Throughout history Irish men have fought for and against Britain and for her enemies. In the eighteenth century Catholics were not permitted to join the British army so they fought instead for France, Spain, Portugal and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Here are three vary different stories about Irish military men from the same small part of County Longford.
To outsiders, the village of Ballinalee, in Co Longford, might seem like no great shakes, just a bump in the road, a blink-and-you-miss-it spot that you’re through before you even notice. Were they to consult a map of the county, the seemingly inconsequential dot called Ballinalee might be ignored in favour of grander spots, like Longford town, Ballymahon, Granard or the pretty heritage town of Ardagh.
But that would be a mistake because lovers of history will find pure gold in its environs. For starters, it is the site of Ireland’s first convent – the remains of which are still visible – but that’s not what gets the juices flowing. No, the real interest lies elsewhere. Put it this way, how many tiny villages do you know that can claim two generals to their credit, and another military hero born just a five-minute drive away?
That third one, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir…
View original post 868 more words
Frank Parker's author site 