By Dan Walsh
The 1798 commemorations are continuing at Enniscorthy on Sunday and activities organised by Wexford Remembers 1798 includes laying a wreath at the prominent 1798 memorial in Market Square at 12.45pm marking the 115th year of its presence.
The bronze monument features Fr John Murphy encouraging a young rebel, known locally as The Croppy Boy, the work of celebrated sculptor Oliver Sheppard, (1865-1941), unveiled in front of an estimated 20,000 people by Fr. Patrick Kavanagh on Sunday, May 31st, 1908.
A contemporary quote says it all; “It was particularly fitting that a priest and a peasant should stand together united as they stood in the bitter bygone days of 1798, when they fought side-by-side for faith and fatherland. It was God’s decree that the people of Ireland should be allowed to carry out their own affairs without interference from anyone”. Source; Oliver Sheppard, (1865-1941) by John Turpin, page 111, published by Four Courts Press, 2000. ISBN for the book is 1-85182-573-8.
Sunday’s day of remembrance begins at 10.30am when local historian, Owen Dunbar, will host a walking tour of Vinegar Hill.
This will be followed by the archaeologist Byron Jones, giving a detailed explanation of the 2017 survey and dig of the battlefield site. A poetry reading and the playing of a lament by an uilleann piper will close off the Vinegar Hill element of the day.
The second event of the day, which will take place at 12.45 p.m., will see a commemorative wreath laid at the Croppy Boy and Father Murphy statue in Market Square, Enniscorthy.
Following that ceremony, the focus of attention will turn to the IFA Centre on Mill Park Road, at 1.30pm where Dr Kerron Ó Luain, the author of ‘Rathcoole and the United Irish Rebellions, 1798 – 1803′, will give a public talk on the 1798 Rebellion.
Speaking in relation to the day’s commemorative events, Gary O’Brien, from ‘Wexford Remembers 1798’ told WexfordLocal.com; “These events will commemorate the thousands of men, women and children, who gave their lives for what was then a new ideal – an Irish Republic inspired and supported by the French Revolution. A Republic which united Catholic, Protestant and those with no religion.”
Mr O’Brien said the rank and file on the republican side were mainly made up the urban and rural poor who had the most to gain from revolutionary change – the people who Wolfe Tone described as ‘the men of no property’.
“It is very important that the current generation of Irish citizens keep alive the memory and the sacrifice of those who died that we might all be free,” said Mr O’Brien.
“Wexford has a unique history when it comes to the 1798 Rebellion, something which all of the people of Wexford should be immensely proud,” he added.
“On behalf of Wexford Remembers 1798, I’d like to invite everyone along to all of our family friendly events on Sunday, June 4th, he concluded.
WexfordLocal.com 