#siege of Limerick

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in Irish History | 9 August:

1690 – Siege of Limerick commences when William of Orange encamps just outside the walls of the old city, with an army of about 26,000; the Irish defenders were similar in number though not nearly as well armed. 1850 – Irish Tenant League is founded. 1878 – Birth of architect and furniture designer, Eileen Gray, in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. She was a pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture.…

[eagna-eilis]

Star Wars Characters at a Family Wedding in Ireland

ANAKIN - Gets extremely nostalgic about his own wedding and makes his adult twin children groan in embarrassment. Is in such a good mood that he isn't even mad when Leia calls him a fascist for voting Fine Gael, and manages to give his grandson an effective pep talk.

PADMÉ - So resplendent that the bride is almost jealous but honestly how could you be upset with her she's just so nice. Gets giggly tipsy over dinner and waltzes with C3P0 afterwards. Touches up literally everyone's makeup for them throughout the night and does a better job than the actual makeup artist.

OBI-WAN - Waits til the night is winding down then magically locates a squeezebox, fiddle, a guitar, and a tin whistle and hands them out to start a sessiún. The sing-song goes on until 5am and it's all his fault. His signature song is 'The Lass of Aughrim' because it makes him feel all literary.

R2D2 - Has at least four too many double Jamesons and literally starts arguing with the wall. Shmii finds him passed out under a table the next morning, wherein he swears he's not drinking until Christmas.

C3P0 - Wrecks the heads of the hotel staff over dinner with all his requests, to the point of embarrassing the other people at his table. Conducts impromptu ballroom dancing lessons while the band plays and charms the pants off everyone with his patient explanations of how to foxtrot.

LANDO - Pulls out a deck of cards and starts a game of 21s in the corner. Absolutely swindles everyone. It's okay though because he puts his winnings behind the bar so nobody has to pay for their drinks after that.

AHSOKA - Brings enough weed to share with a chosen few, like an absolute queen. Ends up hanging out in the loo for ages rolling for herself, Sabine, Maz, Kanan, and eventually Ben. Despite her relative stillness and quiet, she enjoys the music more than basically anybody else and people will quote her fondly slagging Anakin over dinner for the next 20 years.

SABINE - Camera queen who tries to look like she isn't enjoying herself. Fools nobody because she keeps grinning and snort-laughing. Her photos are a thousand times better than the photographer's and are the ones that the couple use for their album.

HERA - Helps Leia gang up on Anakin about politics because goddamn it, Leia isn't wrong. Hands out isotonic powder sachets and paracetamols to everyone before they go up to bed. They're gonna need it.

EZRA - Gets so hyper after consuming so much 7up that Hera has to send him to bed before the DJ takes over from the band. Sneaks down later for the cocktail sausages.

DIN DJARIN - Couldn't get a babysitter so he's tucked up at home watching The Late Late and hate-tweeting it.

GROGU - fell asleep in front of The Late Late. Delighted when somebody brings wedding cake to the house the following day.

KANAN - Literally will not be at peace until the DJ plays Kenny Rodgers' 'The Gambler' because it's not a wedding without it. Once that's done he insists on 'Come On Eileen'. Somebody's gotta be the keeper of the flame of tradition, after all.

CHEWBACCA - Requests all the group dances. Rock the Boat, The Siege of Ennis, The Macarena, The Walls of Limerick, Chain Reaction. Bullies everyone into joining in, except Ben who is the absolute antithesis of craic.

LUKE - Every wedding requires at least one merrily drunk uncle and Luke does not disappoint. Suit jacket? Gone. Top buttons? Open. Tie? It's now around his head while he stands on a chair playing air guitar to 'Hotel California'. Ends up puking in a flower pot. Iconic.

LEIA - Would have been okay if she stuck to wine all night but a single gin and tonic on top of the shitty hotel merlot and suddenly she's having an hour-and-a-half political argument with Anakin. Embarrasses the hell out of her parents, brother, and son by smooching Han repeatedly while dancing.

HAN - Organises the pre-ceremony pints. His sotto-voce asides are funnier than anything in the speeches. Quietly sings along to 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison in Leia's ear while they dance, prompting all that smooching.

FINN - Sneaks into the hotel's public bar to check the hurling scores on the telly then reports them back to all the lads. Keeps his wits about him regards alcohol so he can take care of Poe later but eats so much cake he feels sick.

POE - Holds court in the bar, telling long anecdotes about his life that are only 75% true. Dances and flirts with all the aunties and nanas and makes them feel great about themselves. It doesn't convince Ahsoka to give him a spliff, though, because she is immune to his charms.

ROSE - The boomers yell at her for getting the DJ to play 'Celtic Symphony' by the Wolfe Tones, but she calls them hypocrites who are oozing postcolonial shame. Anakin offers to adopt her because now she's the centre of the politics argument. Knocks it out of the park at the sing-song because she knows all the words to at least 20 rebel songs.

MAZ - The first to place her handbag down on the dancefloor so as to coax the other nanas onto the floor. Jovially flirts with every man over 18 and under 60 that isn't her blood relation. Asks Poe to marry her.

REY - Finishes at least three other people's dinners. Sings along very loudly to every song that the band AND the DJ plays. Can't dance at all but it doesn't stop her. Should probably check on Ben because she knows what he's like but decides that tonight he's his family's responsibility. Loses her entire shit when ABBA plays.

BEN - Zero craic, God help the poor craytur. Drinks brandy as an affectation and starts quoting James Joyce after four of them. Gets extremely mopey after brandy number six and ends up having a long heart to heart with his Grandda Ani. Cries then throws up. Auntie 'Soka gives him a joint to settle his tummy. Subsequently feels better and then knocks everyone's socks off singing 'Raglan Road'.

SHMII - Begs off the party at 10pm because she's 97 years old. Still makes sure that everybody takes their hangover down to breakfast the following morning for a Big Feed of rasher-sausage-and-pudding, and maybe hair of the dog if they're desperate.

[theirishaesthete]

Remembering a Hero

Following last Monday’s post about Lucan House, here is a monument found within the surrounding garden and dedicated to Patrick Sarsfield, first Earl of Lucan and hero of the 1791 Siege of Limerick. While he never lived here (the property was owned by his older brother William), toward the end of the 18th century either Agmondisham Vesey or his nephew and heir Colonel George Vesey is thought to…

[dsandrvk]

Monday, April 21 - Kilkee to Dingle

We lucked into a bright, sunny day for a longer drive down to the next peninsula. It was only about 50 degrees, with a strong wind, but it was nice driving along. After another superb breakfast, we headed east to take the ferry across the Shannon Estuary, which saves going back all the way east to Limerick. The ferry goes once an hour at this time of year, so we timed it to catch the 10 AM ferry, and were close to the front of the line. The ferry put down the landing ramp quite a way out from the concrete ramp, and it's good there weren't any waves, as it didn't have much clearance. A short 20 minute ride and we were now in County Kerry, having left County Clare behind.

We had hoped to catch a view of the Tarbert Lighthouse, but the access was through a power plant, so that didn't work. There are major power plants on either side of the Shannon here, but nothing seems to be coming out of the stacks because they have installed lots of windmills.

We did manage stops at two castles along the way - the first was Carrigafoyle Castle and had the best setting so far, as it had been on its own little island, protected from the Shannon by another island, but with a commanding view out to sea. The location also meant that the O'Connor chief who built it could have men board all ships going to and from Limerick and request a "toll" of a percentage of goods. Because of its strategic importance, when it was severely damaged in a siege during the second Desmond Rebellion ((against Queen Elizabeth I), most of the other castles around surrendered, worried they would suffer the same fate.

We stopped at another castle in the beach town of Ballybunion - here nature had been the main culprit, as the castle was built on a promontory with beaches on either side, and time and tide has left only the inland wall intact. Despite the cold temperatures, families were enjoying the beach and even swimming on this Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday here, and makes a three-day weekend for most.

We also stopped at a small friary that dated back to the 15th century, and a very impressive cathedral in Ardfert that dated back to the 13th century. As is often the case, the friary grounds are now almost completely covered with graves, some as recent as last month. Here they were doing some structural stabilizing, and had covered some of the gravestones nearby on plywood boxes to prevent damage from falling masonry.

At the cathedral, which has become a major Irish Heritage site, they actually excavated all of the old graves within the cathedral itself, and reburied them in the adjacent graveyards. This was a multi-year process and they had a small folder documenting the process along with a plan of where all the former graves had been located. This cathedral was quite impressive, as it had a beautiful carved sandstone entrance (one of the pictures), as well as later Gothic details and windows. The south transept was later turned into a Protestant Church and now houses the OPW exhibits and staff.

We talked at length with the local guide here, who also described how rural this part of Ireland had been until the 1980's and :90's. She was considerably younger than us, but described living with her large family in a couple of rented rooms before moving to their own place, a move facilitated by donkey cart. There was no electricity in those days (probably the 1970's) and nobody she knew growing up had a car. Quite a lot of change in a relatively short time. No wonder the roads are not designed for modern cars going 80-100 kph! She also said that all the old churchyards, friaries, etc. are overcrowded with graves because the adjacent farmers are loathe to sell or donate even a small portion of their land for additional space.

Our next brief stop was for a photo of an older style windmill, in Blennerville. Although they supposedly have a gift shop and cafe, they did not appear to be open, and so we just did a quick photo and moved on, heading now for the Dingle Peninsula.

There are two main ways to get to Dingle from the north side of the peninsula - the main road, an "N" road that carries most traffic, and all buses, trucks and larger vehicles. The other road is an "R" road and goes over Connor Pass, a stretch of road with a kilometer and a half long stretch of one-lane with cliff wall on one side, and a short rock wall on the other over a precipitous drop, with little pull-outs from time to time. This road has a two-tone weight limit and buses and trucks aren't allowed. We first stopped at a little waterfall before this section - a popular spot for scenic viewing - and proceeded up the narrow section, only meeting two vehicles at one slightly wider point, so we had a lot of worry for nothing. The views from the parking lot at the pass were outstanding - back to Loop Head and also south all the way to Skellig Michael off the Ring of Kerry. It was also extremely windy and cold, so we didn't linger long. Dingle town was just below us, and this section of road, although steep, has two narrow lanes.

It was warmer in Dingle, which is full of shops, restaurants and tourists. Our lodging for the next three nights is above Murphy's Pub, but the rooms are modern, and somehow we lucked into the best room in the place with windows overlooking the harbor. We took a little stroll along the colorful streets, which seem to feature lots of woolens and ice cream, as well as a lot of pubs. One of the best known is Dick Mack's, which also has a small brewery. There's another that's both a pub and a hardware store. As one blog put it, you can come in for a wrench, and come out hammered.

After our walk, we dropped off our packs and headed back to Dick Mack's for a pint, and although it was crowded, we eventually got a seat in the old portion of the bar (like a lot of pubs these days, they have expansion rooms to the back as well as a large beer garden area). We chatted to a part-time local named Liam and learned why he prefers Guinness to Dick Mack's own stout - he claims the latter doesn't have as much of a foamy head, and as such "doesn't look quite right.". We might try a pint of that next time, but Guinness is the overwhelming choice here.

Despite the beautiful blue skies, the horizon showed a different story late in the day, and tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and windy until early afternoon, so we plan to treat ourselves to sleeping in a bit, and then doing some shorter walks near town. We'll save the narrow roads of Slea Head for tomorrow, when the weather should be dry and maybe even sunny again.

[libidomechanica]

Untitled # 13324

A limerick sequence

               1

Near they little in the lips of men. Rings overworn. Is shrivell’d trees. The    earth is there, meek, you’llchoose    to paused for who had not eat my darling, while my sin your hair.

               2

Not only take quarter. Who hath with modest hope of higher love? Are shown,    and kissing home. Us    as a goodly matches, presence of day a day of welcome!

               3

The feeble: let us go. And fruits, and warrant’s banner, had brought, too stronger    points were won or loving,    runs my head. As a purer laws. On that Evangelist.

               4

That great cause of my beautiful still, and thy innocence which some hundred    years. The General Ribaupierre’s    was much time to my brother perfect rows where the main.

               5

The wheel extermined scorn to choose sons such is polygamy, the ground.    Disguised poem: which else    can reach thro’ circle of the Geordi-an knot want of his chair.

               6

Whence hast down, that brought his drunk with strife, their city by the Lord’s, so that same    stroke, sublimer azure    orbit rouses thinking moon. I seen, like a mothers of doom.

               7

And beaded panes; and then comes a separate mind? And then stately mountain he    died, or some dead woodlands?    Aurora scarce endure; which I can turn’d—her body have birth.

               8

Like glories, Forsooth, let gown to keep so sweet about the battles, sieges,    and formal, and gay    Koutousow mighty wrought his hid; the new. And can do not discord.

               9

And aware or leather various eyes. At the will not you get up, and    salpicon’-with the    Promises to wear the Flock or none; or like—like the hummingbird!

               10

And heard the same mystic deeps, and then as it was there little light. And flicker    than laugh so very    loud alarms that we stayed away. Ask me not a lost a day.

               11

All which small the world turning city. Could intendeth, which multiplication    required. This man! But    here fillets, carry from being, haue so froth of nothing it?

               12

Johnson I will less had more intervals appear the peace here, a long since    greatest him, this when I    was born, a bittere is no record? But when Juan walk’d of men.

               13

There is a stones to hear the Bar enoch Arden flowers: a single soul?    Meeting phantom-warning    much mortified, flame along with no language starry heaven.

               14

For I am so much zest upon the wild wing! Here again. As Horace    fat, or his tent writing    foplings, if men with aimless fade: exit seraphim and fate?

               15

A time that all counterfeit is poorly imitating to think to a    tune. A pavement—if it    done away as thou, new- year dead unders! Was heart and dread it.

               16

And vast, ere well; there some hundred brow. Her life in mine eye on song—simple    spot to be sure. Call, but    apprehensive, and they knows what their cradle Song crossing soul.

               17

Then I love of gay flowers are ended, these fools of thy Throne indeed. Friends,    and never a look on    his count itself in all truth. We went and kind; or lie in fee.

               18

Knowledge of I’ and squires and active powers of the laddie! His night above    are not to know how    she lo’ed a dearest. That you cannot go astray. Which watch there.

               19

Thou comes to such a perfect gift then? In holding: now called it EVIL. The    drawn; and all be done, set    me alone. Of all,—what vague desire: I have forever.

               20

And sorrow’s crowd? The sea, to tie me loue, or, seeing, haste. But at his being    mud. Once, the moonlight    and keep aloof. And rites were on that. Was this question carried.

               21

I found Him not made. And force, when one kneelings of youth and the men lie; peace,    and lips to keep it, and    for t’ other’s dust of art—more night an echo of the gout?

               22

Are not well he common sense is less the shatter’d the high a Bough, and gaudy    shows half yields to the    maiden in all shower and no less with a brazen pillars?

               23

But the days must be touched, I’d grow quite disappointed to be sanction    on its little scorching    urn: and in my heart, and kissing sound! And something women love.

               24

What come thousand types are quite dissent. Her soil; the dawn. And I have been. We    moon. When the worse for here,    and fowl, and the stars the catalogue, fable wind trouble tide?

               25

Iron-jointed into which makes men, this others, his world. And then? Sorrow    o’er a burial fee,    and came first to ride, as well benumb us at last, and go.

               26

Perhaps she muscles, the slow clock count its soul of Richard’ may aye inhere;    and brown, her dangling doves    will say no. Thou know’st, in Nature’s gentless iron well his face?

               27

There was become an officer of the tints of odour mother and now    thy lights are set to be    made the sea-stocks blood to which us out of these? And winters.

               28

Also did the same, but play’d with a living sudden passions of light unto    his horses plays are    out of Allah! The sage that sate him off my believe, shall die.

               29

But thou with larger lay, the soul can buttons&we understand. When I was    desolate, and the feet,    which to though which hell were left an his eyes and I was crazy.

               30

From the gynocracy. A musical and its sheathe. Who lights on the vacant    chair. But laissez aller’—    knight them. As at breath with had done. She said it did except.

               31

But still remains, on music of their portions; double wind along, the brought    forking in the sailing    in. At ancient to prove, fatal losses are soon comes to please.

               32

Would hopes the plot: we are left, when I do come. Behold, ye speak, and bring into    bedew the balls, wielding    this children’s chimney glow, that a summon up remember?

               33

The dubious felicity! And with no temptation. For I have much-    beloved. An hendy    hap ich habbe yhent, ichoot from thee. Which I became the hands.

               34

Of waking a virtue hath no touch’d at the runaway boy who kept hold    I am old, o ye    Graces! On 100K a week and soul, Mermaid was drowning belly.

               35

But when they went and glad arms tore her a slave: blest thou the French the crowd. Calm    that I remember, a    pavement—if it came, or dive below the one’s own consequence.

               36

Her which pass’d in his chocolate, mark, and thou, Anthea, must find an image    o’ mine. Convinces all    the summer suns from the sexual orchis, bridges, who pass.

               37

Wave, or out; the fancy; what was oft to shoots javelin-like besmear’d with pains!    Tis strength of us walk    away with a melody, and Debt, as on all make it true?

               38

Oh my bonie Betty, as he pass watches for existence the next trees of    Death. Whatever fellows,    to behold, feed in the frail, discussing tears that comes Sorrow.

               39

Henceforth and there, or loving: o, but we passing then concern, where in disgust,    which turn’d backward. Love’s    grave, and positions. Feeling a line a murmur of his rest.

               40

Saying, tho’ the questions can sort of the act. Content the fire-flies aware    in that rippling him; we    have gone forced ever heart, with gilded bed-posts in signs to dwell?

               41

In ripple round the death-watch, would melody, and hell, and taste, and felt his    little, hurried him—although    true; for supernatural warmth; and in heaven knows? Fools!

               42

How know not weeps, the could keeps the church lands or pantomimes. He too quiver’s    vow they should gulf thanks    are puzzled but women, who are she foster’d master are few!

               43

Or ran away. And, in opend sent of events as often clasping bride-    maidens gather of the    moon let my tongue wag thro’ life that Plato’s pride were all alone?

               44

It was a change to coast to me? A poison of this save the west side something    maid in danced from the    charms, who would read the rest him, and of eraser and an R.

               45

Myself; and oh blood, until the grave, and branchise despatch: I knew a man    in his day; but, heaven.    The yule-cloth, and fill’d the woods, which would thro’ meadow and the brave?

               46

And state to the sun are artillery angle and saw him for; and go,    with heart and in forges    the suns. The works with the house; nor many virtue of ruin!

               47

That now When I sorrow’s child’s a pretty children dear to throned races    may with overthrown line,    the better springs rather onward our neck. Less to Pall Mall.

               48

Who objection. Through truer of us the boy’s pale and most I strive their    place can die! At there’s    tolerably evening for hand shrug on the first we to thee.

               49

Ere they shall approaches still from the birds in undiscovered in deeds, at    that Boon living blush, and    true, begin! What thou, my merrimental surge of hand, a weight.

               50

It’s upper flood their gods of sweet dreamy touch the curse changing little shall    be more basking in the    muscles, their sin: each seals to say leads melodrames or heart!

               51

For they never-lighted with her politics my duty, own’d Arab’s lip.    When, jaded wide,—not stay’d    to hear the pools: the widow’d with any of these have not you?

               52

Upon mine, that soul of Richard’ may appal. Dreary leisure from their smiled,    the dance taken of    radiate: fierce and Timour- Mammonite mother simple ration.

               53

And dreamy touch of earshot, ere heaped aside; and save;—a most lucky    together and I can’t compell’d    without hope—but models arrived. The more that inly feel?

               54

And dark, whose of thorns an ancient goose. How do we course onto myriads more    the slippery rocks of state    to shape of a world are dry. And she’d call yet once, moving forth.

               55

Whether would finding from the fear; rather fortnight, by God! Wild Hours to climbed    high, the bridegroom wait as    a child with his Chambers between through my knee; but think he wall.

               56

And rarely smile, if you news after toil; nor shame, And now to Shooting, song,    solvent. The sense gives more    worthy of correctest contain commit to thy troubled hands.

               57

And with Learning thro’ our day. While green: she sate upon a time I vanish’d    forth a thousand the serpent    draw some coxcomb is the hangs stay to your preserved the dead!

               58

Was to be gone.: Perceiving her beautiful simplicity’s child has never    me, thy parting way,    whose ethereal eye— and the could scorn: he place of its Fires.

               59

Juan witlings from the Alps are rags or dancing, flash and great work, whom a    conversation; the man whose    love the chestnut patteries of spring-tides the strange was love?

[cromwellrex2]

The End of the Rump: ‘What shall we do with this bauble? Here, take it away.’

The Spontaneous Military Coup

Cromwell dissolving the Rump Parliament. Source: Alamy Stock Photos

THE COMMONWEALTH forces soon reduced the remaining resistance in Scotland. In short order, George Monck defeated the scattered remnants of Royalist, Engager and Covenanter opposition to the effective imposition of an English settlement in Scotland. That settlement was the same one as introduced to England: religious toleration for all but Roman Catholics and Episcopalians. Although the Church of Scotland loathed an arrangement that allowed Independents free worship, they had no choice. The taking of Stirling, Perth and Dundee (the latter with much slaughter, including of non-combatants) by the New Model Army throughout the late summer of 1651 followed by the news of Worcester, ended the last resistance of the Scottish government. With its final defeat, the Solemn League and Covenant also disappeared as a viable religious or political prospectus. During 1652, the Rump Parliament in England prepared legislation that effectively unified Scotland and England into a new Commonwealth. In March 1653, the Scottish General Assembly was suppressed: there was now only one, republican, government for both countries.

Similarly in Ireland, Sir Henry Ireton and later Edmund Ludlow, slowly took the remaining Confederate fortresses one by one, and by spring 1653, the organised Irish rebellion was finally over. Ireton himself did not see the final victory as he died of the plague during his ill-advised siege of Limerick. The settlement was harsh. All who had supported the rebellion, which included a substantial proportion of the Old English, had their lands confiscated and handed over to loyalists or Protestant settlers. Ireland became, in effect, a province of the Commonwealth: Charles Stuart’s three Kingdoms were no more.

With the fighting over, the Council of State, the Rump and the Army needed to decide what form of constitutional settlement now should be introduced following the final crushing of Royalism. The existing Commonwealth had been a pragmatic response to the monarch’s execution, continued warfare and the questionable legitimacy of the Rump Parliament, but now there could be no deferral of the debate as to what type of government should replace the Stuart monarchy. When the conflict began, the majority of Parliamentarians had no intention of replacing the king with some form of republicanism. Even Cromwell was a late convert to the cause, initially taking the view that a reformed monarchy could be preserved, perhaps under Henry Duke of Gloucester, Charles I’s youngest son, but as with so many of his Parliamentarian colleagues, the second civil war turned Cromwell to the view that monarchy itself was the problem, not simply the individual who wore the crown.

The starting point however was the Rump Parliament itself. Compromised though it was by Pride’s Purge it was nonetheless the linear descendant of what was still, technically, the Parliament of 1640. In early 1652, the Rump voted for its own dissolution from November 1654 and then set about attempting to deal with the backlog of legislation shelved for the duration of the civil wars. This included legal reform, debt relief, the establishment of a new national church to replace Episcopacy and the sequestration and sale of Royalist property. In addition, the Rump was tasked with producing propsals for the post war system of government - major questions such as parliamentary terms, the extent of the franchise, whether or not there should be a second chamber now the Lords was abolished, and should there be an equivalent senior governor of the nation to replace the office of King. These tasks were gargantuan, but the Rump’s efforts to address them seriously were half-hearted at best. Rather than deal with issues of reform and principle, the MPs of the Rump preferred to delve into matters of citizens’ personal behaviour, such as adultery and blasphemy, and obsess about the appropriateness of traditional Christian feast days and their possible pagan origins. It was in the early 1650s that the Commonwealth’s dour reputation as the Puritan regime that took down Maypoles, closed theatres and banned Christmas, took hold.

In the meantime, the Army was becoming impatient. Despite the Commonwealth having embarked on a needless naval war with Dutch Republic, the Army was idle, outside residual fighting in Ireland and northern Scotland, and remained radical in its political thinking. In August 1652, it issued a petition to the Rump that called for the dissolution of Parliament, early elections, the abolition of tithes, the settlement of military pay arrears, and the establishment of a National Treasury accountable to the new Commonwealth government. The difficulty for the Rump, and to some extent, Cromwell, was that the Army no longer spoke with one voice. Only Cromwell remained of the former Grandees and the coming men were John Lambert and Thomas Harrison, the victors of the third civil war. Whereas Lambert espoused a constitutional egalitarian republicanism, familiar from the Putney Debates, Harrison was a Fifth Monarchist and as such wished to see the Parliamentary system abolished altogether and replaced by a small conclave of the godly who would ready the former Kingdoms for the Second Coming, due, in the view of the Fifth Monarchists, at any time. What united the factions however, was their contempt for the Rump Parliament.

The Rump’s policy of sequestering Royalist lands to pay for the Dutch war, particularly irritated the New Model Army’s officer class, who had made frequent promises during the wars to Royalist hold outs that their continued ownership of their lands would be guaranteed, in return for a surrender. This apparent reneging on that promise offended military honour. This added to a general sense of self-serving indolence and drift associated with the Rump and led to a gathering of officers in London who requested Cromwell that he support the petition and forcibly dissolve the Rump. Cromwell was open to such an entreaty. He could see little benefit in maintaining the Rump Parliament any longer, and was tempted by the thought of assuming an overall role as “Protector”, either as the constitutional head of a republic or to usher in in a constitutional monarchy under Henry of Gloucester. However, what happened next did not have the appearance of a premeditated move against Parliament.

Matters reached a head in spring 1653. On 19th April, Cromwell, Harrison and Lambert met with sympathetic MPs and insisted the Rump needed to develop an immediate succession plan under which it should should dissolve itself rapidly, set a date for elections and hand over power to a transitional committee of forty godly men. To his alarm, Cromwell later heard Parliament was indeed debating succession, but not the plan put to MPs by the officers. The Rump’s apparent intention was to continue in place indefinitely. Cromwell and Harrison immediately attended the House of Commons and took their seats. After listening to the debate, Cromwell eventually rose and made a furious speech condemning the continuance of the Rump with words that have since become famous: ‘it is not fit that you should sit here any longer. You have sat here too long for any good you have been doing lately… how can you be a Parliament for God’s People? Depart I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.’ With that Harrison brought in thirty or so musketeers who, amongst much protest, cleared the chamber. The mace, the symbol of the Speaker’s authority, was removed from the Commons, contemptuously dismissed as a “bauble”. Cromwell and the Army had dissolved the Rump by force.

Essentially the Long Parliament had been terminated by a military coup. Although the forced dissolution gave every appearance of being a spontaneous act, Cromwell moved swiftly to consolidate his position by informing the Council of State it had no further business to undertake as the legislature had been removed. A bloodless revolution had occurred that had removed the final element of the pre-war monarchical settlement - King, Lords and Commons - with no opposition or complaint from the country at large. The Rump, ineffectual and unpopular, passed from British history with barely a whimper.

Oliver Cromwell, once an obscure country MP and, in the early days of the civil wars, a cavalry colonel among many, was now master of all he surveyed: victorious general, regicide, breaker of Scottish Presbyterianism and the Irish Rebellion, and now a morally upright revolutionary too. The political future of the former three Kingdoms was now, effectively, in the hands of one man.

[vulpixen]

I've made some changes when it comes to my Wardens and their pairings as I feel it fits better for them. Poly Wardens lol

Joan Cousland still pairs with Alistair and becomes his queen, but in addition, Ser Gilmore is included in the relationship and decided he lives for my au. He escaped when Highever castle during the siege and went into hiding, but is later found by Joan and the group and include him into the party.

Dante Amell and Limerick Surana were already in a relationship with each other and later include Morrigan into it.

Misha Tabris is together with Faelan Mahariel and Zevran Arianni.

Verroth Brosca and Sindra Aeducan get together and include Leliana.

In having thought back to Dragon Age, over the years I have been crafting an au where all seven origin Wardens were recruited by Duncan and survived the Joining and would become the Heroes of Fereldan they were meant to be. Plus, the optional Orlesian Grey Warden from Awakening who would assist them in that continuation. Its changed a lot over the years and I think I’m finally satisfied with it. 

And for Dragon Age 2, all three classes Hawke can be existing, but with a twist! One of them is human and the other two are an elf and dwarf who were adopted into the family who become the Champions of Kirkwall they’ll be known as. 

Finally, Dragon Age Inquisition. All six potential Inquisitors survived the catastrophe, but only four of them bear the shared mark within their respective hands, and the other two becoming companions to them. All this existing within the same au saga! Here is what I have so far and I may add more to it. May or may not be a fic using all this, but I wanted to share my own ideas.

Keep reading

[18thfoot]

27th August 1690 - Ireland. The 18th Foot (officially the Earl of Meath's Regiment) took part in an assault on a breach during the Siege of Limerick, losing over 100 men killed and wounded. Only the names of the officers have been recorded. Lieutenant Colonel Newcombe was fatally wounded, while Captain Charles Brabazon, Lieutenant P. Latham and Ensign Smith were killed. The Colonel, the Earl of Meath, Lieutenants Blakeney and Hubblethorne were wounded. 100 men were also reported killed.

The 1690 Siege of Limerick was unsuccessful from the Williamite point of view. The army's heavy siege artillery had been destroyed by a raid by Sarsfield's men at Ballyneety and with the autumn rains and winter closing in the siege was abandoned a few days later. Limerick would be besieged again in 1691. Legend has it that the women of Limerick repelled the assaulton this day, throwing rocks at the attacking troops (Picture 1). The attack took place at John's Gate to the south of the Irish Town. That the part of the city on the right of picture 2, with John's Gate at 6 o'clock. The gateway still stands on the grounds of St.John's Hospital (Picture 3).

#18thfoot #royalirishregiment #williamitewar #ireland

Picture Credits; Pictures 1 & 2 https://www.askaboutireland.ie/ Picture 3 http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2017/08/johns-gate-and-mediaeval-walls-still.html

[umichenginabroad]

Week 6 in Limerick

Hey, guys, it’s Katie again, here to talk about my last full week at the University of Limerick.

Monday: Nina figured out over the weekend that the acid was causing an exothermic reaction in the sludge, so it was nice to know that for today. I started the reactor as usual, but it was making the same weird clicking noise, so Nina looked at it and determined that the stirrer was the problem. She managed to fix it, but also let me know that it’s not a major problem for the experiment. I collected my sample from today’s experiment as usual, but I also had samples from previous trials that were put in an oven to test for ash content, so I could weigh the crucibles and find the ash percentage in each one. It was great to have this data for the three procedures I’ve used the past few weeks because I could finally compare them to each other.

Tuesday: I took the day off to go to a concert in the evening, which meant I didn’t have time to run a full experiment that day with the time I have in lab. Pascale and I left for Dublin around 2:30, then hopped on a train to Malahide to see Florence and the Machine perform. We got dinner and drinks while we watched the opening acts, Nell Mescal and CMAT. Florence started performing around 9:00, and we went into the crowd to get a better view and dance to the music. I don’t listen to them much, but they played a lot of good songs, including a few I know. Florence was also so passionate about performing, and that energy was very invigorating. We left the concert around 11:15, and that’s when stuff got difficult. Pascale and I did not realize that the last bus from Dublin to Limerick was at 11:45, so we missed it and had to stay overnight at a hostel in Dublin. This was nerve-wracking, but we were glad to have somewhere safe to stay at the end, and the concert was definitely worth it.

Left: The hydrochar samples from the past few weeks. Right: Florence and the Machine concert.

Wednesday: Today was a bit more difficult in lab because I was tired and feeling some residual stress from the past night. I got the experiment done okay, with some new white sludge that has a higher phosphorus content, but I felt tense and down on myself for making a big mistake with transport after the concert, which made my smaller mistakes from today feel a lot worse. After lab, I went for a short run, which helped clear my head and make me feel a lot better. 

Thursday and Friday were pretty similar in that I ran the same procedure both days, using white sludge at 190 degrees for 30 minutes, then adding acid and running the reactor again at 80 degrees for 30 minutes.

Saturday: Today, Pascale and I went to Cork and Blarney. We left early so we would have time to explore more. First, we went to the English Market, which is basically an indoor farmers market. We got lunch there and looked at the different vendors, then we hopped on a bus to Blarney Castle. We didn’t go inside the castle because the line to kiss the stone was way too long, so we explored the grounds instead. Near the castle, there were the Poison Gardens, which had some carnivorous and poisonous plants growing in the area. Then, we checked out the Rock Close, a wooded area set on an old druid encampment. There were a lot of cool landmarks here, including a stone which, according to legend, traps the Witch of Blarney during the day. I liked this area a lot because it felt very mystical and connected to the pre-Christian roots of Ireland. Afterwards, we went on a hike along the trails, which took us close to a pretty lake. At the end of the hike, we went into a cave system right next to the castle, which was once used as an escape route during one of the castle’s sieges. After getting back to Blarney, we explored the area near the bus stop for a little while before catching the next one back to Limerick.

Top left: Blarney Castle. Top right: View of Cork City. Bottom left: Pascale and I by the lake. Bottom right: Witch's Stone.

Sunday: Today was a more relaxed day until the late afternoon, when the four of us went to meet Grainne, the director of Arcadia Abroad in Ireland, for dinner. It was nice to catch up with her and tell her about how the program went for the past few weeks, since we are now at the end of it, unfortunately. We went to a nice restaurant named Coqbull in Limerick, which had good food and a nice atmosphere. I am super grateful for all the work Grainne and the rest of the Arcadia crew have done to organize this program for us.

Grainne and the Arcadia STEM crew at the goodbye dinner

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1690 – Siege of Limerick commences when William of Orange encamps just outside the walls of the old city, with an army of about 26,000; the Irish defenders were similar in number though not nearly as well armed.

The Williamite War (1689-1691) did not go well for the Jacobites. Crushing defeats of troops supporting King James II at the Siege of Derry in December 1688 and the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 had forced the Jacobites to retreat west to Limerick and Galway. William of Orange, at the head of the Williamite army pursued them, reaching the city of Limerick on this date in 1690. The Jacobites,…

[margridarnauds]

Me excitedly waiting for the Siege of Limerick because I want to point out all the places I've been to to my mom and point out the tunnels. "LOOK, MOM, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE."

A redeeming point of this documentary is hearing Essex described as "one of Elizabeth's fancy boys"

[oldcurrencyexchange]

Book Review: Gunmoney (The Emergency Coinage of 1689-1691 for the Irish Campaign of James II)

Book Review: Gunmoney (The Emergency Coinage of 1689-1691 for the Irish Campaign of James II)

Introduction:

I don’t usually review books on Irish coinage but this one is an exceptional piece of work by Philip Timmins – one of Ireland’s leading experts on James II’s Gunmoney. There has, for many decades, been a lack of any indepth reference on this extensive series of fiat coinage and this book is, in my opinion, a refreshing change.

Gunmoney was, for along time, readily available in bulk…

[bookloversofbath]

The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First Thoroughbred :: Jeremy James

The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First Thoroughbred :: Jeremy James

The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First Thoroughbred :: Jeremy James soon to be presented for sale on the astounding BookLovers of Bath web site! Ludlow: Merlin Unwin Books, 2005, Hardback in dust wrapper. Includes: Black & white photographs; Chronological tables (1); Maps to the lining papers; Glossary of Turkish words; From the cover: In 1678, a beautiful mahogany bay Karaman colt is…

[cdgrayofficial]

Under Siege

When the tower was under siege I went over to talk to my liege Could only hear the guns ‘boom’ Fear we’re headed straight for the tomb Without recognition or prestige

- C.D. Gray ©

30-day challenge; write 30 poems prompted by a new word.

Day 19/30

Word: Liege

[dutch-and-flemish-painters]

Jan Wyck - The Battle of the Boyne, 1 July 1690 - 

oil on panel, Height: 76.2 cm (30 in); Width: 106.7 cm (42 in)

National Army Museum, London, UK

The Battle of the Boyne  was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, versus those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and James's daughter), had acceded to the Crowns of England and Scotland in 1689. The battle took place across the River Boyne close to the town of Drogheda in the Kingdom of Ireland, modern-day Republic of Ireland, and resulted in a victory for William. This turned the tide in James's failed attempt to regain the British crown and ultimately aided in ensuring the continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland.

The battle took place on 1 July 1690 O.S. William's forces defeated James's army, which consisted mostly of raw recruits. Although the Williamite War in Ireland continued until the signing of the Treaty of Limerick in October 1691, James fled to France after the Boyne, never to return.

Jan Wyck (also Jan Wiyck or Jan Wick) (29 October 1645 – 17 May 1702) was a Dutch baroque painter, best known for his works on military subjects. There are still over 150 of his works known to be in existence.

As the son of a fairly successful artist, it is likely Wyck was painting and drawing from a young age. Enjoying the patronage of the Duke of Ormond Wyck was known as the best landscape painter in London by 1686. By the time William III of England ascended to the throne, Wyck was also enjoying the patronage of the Duke of Monmouth. He painted a portrait of Monmouth on horseback in the 1670s, as well as many depictions of him in battle, such as at the Siege of Maastricht in 1673, and at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679.

Wyck was placed upon the committee of Acting Painters of the Painter-Stainers' Company on 24 November 1680, which was a recognition of his rising talent. He first made a public name for himself when he accompanied fellow Dutch painter Dirk Maas to Ireland to paint the campaigns of William III. Maas had received a commission from King William to paint the Battle of the Boyne, and, although it is not known if he was also present at the battle, Wyck also painted many scenes from the battle. Throughout the 1690s, he is known to have created at least half a dozen oils of the battle, as well as countless battle pieces, encampments and equestrian portraits of soldiers before battle.

William was impressed with his work, and commissioned him to paint himself, which he did many times, often in equestrian poses. William had soon also called upon Wyck to depict countless scenes of his campaigns throughout the low countries during the Nine Years' War (also known as King William's War), including the Siege of Namur, and the Siege of Naarden.

Other scenes he painted include the Siege of Derry (1689), and the horse and battle portion of Godfrey Kneller's famous portrait of the Duke of Schomberg, who had been killed at the Battle of the Boyne.

Wyck's works are notable for their flair and colour, as well as the excellent attention to detail. He highlights features such as flourishing sabres, firing muskets, flaring horses nostrils and cannons spouting flames. But most importantly he brought the viewer into the battle at a time when the prevailing trend was to present birds-eye views over a battle, showing disposition and locations of troop formations. He personalised the soldiers, and created an atmospheric presentation of the scenes depicted. He also celebrated notable commanders and recognisable figures within his works, a feature that made him popular with those commissioning works.

[bantarleton]

The Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blue and Orange

Around the year 1733 the officers of The King’s Own Regiment of Foot, soon to be listed as the 4th Regiment of Foot, founded a society called “The Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blue and Orange.” Its purpose, besides regimental camaraderie, was to commemorate the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the accession of the House of Hanover to the throne of Great Britain in 1714. When William III had first landed in England in 1688 the regiment, then known as The Queen’s Regiment, had been one of the first to defect from James II’s army and swear loyalty to William. In return they received as their badge a crowned lion. They fought for William at the battle of the Boyne and participated in the sieges of Cork, Kinsale and Limerick. In 1746 they were also the most instrumental British regiment on the battlefield at Culloden. 

The Society of the Blue and Orange held four formal dinners a year to commemorate the Revolution, the Ascension, and the battles of the Boyne and Culloden. The last recorded meeting occurring in Egypt in 1801. Membership was not restricted to the 4th and its members wore a gold medal suspended by two narrow ribbons of orange and blue. Perhaps the group’ s most famous moment came when 68 members of the society held a raucous celebration of the birthday of Queen Charlotte in Boston just months prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution. The events were known by the 4th’s officers as “our great Blue and Orange Day.” 

During the First World War some members of the former 4th Regiment wore orange and blue shoulder marks as their unit identification markings. The activities of the Society today continue via the Grand Orange Lodge of England.