The 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles
And
And
Famous Irish Regiments
' The Wild Geese '
" Oh tall were the Gobbins cliffs, and sharp were the rocks, my woe !
And tender the limbs that met such terrible death below;
Mother and babe and maid they clutched at the empty air,
With eyeballs widened in fright, that hour of dispair. "
And tender the limbs that met such terrible death below;
Mother and babe and maid they clutched at the empty air,
With eyeballs widened in fright, that hour of dispair. "
A
very remarkable Irishman in the service of Spain was Don Alexander O' Reilly, Count Commander of the
Spanish Armies, Field Marshal, Captain-General at the Havannah; Governor and Lieutenant-General of Louisiana which he took possession of in 1761, when surrendered by the French. Born in Ireland 1725, died in Paris 1794. There can scarcely found anywhere a more romantic or exciting career than that of O' Reilly. He fought in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and America. He saved the King's life, was at the head of his armies and Government, was in disgrace and exile, and everywhere and always showed high spirit, the greatest bravery and the most devoted loyalty to the King.
Don Alexander O' Reilly
It is worthy of note that the best officers in the Spanish Army during the War of Independence, bore Irish names. At this time there were three Irish Regiments in the service of Spain: Hibernia, Irlanda and Ultonia. An English historian, Oman, not inclined to be unduly favourable to Ireland writes:- " An atounding proportion of the officers who rose to some note during the war, bore Irish names, and were hereditary soldiers of fortune, who justified their existence by the unwavering courage which they always showed, in a time when obstinate perserverance was the main military virtue. We need only mention Blake, the two O' Donnells, Lacy, Sarsfield, O' Neill, O' Daly,
O' Mahony, O' Donoghue. Their constant readiness to fight contrasts very well the behaviour of a good many of the Spanish Generals. No officer of Irish blood was ever found among the cowards. "
It is related of Don Alexander O' Reilly that it was his delight to visit a certain Irish College in Spain and tell the boys there that the dream of his life was to head a Spanish invading force and land in his own country to set her free, How many of the " Wild Geese " cherished that dream ? Alas ! Alas ! It was never realised. Only as disembodied spirits was it granted to them to visit the land of their hearts' desire. Far, far away from Ireland their bodies have mingled with foreign earth, and the graves in which they are buried are unknown. But a poet Emily Lawless had a vision of a company of them " Sailing home together from the last great fight ! Home to Clare from Fontenoy in the morning light.
And surely it was not from Fontenoy alone, but from the thousand European battlefields on which Irish valour asserted itself that such a " singing company " set forth, and reach the shores of Ireland at last:
O' Mahony, O' Donoghue. Their constant readiness to fight contrasts very well the behaviour of a good many of the Spanish Generals. No officer of Irish blood was ever found among the cowards. "
It is related of Don Alexander O' Reilly that it was his delight to visit a certain Irish College in Spain and tell the boys there that the dream of his life was to head a Spanish invading force and land in his own country to set her free, How many of the " Wild Geese " cherished that dream ? Alas ! Alas ! It was never realised. Only as disembodied spirits was it granted to them to visit the land of their hearts' desire. Far, far away from Ireland their bodies have mingled with foreign earth, and the graves in which they are buried are unknown. But a poet Emily Lawless had a vision of a company of them " Sailing home together from the last great fight ! Home to Clare from Fontenoy in the morning light.
And surely it was not from Fontenoy alone, but from the thousand European battlefields on which Irish valour asserted itself that such a " singing company " set forth, and reach the shores of Ireland at last:
" Mary Mother shield us ! Say what men are ye
Sweeping past so swiftly on this morning sea?
Without sails or rowlocks, merrily we glide,
Home to Corca Bascin on the brimming tide.
" Jesus save you gentry ! Why are ye so white
Sitting all so strange and still in the misty light?
Nothing ails us brother, joyous souls are we,
Sailing home together on the morning sea. "
Sweeping past so swiftly on this morning sea?
Without sails or rowlocks, merrily we glide,
Home to Corca Bascin on the brimming tide.
" Jesus save you gentry ! Why are ye so white
Sitting all so strange and still in the misty light?
Nothing ails us brother, joyous souls are we,
Sailing home together on the morning sea. "
* It must not be forgotten that the Irish Brigade in the French Service joyously sent its quota to meet the old enemy of the race on American battlefields. The Regiments of Dillon and Walsh came with Lafayette to strike for American liberty. And it is recorded that they demanded the right to be the first of the French service to strike Britain on American soil.
