There's a great weekend event kicking off next Friday in the village of Aughrim, near Ballinasloe, Co Galway.The event is a commemoration (rather than a celebration) of the Battle of Aughrim 1691. This was Ireland's bloodiest battle, with a death toll of 7000 that included, according to folklore, some 400 Kellys.
The organisers* aim to explore the Jacobite period and reawaken an interest in this era of our history. After a social get-together on Friday evening, the programme continues with an all-weekend military camp where most of the main protagonists (France, Netherlands and Denmark) will be represented in one form or another. The troops will be showing off their skills in 'Pike, Shot and Gunne'.
A HistoryIreland Hedge School will be held on Saturday afternoon and a book launch will also take place that evening, as follows:
Hedge School : From Jacobitism to Jacobinism; a reconsideration
Speakers: Dr Éamonn Ó Cíardha, Dr Billy Kelly, Richard Doherty and Dr Hiram Morgan.
Hedge school Master is Tommy Graham of History Ireland
Fee: €10
Location : St Catherine’s Hall, Aughrim.
Registration (aka Tea and coffee): 14.15pm
Debate: 3pm to 4.30pm approximately followed by a light snack.
Book launch: Danish troops in the Williamite army in Ireland, 1689-91 by Kjeld Hald Galster.
Details: This book, published by Four Courts Press, is the first narrative to look at the battle from a Danish perspective.
Location: Battle of Aughrim Interpretive Centre
Time: 6pm
* The event is organised through the co-operation of History Ireland, Four Courts Press, Galway County Council, The Kelly Clan Association, Oireas Historical Services and the Aughrim Remembered committee.