Kelly, the Boy from Killane

 

If you go to an Irish Pub, you may hear the ballad of  "Kelly, the boy from Killane."

His story began at the Battle of New Ross, which took place less than twelve miles from the homes of our Quinn and Fitzgerald ancestors in Kilkenny, on June 5, 1798.

Our immigrant ancestors, born in the early 1800's, would have heard the story of this epic battle from their parents and grandparents, some of whom may well have taken part in the battle. 

Our Quinn ancestors were living at Rathnasmolagh near Mullinavat.  Our immigrant ancestor John Quinn was 3 months old at the time of the battle, his sister Margaret was two years old. Living nearby, in Rathlikeen/Rahillakeen were our Fitzgerald ancestors. Richard Fitzgerald (who would marry Margaret Quinn and also emigrate to Jerseyville, Illinois) was five years old at the time of the battle. We do not yet know the names of their parents, but we can imagine how they felt as the rebellion came so close to their isolated rural homes.

The news of this great battle had to bring the families both great hope and terrible fear. Hope for a free Ireland, and fear of British reprisals. From ten miles away they could hear the booms of the cannons. Some may have climbed to the top of Tory Hill, where the smoke from the burning town of Ross could be seen. Eye witness accounts and word of mouth rumors would have soon reached the town of Mullinavat and spread through the countryside. Some of the Irish rebels may have come home to tell the story. The details of the battle were grisly. 

Over 50,000 Irishmen took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798- an attempt to take back control of Ireland from its British oppressors. At the time of the battle of Ross, The United Irishmen had control of County Wexford and had defeated the British garrison at the town of Wexford on Mary 30.  Next they wanted to spread their control to neighboring Kilkenny.

 On June 5, 1798, ten thousand Irishmen advanced on the British garrison at Ross (now New Ross) just across the River Barrow from Kilkenny. An Irish soldier carrying a white flag in an attempt to negotiate a surrender of the 2,000 British troops there was shot down by them. After this atrocity, John Kelly led a charge of 500 of the Irishmen through the Three Bullet Gate of New Ross, aided by a herd of cattle which they drove before them. 

Three Bullet Gate- Philip Hore, History of the Town and County of Wexford. Vol. I Old and New Ross

The British soldiers within the town were well armed with rifles and cannons but the Irish, armed mostly with pikes, still managed to seize most of the town. However British reinforcements arrived forcing them to withdraw. Rather than pursuing the Irish army, the British began a massacre of both trapped Irish rebels and innocent civilians within the town. Irish casualty stations were set on fire, with hundreds of the injured trapped inside and burned alive. Records show that about 2,800 Irish rebels were killed, with a loss of 200 British soldiers. After the battle, most of the dead rebels were thrown into the River Barrow or buried in a mass grave outside of the town walls. 

The Battle of Ross by George Cruikshank 

John Kelly, the brave leader of the attack at Ross, met a horrific end. Wounded during the retreat, he was recuperating in Wexford when he was arrested, dragged from his bed, and sent to trial where he was sentenced to death. He was hung with other rebel leaders on Wexford bridge on June 25, then decapitated with his body thrown into the River Slaney and his head kicked through the streets before being set on a pike for display.

But the United Irishmen did not give up the fight. (See Battle of Vinegar Hill Post)

History of the Three Bullet Gate in New Ross

A famous Irish ballad written by Patrick Joseph McCall is about John Kelly and the Battle of Ross.

"Kelly the Boy From Killane"

Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford is won
And tomorrow the Barrow we will cross
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway to Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men will march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly the boy from Killane

More to read and hear:

Ballad of Kelly the Boy from Killane - Sean Cannon and the Dubliners

New Ross history and Kennedy