Opinion

Guillotine at Kilrea in 1798

'In sweet Kilrea of long ago The United Men did muster Donal O'Kennedy, Archy Woods, And their leader, Dan McCusker.'

-Old ballad

THE pretty town of Kilrea in County Derry had an important connection with the Rebellion of 1798. Presbyterian church records, military archives in the Public Record Office in London and those preserved by some county families lift the curtain on the stirring goings-on in Kilrea and district at that time.

In December 1792 we learn in the columns of the National Volunteer's Journal that Kilrea had a core of 'Nation Guards' - a hundred and fifty men all ranks. Charles Lamont, merchant, was the captain while the lieutenants were James Boyle and Daniel McCusker. These guards or National Volunteers were formed in Ireland in honour of the National Guards of France and to fight for Irish freedom. Lamont was a Presbyterian, Boyle a member of the Established Church and McCusker a Catholic.

An Anglican minister, Rev Joseph Sandys has left us this record of the 'Kilrea Guillotine' which he inspected in 1796: 'I saw the guillotine machine made by Samuel Moore of this parish, a mechanic, who has now fled to America. The machine is an infernal one with a blade actuated by a pulley and rope. The purpose of this instrument is the decapitation of all who may refuse the new order of the Republic in this kingdom.

It was found by a military party when they searched the corn mill at Lisnagrat near here.

Sandys added: 'The Dissenters [Presbyterians] and Papists in this parish are practically to a man rebels and are fired with bloody revolution that would even be more zealous than that of France.'

The Presbyterians of Kilrea were no doubt strong supporters of the United Irish cause. When John Clarke of Sivitragh was imprisoned, charged with sedition, Rev John Smyth joined with other members of his congregation in helping his widowed mother to get the potatoes harvested. These 'potato gatherings' in those days were a pretext for the performance of military exercises. The Rev Smyth was later arrested and confined in Carrickfergus Jail.

It would appear that a rising had been planned for Kilrea on 6th June 1798 but it did not take place. James Black, sub-agent to the Mercers' Company, gives this short account of the affair dated 17th June 1798: 'The Rebellion in the North of Ireland was finally crushed by General Nugent at Ballynahinch on June 13 past. At Kilrea on the morning of the sixth it appeared as though a rising would take place. Many men, girls and boys were seen in this town dressed as on a Sunday and wearing green ribbons. The Kerry Militia, Royal Manx Fencibles and strong patrols of Yeomen were on duty, fully armed and all the roads were strongly guarded. Daniel McCusker is said to have fled to have joined the rebels in Wexford and Archy Woods and Hugh Graham, both suspects, have made themselves scarce.'(Dan McCusker, the Kilrea insurgent chief, was killed at Castlebar, County Mayo in an engagement between the rebels, backed by a French force, against the Frazer Highlanders on 27th August 1798.)

Edited by Eamon Phoenix e.phoenix@irishnews.com