Day 25 #100DaysOfOldDays
Today’s post is also for Marsha Ingrao’s weekly Photographing Public Art Challenge (#PPAC)
✣ ✣ ✣
They say that the River Moy ran red with blood on the 23rd of September 1586, after the slaughter of almost 3,000 Scots, half of which were women and children.
The Battle of Ardnaree was a battle in the Tudor conquest of Ireland. (Ardnaree is a suburb in Ballina, Co Mayo in the West of Ireland.)
An Irish-Scottish mercenary army, led by Donnell Gorm MacDonnell of Carey and Alexander Carragh MacDonnell of Glenarm, sons James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg, were invited into Connacht by the Mayo Burkes to attack English settlements and forces. This mercenary army was fronted at Sligo, Coolony and Ballingafad by English forces for over fourteen days.
The Gallowglass Scots camped for three nights on the banks of the River Moy en route to their final destination of Tyrawley in North Mayo. The governor of Connacht Sir Richard Bingham, and his army followed them there and surrounded their camp during the night. At 10am the following morning they launched their horrific attack.
This mural portrays the tragic event that is The Battle of Ardnaree. It is part of a project carried out by the volunteers of Ballina Community Clean Up Group to commemorate the defeated Scots.
The artwork of the huddling starlings protecting themselves against the hawks, portrays the story of the Scots and their assailants. Also represented in the mural are the women and children who witnessed the bloodshed.
Artists: Brenna Rice – blueprint designer, landscape/skyscape artist. Megan McNamara portrait artist. Kevin Loftus – Augustinian Abbey architectural designer. Ciara Casey – Ardnaree Castle artist.
The full story of this historic day by Dermot Rice, is available to watch here on YouTube.
Gloria McBreen 