moyry Pass.
‘The reason why I journeyed to Carn was because a man appraised certain information regarding Duald’s knowledge of Cirilo. I believe that this man may have been Thomas Welsh, who returned to Ballybrannagh after the rebellion.’
Thomas had never resumed his relationship with Sally and had either died or had abandoned her. So there was some good reason to believe that he was still with the Welsh if he was stood down from the rebellions. Duald and Tibbot travelled immediately to Ballybrannagh to seek out the compatriot and to conduct some unfinished business. Word of mouth quickly led them to a small Townland of mixed clans on the road to Glencastle.
One evening, there was an unusual gathering of friends and clans at Carn. Those present included William, James, Emily and Tibbot Bourke as well as Cirilo. They were joined by Thomas, Duald and Niall Lynott. Unusually and perhaps the first step in reconciliation with the Barretts, Richard the younger was invited and accepted the call.
The mood was quite sombre with an atmosphere of calm. An old bard stood up and recited some ancient prose that had been heard many times by the listeners, but this time it had particular poignancy. The words reflected the solidarity of a clan and the need to be faithful, along with calls for war against those who attack the clan. As he performed the epic yarn, the bard was surprised at both the intensity at which the audience was listening to the words, but the distinct lack of enthusiasm and reluctance to join in with the usual obligatory cheer at the right intervals. The words obviously meant far more to the audience than the bard was used to. Bloodline was mentioned several times as the most important element of a clansman’s value system. Each one of them reflected on the significance of the words while associating them with their own experiences. They could not help but feel that in many ways, the words were no longer as meaningful as they had been in days gone by.
For Tibbot, the paradox was considerable. Here was a man born within a wealthy family and very proud clan. The clan had disowned him, denied him his inheritance and then banished him and his mother from their homeland. Members of an enemy clan had provided them with support and the Lynotts had fostered him and welcomed him, before assigning him significant wealth and before making him their leader.
Emily considered that her overall opinion of clansmanship had never changed. She always failed to understand why Irish tribes insisted in interfering in the business of love. This was surely only a mechanism of control by the immediate family that would only fuel bitterness. For every person, there must be the perfect match and it is only an individual who can decide this. If a clan attempts to decide such things, then there would always propagate discontent and resentment. To Emily, clan relationships only served to restrict freedom and opportunity. In addition, it was the resentment by other clans that served to provoke seemingly legitimate attacks, such as those from Toothless Patrick and Dermot of Nephin. Maybe her new status within the domain of the Lynotts would help in healing her many wounds.
Cirilo could not help but feel that there was much missing from the bard’s speech. He was the most travelled of all the people at the Céle. For him, on a personal level, clansmen could be both decent and corrupt as were people he had come to know in other cultures, including the Spanish. What was wrong was the inherent hatred applied to someone who has either different blood or different skin, whilst having the potential to be as loyal as the next man when the cause was just and right. He has experienced such hatred during his time with the rebels which at first included Duald. Despite a unity of cause, th
ere was great rivalry between all tribes that transcended all rationality. His life had been a continuous struggle to attest himself at every turn and at every point which he met someone new. With few exceptions, the opening response to his presence had been hatred, that was until he had become known and trusted. Cirilo had discovered that there was bigotry prejudice and discrimination which on a substantial scale was not only aimed at him, but to all who were different.
The credence Duald held in clansmanship had also changed. He realised that clan systems were flawed and could not guarantee honour and loyalty. He had been one of the people who had pre-judged Cirilo and only at the point at which he offered his life up for Duald. Did he fully appreciate the worth of the man and the sacrifice he was prepared to make for the right cause?
Their stories were tales of suffering, pain and reconciliation in turbulent times. They were common tales which would not change history or result in any new customs or traditions, beliefs or beginnings. Neither did their strife provoke any changes in legislation or Irish Law. There were some stark lessons though and much to learn about a society based on a system of feudalism when threatened by a monarchical and united enemy. Life in Tyrawley and Erris was to continue to be tough for the Irish, as history will testify, but for now, Emily and Cirilo would face their joys and fears together.
The Traytor
Meanwhile on the misty road from Crossmolina to Ballybrannagh, there is a stark warning to all who cross from the side of the clans to the enemy. Whatever it means to be a clansman, there is one certainty. Betray the Welshmen of Tyrawley and you betray yourself to the devil. Travellers passing by the warning all knew why it has been placed there. They had heard the stories in the townlands as they journeyed through. The warning at the roadside is too horrible to look at and superstition discourages travellers from lingering too long. Some though need to pass it and as the pace of the visitors increases, they look up, take off their hats and give the object a cursory glance, often with a shake of the head.
A large oak tree embraces its position in the fog. A creaking is heard in the heights of the tree as branches sway in the light breeze. The creaking emanates from a strong hand woven willow rope, which is rubbing against the branch that it had been thrown over the day before. The rope has been carefully interlaced with many strands of fresh willow and formed into a noose, which is tightly gripping the neck of a body. On the head of Thomas Welsh is written one word in English, “TRAYTOR”. At the foot of the tree, kneels a girl who is not in fear of the superstition and the supernatural as are the passers-by. Sally sobs in between her words of forgiveness and sorrow. Why did he do such wicked things to good people? And why didn’t Thomas love her enough to return?
The End
Epilogue
A great deal of the clan structures in Erris and Tyrawley had emerged from Wales in 1169 under the leadership of the French Norman, Richard de Clare, popularly known as Strongbow. Although these people adopted many facets of their culture, such as aspects of law systems, the clans had a unique identity detached from the Gaelic and Celtic tribes which united them for many years. They became known as the Welshmen. To this day, many of the people of Mayo still recognise their descent within a chequered history.
A carrack of the Spanish Armada, La Rata Santa Maria Encoronada, was indeed grounded at Blacksod Bay under the command of Don Alonso Martinez De Leiva. Furthermore, after running aground, the Spanish crew transferred from the boat with no loss of life before burning the vessel and infiltrating a number of Barrett castles including Fahy and the local church.
In 1650, Duald MacFirbis chronicled a story concerning the murder of the Barrett’s rent collector at Garranard and the disposal of his body in a public well which he places in the year 1600. During the research phase, there were some physical criticisms in the accepted accounts and some new discoveries. For example, MacFirbis gives an account of Tubber Scorney, which pinpoints the location of the well at Garranard but maintains that it had dried up by 1650. A search on location discovered a very old well exactly in the stated position. Had the well dried up or had he just failed to locate it? MacFirbis chronicled the blinding of the Lynotts and the test at the stepping stones after they were given the option of castration or blinding. If the “blinding” did take place, it is unclear how many men were violated in this way. Furthermore, it would have been better placed in the 14th century following other researches; however, he was closer to the event than I and so his account has been accepted as fact.
MacFirbis also takes account of the tradition of “fostering” of the Bourke into the Lynott Clan. Fostering was commonplace at this time and practised for many reasons including affiliating with clans and ensuring stable relations. Importantly, many heirs were fostered out in order to ensure they were separated physically from the clan in case of attack.
In this story, the townlands, tower-houses, castles and homes are real places and were occupied by the clans stated in the story. All locations were visited and photographed in order to tell the story with as much authenticity as possible. The sites were also documented grid referenced and recorded with a good deal of discussion and help from local people and property owners.
It seems that family and tribal history has no end as stories and experiences extend history and new myths and legends evolve before old ones are lost. It is hoped that this story has helped to preserve some aspects of the lives of people at these times. I would encourage interested readers to learn more of these fascinating times and places. The history of the wonderful communities of people in Erris and Tyrawley is rich and largely unread, although the local people know the stories well. Many chronicles and stories still remain largely untold, but these families deserve to have their tales of struggle foretold and remembered for the sake of the people who have left us.
Nothing is more certain that while it is the author’s interpretation of the truth that helps us to understand how these people lived, we can never fully understand their challenges and hardships. The chronicles of the Welshmen are without end while we still have so much rich Irish history and culture to explore. Though some events have been sketched out, there are stories, experiences and characters that have been lost forever. I look forward to the day when the history of this community is given a wider meaning and understanding.
Graham G Barratt
The Welshmen of Tyrawley Page 34