This is our fourth year of “Aughrim Remembered” and our event is taking the shape of a Military Summer School with the focus on irish battles and individuals. It is therefore fitting that it should be called after the man who wrote the book “MACARIE EXCIDIUM” or The Destruction of Cyprus. It was a secret history of the war of the revolution in Ireland. This is the only book written from the Irish point of view on the battle and the situation in Ireland at the time. This little known soldier, although in his 70th year took to the field on that faithful day. His brother, John was his Lt Col. and his son Denis was a Captain in Galmoy’s cavalry Regt. That was some commitment from one Irish family. Shortly after Limerick a heart broken Col. Ó Kelly wrote his book on the destruction of his country.
We have this year a fantastic team of lecturers once again put together by Dr. Padraig Lenihan of the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Friday starts with a short talk on the 1st World war, followed by "March away me Brothers" a one man play by Brendan MacQuaile. The Saturday programme is varied and extremely interesting, covering poetry, battle field archaeology, weapons demonstration, Aughrim folklore and many other interesting aspects of the aftermath of 1691. Simultaneous to the lectures will be the Soldiers Bivouac and ‘living history’ personnel , depicting Jacobite soldiers and equipment of the 1691 Aughrim battle.
Sunday is a family fun day with many medieval arts and crafts, and a puppet show. Full details to follow but a draft outline is on www.kellyclanireland.com under "Up coming Events"
Paintings depicting cavalry and infantry actions will be discussed by Ester Barret and Sean Ó Brogain.
For further information please contact:
Captain (retd.) Joe Kelly
Phone: 00 353 86 8138552.
Email:
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or
Marie Mannion,
Heritage Officer, Galway County Council
Phone: 091 509198.
Email:
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Col. Charles Ó Kelly
He took part in the Aughrim battle and many of the others in the Connaught area. He was Involved at the negotiations in Limerick when terms were agreed, and he was from only a few miles down the road from Aughrim, and wrote a book about his wartime experiences.
This was the only book written from the irish point of view. Macarie Excidium - “The Destruction of Cyprus.
His brother John was in his regt. and fought beside him as his Lt Col. His only son, Denis, was a Captain in My Lord Galmoy’s unit. There is no doubt that this family was fully committed to the royal cause. He was line 39 from Maine Mor and ninth Lord of the Manor of Screen.
Classical scholar – professional soldier – politician – author – nobleman.
1621 – born in Skrine Castle which was south east of the village of Athleague, in the area of Rahara known for it’s very steep hill.
1633 – school at age of 12 he leaves home and travels to St. Omer college in the north of France and starts a classical education.
Because of the penal laws, children would have to travel on their own. Dangerous for parents to travel with them, they could be arrested and imprisoned if caught.
Many children used a false name and gave an alias. He was a brilliant student. “His progress was extensive in the knowledge of the belles lettres; in addition to Irish, English, Latin and Greek tongues. He became acquainted with the Flemish, Spanish, French and Italian languages.” Thats eight languages.
Even then his love of Country was acknowledged and he was known as the “Irish Patriot”.
St Omer college has an interesting history. It was founded in 1593 by a Jesuit priest, Father Robert Pearsons.
First located in Artois, France, which was part of the Spanish Netherlands at that time. It was set up during the penal laws. when Irish and English children of aristocratic families could not receive a Catholic education and many were forced to go to Europe, otherwise it was a private education which was very risky, or the option here in ireland would be a hedge school.
King Philip II of Spain was a patron of the college.
Fought under the flag of the Marquise of Ormonde.
1641 – at age 20 he was summoned home.
Civil war had broken out in the autumn of 1641 and he was summoned home to
join the royal cause. His father John acquired the rank of Colonel and
distinguished himself during the war under the flags of the Marquises of Ormond
and Clanrickard and as a result, the family sufered under the Cromwellian’s. In
the Restoration, all of their estates were restored to them.
1642
Young Charles had first joined the colours in Europe during the reign of King
Charles Ist. and on returning to Ireland obtained the command of a troop of horse
under the Marquis of Ormonde and distinguished himself in the royal army on
several occasions, while the war lasted.
1649ish -After the Cromwellian victory Charles O’Kelly with 2,000 fellow
countrymen retired into the Spanish dominions to serve Charles II, as he had
previously served his father. On hearing that King Charles was in France, O’Kelly
went there with most of the officers and men who had accompanied him to the
continent. He was commissioned by the King to form a regiment which was under his command.
1660ish -When Cardinal Mazarin of France and Oliver Cromwell signed a treaty of alliance against Spain, and as a result, the banished English royal family had to leave France and go to Spain. Spain accorded the irish equal rights as Spanish citizens. Charles O’Kelly with other loyal exiles transferred his services to the crown of Spain. O’Kelly stayed in Spain until the reinstatement of the English monarchy in 1660. He then went to England where he stayed until his father died in 1674. He returned to Ireland to succeed to the family estates as ninth lord of the manor of Screen.
1687 – nominated as a Burgess for the town of Athlone, (a County councilor) by Charter of King James II.(d. 1685)
In the reign of King James II Charles O’Kelly’s younger brother John O’Kelly of
Clonlyon (near the present town of Ballygar), was High Sherif of the County of
Roscommon in1686.
Charles O’Kelly and his brother John were two of twenty four Burges of the
reformed Corporation of Athlone in 1687.
1688 - SUPPORTED King James II revolution in England and Scotland.
1689 – elected to a Parliamentary seat for the County of Roscommon.
1689 – June or July of that year he was commissioned to raise a regiment of infantry by King James 11.
Not on the Army list, nor were three other Ó Kelly regt’s that were formed at the time.
As the political situation in Ireland deteriorated he was detailed by Brig Patrick Sarsfield, 39 years his junior, to engage the hostile troops of King William of Orange in the Connaught region.
Like his father before him, He served in Lord Mountcashal’s force and his Regt. took a hammering in various engagements against the Enniskillens.
Regimental flag of Justin McCarthy.