It is important to note that it was Protestants who were the main planners of 1798 Rebellion eg Wolfe Tone [ who comitted suicide while awaiting execution ] , Bagnell Harvey - who was hanged on Wexford Bridge and many others . The idea was to unite the Catholics and Protestants against the Occupying Forces . Ironic also that one of main areas of Rising was present area covered by Northern Ireland .
Jim Flavin
07-Jun-2008 11:43
This is just a shot of Castle St , Enniscorthy . Vinegar hill can be seen in the background - a place famous in Irish History as the place where the 1798 rebellion came to an end . Approximately 20- 25,000 rebels made their last Stnd there . Thousands were killed - but due to the inefficiency of one British officer - several Thousand managed to escape - but it was a slaughter by and large - which even sickened the Commanding British Officer . I am no military genius - but to me - it seems a very open place for the Rebls to make their main camp - no place to shelter . This may be explained by the fact that the Rebels were confident of help from other counties- Dublin in particular - which did not materilise - as the British Force knew all about the forthcoming Rising in 1798 due to their excellent spy network . The reason the Rising was so sucessful in Wexford was no problems were expected from Wexford - and it took the British a some time to get sufficient forces to Wexford . The Rising of 1798 is as alive today in Wexford as 200+ years ago . The newly opened 1798 Centre is well worth a visit - situated in Enniscorthy- audio and visual accounts of the Rising .
