6 June 1997 Edition
Remembering the Past: Battle of Limeridge
Throughout history we have learnt of the brave men and women who did whatever they could to strike a blow for the freedom of Ireland. Among the bravest was Colonel John O'Neill who a year prior to the Fenian Rising in Ireland took on British forces abroad.
A native of County Monaghan and a US Civil War veteran, on 31 May 1866 he led an invasion force of 600 men across the Niagara river from the USA into Canada to establish an Irish republic in-waiting.
The first success of this Fenian invasion force, known as the ``Irish Republican Army'', was at Fort Erie, a British garrison town. After this quick victory O'Neill's troops hoisted the tricolour over the captured town. This was the same flag which had in 1848 been presented to the Young Ireland Movement by the President of France, Alphonse Le Lamartine.
O'Neill soon learned that units of the British army were approaching and advanced his troops to meet them. On 2 June 1866 O'Neill's troops, after the ancient battle cry of ``Fág an bhealach'', took on and defeated a large British force of around 1,400 soldiers in what became known as the Battle of Limeridge or the Battle of Ridgeway.
The British force soon dispersed and retreated in what was probably the greatest Irish success on the battlefield since 1798. The invasion ended for O'Neill and his troops the following day when the US gunboat Michigan blocked supplies and reinforcements from reaching O'Neill.
The Fenians then withdrew back to the USA. They had suffered six dead and 15 injured. The British army casualties were 14 dead with 37 wounded.
But for O'Neill it was not the end. In 1870 he made a second attempt, this time to coincide with Queen Victoria of England's birthday. Two hundred men crossed the border and attacked the British army and Canadian militia but after a series of skirmishes at Cooks Corner in the mountains of northern Vermount O'Neill was forced to withdraw.
The campaigns themselves may have failed but the Battle of Limeridge earned O'Neill a place in republican folklore and was a sign of the serious intent of the Fenians in fighting for Irish freedom 102 years ago this week.
By Wayne Sugg
A native of County Monaghan and a US Civil War veteran, on 31 May 1866 he led an invasion force of 600 men across the Niagara river from the USA into Canada to establish an Irish republic in-waiting.
The first success of this Fenian invasion force, known as the ``Irish Republican Army'', was at Fort Erie, a British garrison town. After this quick victory O'Neill's troops hoisted the tricolour over the captured town. This was the same flag which had in 1848 been presented to the Young Ireland Movement by the President of France, Alphonse Le Lamartine.
O'Neill soon learned that units of the British army were approaching and advanced his troops to meet them. On 2 June 1866 O'Neill's troops, after the ancient battle cry of ``Fág an bhealach'', took on and defeated a large British force of around 1,400 soldiers in what became known as the Battle of Limeridge or the Battle of Ridgeway.
The British force soon dispersed and retreated in what was probably the greatest Irish success on the battlefield since 1798. The invasion ended for O'Neill and his troops the following day when the US gunboat Michigan blocked supplies and reinforcements from reaching O'Neill.
The Fenians then withdrew back to the USA. They had suffered six dead and 15 injured. The British army casualties were 14 dead with 37 wounded.
But for O'Neill it was not the end. In 1870 he made a second attempt, this time to coincide with Queen Victoria of England's birthday. Two hundred men crossed the border and attacked the British army and Canadian militia but after a series of skirmishes at Cooks Corner in the mountains of northern Vermount O'Neill was forced to withdraw.
The campaigns themselves may have failed but the Battle of Limeridge earned O'Neill a place in republican folklore and was a sign of the serious intent of the Fenians in fighting for Irish freedom 102 years ago this week.
By Wayne Sugg