|
Murrintown and the surrounding area have
featured prominently in the history of Wexford and particularly in the 1798 period. The Hedge School Master, Patrick O' Brien was a member of the United Irishmen, who was teaching in a "Pay School" in Murrintown at the time of the Rebellion. The nearby
Johnstown Castle Estate was owned by
Cornelius Grogan who with Bargenal Harvey of Bargy Castle, both leaders of the United Irishmen, was hanged on Wexford Bridge for their part in the Rebellion. Grogan, who was in his seventies at the time, was suffering from gout and was in ill health. Ironically he was one of the people who subscribed to the cost of erecting the same bridge on which he was hanged.
Wexford County was declared a Republic in
early June 1798 and eight people were appointed to look after the affairs of the county. They were known as "The Directorates" and it is interesting to note that four Catholics and four Protestants were picked. One of these was Robert Meyler who lived in Murrintown village. He was a malster in Wexford.
During the 1998 bicentenary celebrations the
Piercestown/Murrintown Comoradh '98 committee unveiled plaques to Cornelius Grogan in Rathaspeck graveyard, Johnstown, to Patrick O' Brien and Robert Meyler, Murrintown and John Boxwell in Rathmacknee graveyard. Chairman of Piercestown/Murrintown Comoradh '98 committee was the Principal of Murrintown N.S, Kevin Waters.
In the aftermath of the'98 Rebellion, many
atrocities were committed by the Yeomen and the Militia. One of these reprisals was the burning of Murrintown R.C. Church. A mural in the general purposes room in Murrintown School depicts a scene from the '98 rebellion and a mosaic also shows the impact that the rebellion had on the school children at the time. Both of these projects were done by the school children under the direction of the community artists. |
|
|
|
|