School: Kilnaleck (C.)
- Location:
- Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Mrs. Reilly
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0994, Page 303
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- XML Page 303
- XML “Colonel John O'Reilly”
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- Colonel John O'Reilly of Garryrobuck was a son of "Myles the Slasher". He was the most outstanding military figure of his time. In the days of the English Catholic king James II he was a man in the prime of life, erect and handsome with the same soldiery bravery as his father. He marched with his clansmen to the Boyne. It is said that he marched away from Breffni to the Boyne in the dead of night, that an unusual darkness overtook the regiment at the Bog of Kildrumferton and that with the aid and that with the aid of lighted bog wood carried lantern like they managed to cross the peat and marshes reaching when day dawned the banks of the "Blackwater". The Colonel was in battle line near his kinsman Canon Buide and when the battle trumpets sounded O'Reilly's men dashed to the fray and when the king fled they fought on till they were reluctantly forced to fall back.
Colonel O'Reilly returned homewards to Garryroebuck with whatever followers he had left. He lived on and retained possession of his property of Garryroebuck under the Articles(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Mary A. O' Reilly
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Teacher
- Informant
- Michael Galligan
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Kill, Co. Cavan
