{"id":2904,"date":"2016-07-02T05:19:53","date_gmt":"2016-07-02T05:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=2904"},"modified":"2016-12-10T05:27:06","modified_gmt":"2016-12-10T05:27:06","slug":"faction-fight-of-banagher-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/faction-fight-of-banagher-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Faction Fight of Banagher Town"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"John<\/a>
A cartoon referencing faction fighting and politic by John Doyle from 1846<\/strong>
Names in References at bottom of page.<\/em>
Embedded text:<\/strong><\/em>
I\u2019m for the fellow with the whiskers.
\u2013 I\u2019ll break a head or two before it\u2019s all over.
\u2013 Die game, Bob.
\u2013 We must give in. There\u2019s no standing against such odds<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

For fun folk with sticks each other set to fight
\nIt was the fashion of the peasantry of the time
\nThe Anglo Irish ruling class at the affrays were appalled
\nCalled the riots and disorder\u00a0 horrific crime
\nIt was decreed by O’ Connell and all others that the fighting saw
\nThat the sorry history of the island had known
\nThat the Gael had too many enemies with to fight
\nWithout making a foe of their own.<\/p>\n

Challenges made, a date to fight was set
\nThe parties assembled: the fight was won and lost
\nSome say it kept the natives battle ready should a rebellion come again
\nOthers say it was just for pride that each other each party crossed.
\nMost areas had the fights fierce and fair and dirty
\nAfter which no grudge would either side hold
\nBut a black enmity grew between Lusmagh and Banagher
\nOf which this tragic story is told.<\/p>\n

\"The
The 12th Foot in the 1840’s, some thirty years after the shooting in Banagher.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day was Thursday, the epiphany, planned since the year before
\nThe tensions were building, notices were signed by a “Captain Stout”
\nThe town was barricaded in defense, families stayed in their homes
\nFour by four the narrow roads men of Lusmagh marches about.
\nArmstrong wanted the fighting for all time finished, establish the rule of law
\nWas willing to stoop to any means for this to be achieved
\nTold the Yeomen to stand with Banagher, but not in uniform be
\nThen called in a troop of the 12th Foot if history is to be believed.<\/p>\n

The men of Lusmagh by Garrycastle in through Feeghs came into town
\nBut there was no one on the Hill of Banagher to be seen
\nThey were amassed behind the barricades across the street further down
\nThey were prepared since notices of it posted in the town had been.
\nMore Lusmagh men came in side roads but there were none to meet them there
\nThe factions faced off on the main street of the town, a massive crowd
\nBut the fight did not begin in earnest till the order to fight was said
\nFor the faction fights had agreed rules under which engagement was allowed!<\/p>\n

Brian Carroll and Joseph Larkin with another Lusmagh man stood forward on the street
\nTo shouts from their own at Banagher of “Lus Magh Ab\u00fa!”
\nThree men of Banagher stepped forward to meet them in the fray
\nAs insults and stones at each other and at the soldiers they threw.
\nThe soldiers stood in rank in vain to separate the sides
\nThe air was thick with striking sticks, insults and wails and blows
\nThe fight was fierce and went forth and back in flow for an hour
\nThe blood from the wounded neath their feet splatters and flows.<\/p>\n

By the hour of ten o’clock Lusmagh went to withraw
\nThough its recorded not were they considered winners or defeated
\nAn officer of the army promised them safe passage should they leave
\nBut Armstrong made his move as they retreated.
\nSome of their men, including their leaders were still egging on the fight
\nSome Lusmagh men were tardy to fight when they the soldiers saw
\nThey came to fight men of Banagher for honour and the fame
\nThis was not a rebellion: they did not come to break the law.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

12th REGIMENT OF FOOT
\nBy 1814 the St Patricks Cross would have been added to the Union Flag<\/b><\/b><\/em>
\n<\/b><\/span><\/h6>\n

Armstrong gave the order to present aim and fire, soldiers fired into the crowd
\nThree men fell dead, many more wounded hit the ground
\nMore volleys rang at the men of Lusmagh from the ranks of Blue and Red
\nThe air with cordite smelled as the street echoed the flintlocks sound.
\nBitter enemies a few minutes before, both to aid the wounded set
\nAs is best tradition in all wars as well as a faction fight
\nBrave Carroll as all leaders at the head of his men was dead
\nIt was a tragic end to the battle and pitiful sight.<\/p>\n

Their ghosts haunt the street demanding justice, but it was not to be
\nFor the men of power for mere Irish will not be taken down
\nWhat had to be done would be done to stop the faction fights
\nSuch was decided by those who ruled on behalf of the Crown.
\nThere were calls and condemnations though the papers of it made little
\nNo one stood guilty of the deaths of the Lusmagh men
\nHorrific British justice! As another example this is often held
\nIt achieved its aim at such a price – the towns never fought again…<\/p>\n

Background:<\/strong> On the 6th of January 1814 a faction fight commenced after a two day notice between around 500 men of Lusmagh and the townsfolk of Banagher. The Anglo Irish military commander of the area Sir St George Armstrong had a controversial role in the fight which ended with 4 members of the public being shot dead by the 12th Foot Regiment. As always in these situations there was an investigation, it was agreed a terrible thing was done, someone done it, but nobody was guilty. It lives on in the folklore of the area today, and since then there was no faction fighting in the county, which was the aim of the orders to shoot that it is alleged Armstrong gave to the soldiers of the 14th foot who were armed with 20 rounds a man in advance of the orders to shoot.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reference<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

* Westmeath Independent – Moate Historical Society Talk<\/a><\/p>\n

* The Battle of Banagher (Irish Martial Arts Source Catalogue)<\/a><\/p>\n

* The 12th Regiment of Foot<\/a><\/p>\n

* Col. Thomas St. John Armstrong (ThePeerage.com)<\/a><\/p>\n

* Irish Times – on the saying “that bates Banagher”<\/a><\/p>\n

* Article on Faction Fighting (DoonBleisce.com)<\/a><\/p>\n

* Nenagh Eire \u00d3g – Fairs and Faction Fights<\/a><\/p>\n

Names on image at top of page:<\/strong>
\nListed Personalities (left to right)<\/em>
\nHerbert of Lea, Sidney Herbert, Baron, 1810-1861, Graham, James, Sir 1792-1861, Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon Earl of 1784-1860, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley Duke of 1769-1852, Peel, Robert Sir 1788-1850, Sheil, Richard Lalor 1791-1851, O\u2019Connell, Daniel 1775-1847, Russell, John Russell, Earl, 1792-1878, Palmerston, Henry John Temple 3rd Viscount 1784-1865, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Bentinck, George, Lord 1802-1848 , Disraeli, Benjamin Earl of Beaconsfield 1804-1881<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  For fun folk with sticks each other set to fight It was the fashion of the peasantry of the time The Anglo Irish ruling class at the affrays were appalled Called the riots and disorder\u00a0 horrific crime It was decreed by O’ Connell and all others that the fighting …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[439,1],"tags":[3006,2827,2360,3002,3003,3001,3004,2027,3005,3007],"class_list":["post-2904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-banagher","category-uncategorized","tag-12th-regiment-of-foot","tag-armstrong-family","tag-banagher","tag-battle-of-banagher","tag-captain-stout","tag-faction-fight","tag-history-of-offaly","tag-lusmagh","tag-st-george-armstrong","tag-wicklow-militia","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-KQ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4053,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/2013-readings-at-the-pallet-in-banagher\/","url_meta":{"origin":2904,"position":0},"title":"2013 Readings at the Pallet In Banagher","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"9th September 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UH-NzQux4LM Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh reading the The Pallet readings in his native Banagher in Co. Offaly.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Banagher"","block_context":{"text":"Banagher","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/banagher\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/UH-NzQux4LM\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4225,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/christmas-dream-of-the-banagher-garda-sergeant\/","url_meta":{"origin":2904,"position":1},"title":"Christmas Dream of the Banagher Garda Sergeant","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"23rd December 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Sergeant dreamt yet another Christmas morning To find in the stocking he had hung It was another few lumps of coal Santa in rage into it had flung! For such a Grinch should get for Christmas Is was way too goof for him there What heart has a man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Banagher"","block_context":{"text":"Banagher","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/banagher\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The 2017 Banagher Horse Fair - going from strenght to strenght - 2018 Fair is on September 16th","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/The-2017-Banagher-Horse-Fair-going-from-strenght-to-strenght-2018-Fair-is-on-September-16th.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/The-2017-Banagher-Horse-Fair-going-from-strenght-to-strenght-2018-Fair-is-on-September-16th.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/The-2017-Banagher-Horse-Fair-going-from-strenght-to-strenght-2018-Fair-is-on-September-16th.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/The-2017-Banagher-Horse-Fair-going-from-strenght-to-strenght-2018-Fair-is-on-September-16th.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3911,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/who-has-a-welcome-from-all-at-banagher-horse-fair\/","url_meta":{"origin":2904,"position":2},"title":"Who Has a Welcome From All At Banagher Horse Fair?","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"22nd August 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There went out the question from one who was not yet there About the month of September and the Banagher Horse Fair As to who was welcome among the horse loving crowd As strange stories went round some said folk were not allowed. The arrived at a barrier manned by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Banagher"","block_context":{"text":"Banagher","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/banagher\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two of the main offenders harrassing visitors to the Banagher Fair a few years back, according to complaints received by supporters of the Banagher Horse Fair.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Two-of-the-main-offenders-harrassing-visitors-to-the-Banagher-Fair-a-few-years-back.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Two-of-the-main-offenders-harrassing-visitors-to-the-Banagher-Fair-a-few-years-back.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Two-of-the-main-offenders-harrassing-visitors-to-the-Banagher-Fair-a-few-years-back.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1389,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/reboot-banagher-horse-fair\/","url_meta":{"origin":2904,"position":3},"title":"Reboot Banagher Horse Fair…","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"26th April 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We will see you, as a sure thing, in September On the Main Street among the proud horses there We'll walk among crowds, dogs, the shady folk and the shades At the 2015 Banagher Horse Fair... Make sure your car has no green diesel And your horse is not on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Austerity"","block_context":{"text":"Austerity","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/austerity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":642,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/just-doing-our-job\/","url_meta":{"origin":2904,"position":4},"title":"Just Doing Our Job","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"21st September 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The most farcical part of the attempted shut down of Banagher fair, was when John Boy Dolan got cautioned for selling HENS... when the town is awash with drugs! 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