by Pag Prendeville

A great day was held in Clounlehard on Sunday last with the official unveiling of the Clounlehard Monument. Two years ago a  committee was formed to erect a memorial plaque to honour the lives lost in what is one of the most brutal events in Irish history. The Old Burial Ground of Áth na gCorp in Clounlehard, Ballyhahill is the site where 400 men, women and children were slaughtered by Elizabethan forces on 12-Mar-1580 while searching for the then Earl of Desmond (Gerald FitzGerald) during the second Desmond Rebellion. The committee members are: Terence McSweeney, John Sheahan, Pakie Hayes, Denis Nolan, Brendan Doyle, Pat & Mgt O’Connor, Antony Halpin, Gary Flavin, Mike Chawke, John Curtin and Patsy Kenrick. The sun shone for the large crowd which attended. Parking was organised in the nearby fields which made everything so much easier. The Parish Hall committee provided the soft seating making for a very comfortable occasion. Chairman Terence McSweeney introduced the Mohernagh Wrenboy group who entertained all. John Sheahan, our local councillor, unveiled the monument after which Terence invited Fr Mikey O’Connor, a Clounleharde man, to bless it. Fr Mikey had invited two local women Maria Wallace and myself to read Prayers of the Faithful and another former Clounlehard man, Michael Dillane, to say a decade of the Rosary in Irish. Denis Nolan was then invited to give a short history of the massacre which he did – in Irish and English. Secretary John Sheahan thanked the Flavin family for the site and the many people and local contractors involved in the work. He asked everybody to “Remember Clounlehard” whenever we hear and see of other massacres taking place in the world today – each one as reprehensible as the next. Throughout the ceremony it was stressed how important it is not to forget the past so as not to repeat in the future and how our young generation should be aware of the hallowed ground on which we walk. We had bagpipe music and poetry and the Limerick Lament all of which made the occasion very poignant and emotional. A few members from Clan Life were present and explained that they are a group of Living Historians who work all over the country and beyond with a passion for history. They travel throughout Ireland educating the public about Irish culture and history. They were dressed very colourfully in the fashion of the times of hundreds of years ago. James Chawke sang “The Men of Clounlehard” and 16 year old Paddy Mullane led the Amhrán na bhFiann to finish off the day. Terence invited all to Knockdown for refreshments. It was a very impressive and well conducted ceremony and will be remembered in Clounlehard for many years. A very informative little booklet was produced by the PRO Brendan Doyle. There is still some money owing on the project so all donations will be very welcome. They have set up an account “Clounlehard Memorial Group – IBAN IE72AIBK93501812144181 if anyone wishes to help.