On next Wednesday morning December 18th at 11.45 a memorial service will be held at the Monument to mark the 190th Anniversary of the Battle of Gortroe-
All are welcome to attend.
Fr Matt Horgan's sketch of the 1834 fight.
190th Anniversary of the battle of Gortroe.
One of the bloodiest and most famous incidents in the Tohe war of the 1839's in Ireland occurred on December the 18th 1834. Exactly 190 years ago on next Wednesday the 'Battle of Gortroe' took place. A heroic gathering of anti-tithe country people gathered at and near the farmyard of Widow Johannah Ryan at Ballinakilla, Bartlemy on that fateful morning. During the previous days Archdeacon William Ryder backed up with soldiers and cavalrymen had gone to various farms in the Bartlemy area to collect 'his' tithes - a Tax paid to the local Church of Ireland clergyman which had also to be paid by Catholics. He seized corn, hay, cattle and sheep in lieu of his money in several farms.
Apparently it was known in advance of December 18th that Ryder and his support crew were coming to Ryans on that morning. By blowing a hunting horn on local hillsides the evening before the 'call to come' was sent out and about 250 people turned up on the morning of the 18th. What happened after the arrival of the military men and horsemen was basically a bloody massacre. When Ryder failed to gain entry to Ryans- horse carts were drawn across the boreen, the order to 'Fire' was given with awful consequences was given. Nine men were shot dead on the spot and three more died as a result of their wounds. An Inquest and Court Case ensued. Ryder and his cohorts were found guilty of Willful Murder but after several appeals none served a day in jail. It was not until 150 years later, in 1984, that a fitting Monument was erected in memory of the slain was erected at Bluebell Cross. Gortroe was then the name of the Civil Parish, more or less equivalent to the Bartlemy of today.
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| 2023 Wreath-laying |
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| 2021 Gathering at the Monument |
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