A great write up by Oulart Hill on Facebook:
LAST STAND OF THE WEXFORDMEN AT DRISHOGUE LANE
Drishogue Lane is about a Kilometer outside the village of Ballyboughal in County Fingal. It has long been the site of a well-kept monument to the memory of the last brave stand of the Wexfordmen 225 years ago.
Estimates vary but it appears that some 300-400 Wexford and Wicklowmen died in the battle. The United Irishmen had been very strong in the Ballyboughal area but they had been defeated at the Battle of Tara the same day as the skirmish at the Harrow opened up the massive conflagration in Wexford. The survivors of the Battle of Tara, who were many, were anxious to rise again. But this hope evaporated after Drishogue Lane.
The Ballyboughal area is rich in the traditions of '98 and this is coupled with a very unique respect for the Wexford and Wicklow men who fell in their area far from home. As the defeated rebels scattered, several were taken in and hidden in their dwellings by the local people with some men eventually remaining on to marry local girls.
The dead are buried in a large mass grave against the gable wall of the old church in the village over which a modern grave has been laid with a beatifully scripted memorial stone. I think this was the work of the vibrabnt local Old IRA Association.
Uniquely, the local people have retained a deep sense of their special link with the people of Wexford and as the Monageer men led us through their village yesterday the people showed their unmistakeable respect in silence. Not a soul was present who was not touched by the living evidence of this special link across a considerable distance in space and time. We all felt it deeply.
No-one has done so much to foster this link as has Seán McPhilbin and his wife and famiily. The Wexford Pikemen have known them both for twenty years now and in a quite extraordinary gesture of welcome, our entire nuimber of forty pikemen and women had a beautiful hot lunch of mash and chicken in their home in Wespalstown. It was much appreciated.
After the food there was chat and fear of rain the younger folk of the family took out their melodeons, accordeons and flutes to rise a riot of glorious marches and airs, evoking a good-hearted response by three vocalists in our group singing 98 songs led off by Tim Corrigan - a descendant of the family of Fr. John Murphy himself.
And then we marched from the McPhilbin homstead the kilometer to the village and the grave of the pikemen where Sean explained how they came to be buried there. Words of welcome and the history of the 98 period followed and wreaths were laid by the North Dublin Association of the Old IRA; and on behalf of the visiting pikemen by Conaill Cooper of Monageer and Breda Jacob of Oulart after which we returned to the community hall in the village where we had tea and sandwichwes before going across to O'Connor's hostelry for a farewell glass and universal bonhomie.
A great visit was coming to an end - but was it really the end? Was it an end or a beginning?
Even as we prepared to leave there was a strong feeling in the air that the link between us ought to be celebrated in Wexford as well and that the good people of Balboughal, who so faithfully fostered the menory of the Wexford Unitedmen should be invited down to express our thanks.
The people of Wexford generally are largeky unaware of this extraordinary goodwill towards them from the people of Ballyboughal. It is time now, with theh help of modern media to begin to put this to rights. So we at Oulatrt Hill would ask you to please share this post with all your friends. Míle maith agat.
What a good idea and isn't it more than high time this was done? I had first heard it mooted by Pip Breen and Tom Corrigan, but it took on like wildfire. I personally hope the link will continue to be fostered in both places and if this happens no-one will be happier than Sean McPhilbin and his many colleague volunteers. Nára laga Dia a Láimh riamh!
Gura fada Buan an Nasc seo ó '98
Long Life to this '98 Connection.
This is a grand write up of a special day.
Over the past few years our Society have attended this annual commemoration providing much needed support and numbers.
The extra numbers of the Wexford contingent really added to the day.
While the rain came and went it did not detract from the enjoyment and excitement.
Sean suggested that this is the last Commemoration hosted by his Committee but if it is, I do not think it will be the last. I would hope that 1798 will continue to be actively remembered annually in Fingal.
The link between ‘98 and ‘16 is very strong with both locations and families featuring in both.
Congrats to Sean and David O’Connor for the commitment…