Lackagh Deportees – A Timeline by Mario Corrigan<\/strong><\/p>\nOct 1655 – deaths of two soldiers, Denis Brennan and Murtagh Turner at \u201cthe castle of Lackay\u201d \u2013 one source says they were repairing houses which had been taken from Catholics and were being prepared for Protestant planters<\/p>\n
22 Oct. 1655 \u2013 Order from Dublin Castle to send senior officers to investigate the murders of \u2018Denis Brennan and Murtogh Turner, Protestants (and persons lately in the service of the State and pay of the army)\u2019. All the \u2018Popish Inhabitants\u2019 (Catholics) of the town were to be rounded up and sent to Waterford where they would be sent to the Barbados or some other colony while those involved in the murder would be. Orders from the Commonwealth Council Order book.<\/p>\n
26 Oct. 1655 Dublin Castle \u2013 Attorney General William Basil to examine the evidence obtained by Col. John Hewson and Major Morgan, concerning the late murder at Lackagh.<\/p>\n
6 Nov. 1655 \u2013 Ordered that Col. John Hewson, and Col. Henry Markham, and other Justices of the Peace as Col. Hewson required to take the examination of the Prisoners that are brought up to Dublin to be tried for the late Murder at Lackagh, in the County of Kildare, and take depositions of witnesses to return the same close sealed up unto the Council.<\/p>\n
20 Nov. 1655 \u2013 four men, Connor Birne, Teige Moran, James Beacon and Tirlagh Dunn were sentenced to death \u2013 attainted of treason, indicted, arraigned, tried and condemned \u2013 writ of execution 20 Nov. 1655; Connor Birne and Teige Moran were executed near Lackagh Castle – James Beacon, and Tirlagh Dunn were executed in Dublin – they were sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered – seems they were hanged, drawn and beheaded but sentence of quartering was remitted.<\/p>\n
27 Nov. 1655 – Marshall Philip Peak of the Four Courts in Dublin ordered to deliver prisoners to Capt. Robert Coleman, commander of the Wexford Frigate, to include all Popish priests (other than those committed for murder) as also the persons brought out of the County of Kildare and committed to his custody for suspicion of being privy to ye murder lately done at the town of Lackagh. Coleman, at the first opportunity of wind and weather, to deliver them in safe custody to the Governor of Waterford, to be by him delivered to Capt. Norris, merchant there, who is to keep the priests and other prisoners abovesaid at his own expense until he shall transport them for the Barbados.<\/p>\n
four were priests, James Tuite, Robert Keegan, Redmond Moore and John Tobin \u2013 the latter I believe to be a Capuchin friar known as Fr. Fiacre Tobin – he died 6 March on board a ship as it left Waterford in 1656 for the Barbados – there was a beatification process started for Tobin and another Capuchin, Dowdall around 1919 – he was believed martyred for his faith.<\/p>\n
27 Nov. 1655 – entry in the Council Book of the Commonwealth, a record book of the Cromwellian administration in Ireland, noting the payment of \u00a35 to Thomas Baker for the capture of Fr. Fiacre Tobin, an Irish Capuchin priest – the place of his arrest is give as \u2018ye Barony of Balrudery [or Balrothery]\u2019 in County Dublin.<\/p>\n
28 Nov. 1655 \u2013 Ordered that the physical descriptions of four priests (Redmond Moore, Robert Keigan, James Tuite and John Tobin) be sent to the Lord Deputy and Council.<\/p>\n
4th Dec. 1655 – repetition of the order to deliver prisoners to Robert Coleman given on 27 Nov. given above, except that it gives a list of the names of the prisoners to be handed over to Captain John Norris for transportation who will make arrangements for their transportation to Barbados.<\/p>\n
6 Dec. 1655 \u2013 Sheriff of Kildare to sell goods of prisoners from Lackagh \u2013 to pay for imprisonment, trial, reparation to widows of two murdered men and expense of transportation.<\/p>\n
6 March 1656 \u2013 death of Fr Faicre (John) Tobin on board ship as it left Waterford for the Barbados. The ship due to transport Fr. Fiacre to Barbados was detained in Waterford Harbour due to unfavourable sea conditions. He was held on board the ship along with other Catholic priests awaiting a similar fate, but he succumbed to disease on 6 March. It seems likely this is the same ship which housed the Lackagh deportees and would have taken some 3 months to make it to the Barbados.<\/p>\n
1949 – a new Celtic Cross was erectedin Lackagh Graveyard in 1949 to Rev Stephen Bolger\/Bulger the last parish priest of Lackagh who died in 1786 – Also 1949 was the diamond jubilee of the then PP of Monasterevin, Fr. Gorry who had been consecrated a priest 60 years previously – in the late 19th century .<\/p>\n
4 Oct. 1959 – the memorial to those transported was unveiled on Sunday 4 Oct. by Monsignor Miller, PP of Droichead Nua. The marble for the plaque was donated by An t-Athair Peadar MacSuibhne who recited the rosary in English and Irish. Mr TP Clarke of the GAA reminded people of the history of the locality and the tradition that St. Brigid was born at Ummeras.<\/p>\n
11 June 2025 \u2013 370th anniversary of removal of Catholic inhabitants of Lackagh to Dublin for transportation to the Barbados. Re-dedication of the plaque by Bishop Denis Nulty and His Excellency Cleviston Haynes our Barbados Ambassador to Ireland, following the annual graveyard mass.<\/p>\n
MEMORIAL<\/strong><\/p>\nWording and Names on plaque with variant spellings within parenthesis: John Foley does not seem to be included in the original list (included by Bishop Comerford in his history of Kildare and Leighlin) and may in fact be an error from \u2018Tobyn\u2019 in later sources. It could also be a priest held in Dublin!<\/p>\n
Pray for all who rest here, or who prayed in this holy place including Conor Birne, Tiegue Moran, James Beacon , and Tirlagh Dunn, who on 20 November, 1655 were sentenced to death.<\/em><\/p>\nAlso the following who on 27 November, 1655 were sentenced to transportation to the Barbadoes.<\/em><\/p>\nJames Tuit, priest<\/p>\n
Robert Keegan, priest {Robt Kegan)<\/p>\n
Redmond Moore, priest (Redmund no mention as priest)<\/p>\n
John Tobin, priest (Tobyn?)<\/p>\n
John Foley, priest<\/p>\n
Bryan Ruddery [Brian]<\/p>\n
James Brennan<\/p>\n
John Carron [Carroll]<\/p>\n
Donnough Kelly [Donogh]<\/p>\n
Philip O\u2019 Connollan. [O Conlon]<\/p>\n
Morgan Perron [Morgan Ferron (Forran)]<\/p>\n
William Muloy [Molloy (Moloy)]<\/p>\n
Maurice Hennegat<\/p>\n
Henry ffz Garrett. [Fitzgarrett]<\/p>\n
Morrice ffz Garrett [Maurice Fitzgarrett (Morrice)]<\/p>\n
Margery ffz Garrett [Fitzgarrett]<\/p>\n
Mary Grafton, wife to Henry ffz Garrett [Fitzgarrett]<\/p>\n
Bridget ffz Garrett, Daughter to Loughlin Kelly (Bridgett)<\/p>\n
Connor Toole [Conor]<\/p>\n
Margt King [Margaret]<\/p>\n
Margt Rely [Margaret Reily]<\/p>\n
Margt Dongan [Margaret Donegan (Donyan)]<\/p>\n
Katherine Brannan [Brennan (Kath Brunnan)]<\/p>\n
Giles Crevy<\/p>\n
Margaret Doolin<\/p>\n
Honora Doolin<\/p>\n
Dorothy Farrell<\/p>\n
Ellinor ffz Garret [Elinor Fitzgarrett]<\/p>\n
Honora ne Conlan [Ni Conlan]<\/p>\n
Katherine Heylan [Catherine Hyland]<\/p>\n
Anne Keating (Ann)<\/p>\n
Eliz Keating [Elizabeth]<\/p>\n
Margery Crenyan [Crinion]<\/p>\n
Katherine Weiglan [Whelan]<\/p>\n
Owney Hoose [Hughes]<\/p>\n
Elizth Morran [Elizabeth]<\/p>\n
Honora ne Gibbery [Ni Gibbery]<\/p>\n
Daniel O\u2019Rourk [O Rourke]<\/p>\n
A song written for the commemorative event by Mario Corrigan<\/p>\n
WORKING SUGAR AND TOBACCO \u2013 THE LACAGH EXILES<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo men they say were murdered, by Tories in the night<\/p>\n
Old soldiers who\u2019d been planted, old wrongs \u00a0were put to right<\/p>\n
But a crime had been committed, and though we were innocent<\/p>\n
Our faith became a sentence, and forced our imprisonment<\/p>\n
And for someone else\u2019s Killing, they emptied Lackagh town<\/p>\n
Half-hanged four men \u00a0then butchered them, when they took their bodies down<\/p>\n
when they took their bodies down<\/p>\n
Chorus<\/u><\/p>\n
We\u2019ll say goodbye to Ireland, we\u2019ll cry our tears and pray<\/p>\n
That maybe we can somehow, make it home one day<\/p>\n
Deported to Barbados, to the colonies as slaves,<\/p>\n
Shackled like common criminals, starved but for the grains<\/p>\n
Bound for an Empire\u2019s service, on plantations cruelly run<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
By March of 1656 we were on the Ocean\u2019s waves<\/p>\n
Toward Tobacco Island, with over 30 Kildare\u00a0 slaves<\/p>\n
Bound in chains below the deck, a stench upon the air<\/p>\n
Fever claimed the Kilkenny friar, but the heretics did not care<\/p>\n
We\u2019d no idea of what lay ahead, but what jailors and sailors said<\/p>\n
A paradise for colonists, but for us a hell on earth<\/p>\n
but for us a hell on earth<\/p>\n
Chorus<\/u><\/p>\n
We\u2019ll say goodbye to Ireland, we\u2019ll cry our tears and pray<\/p>\n
That maybe we can somehow, make it home one day<\/p>\n
Deported to Barbados, to the colonies as slaves,<\/p>\n
Shackled like common criminals, starved but for the grains<\/p>\n
Bound for an Empire\u2019s service, on plantations cruelly run<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
Mid. 8<\/u><\/p>\n
Some of them were lucky, to work back their liberty
\nThough the years of hard harsh labour, left nought but poverty
\nsome of them were pirates, some of them rebelled
\nNone made it home, their ghosts still there, their descendants called Red legs
\nBut they held on to their homeland, held it in their hearts
\nand kept their God to guide them, through the whippings and the dark
\nand kept their God to guide them, through the whippings and the dark<\/p>\n
Chorus<\/u><\/p>\n
We\u2019ll say goodbye to Ireland, we\u2019ll cry our tears and pray<\/p>\n
That maybe we can somehow, make it home one day<\/p>\n
Deported to Barbados, to the colonies as slaves,<\/p>\n
Shackled like common criminals, starved but for the grains<\/p>\n
Bound for an Empire\u2019s service, on plantations cruelly run<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
Working sugar and tobacco, underneath the burning sun<\/p>\n
Photograph courtesy:<\/strong>\u00a0Cllr. Noel Connolly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Wednesday 11th June the annual graveyard mass will take place in Lackagh churchyard . Following mass at 7.30pm there will be a special event which by the kind permission of Fr Liam Merrigan, P.P., will involve our Bishop Denis Nulty and His Excellency Cleviston Haynes\u00a0 Barbados Ambassador to Ireland. At the invitation of Sean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7507,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-burial-grounds","category-news-events-2"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Plaque-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Plaque-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"James Durney","author_link":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/author\/jdurney\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7506"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7511,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7506\/revisions\/7511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}