Page 5 - A Ancient East (complete)_Neat

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English (Protestants) at the beginning of the 17 century. By then the monarchy
appointed English Deputies instead of a local viceroy and the final subjugation of
the Gaelic tribes began in earnest. The newcomers built most of the existing ma-
terial remains that we see today, and the timing of establishment tends to mark the
process of the final encroachment into the area (e.g. Powerscourt Estate (1609),
Huntington Castle (1624) and Wicklow Gaol (early 1700s)).

What we don’t see are the dwellings and fortifications of the Irish. Where, for
example, is the stronghold or rath of Art MacMurrough who confronted King
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Richard II on his expeditions to Ireland at the end of the 14 century? And where
is the great house of Fiach McHugh O’Byrne, firebrand of Wicklow, who defeat-
ed Elizabeth’s English army in Glenmalure in 1580? And where is the fort of the
O’Tooles, who owned Powerscourt before the coming of the Wingfields?

They are all invisible. All these structures are underground. They are either built
over; covered by woodland or brush or are simply marked by residual bumps and
dips in isolated fields. These buildings were the focal points of the native peoples
of the south-east. Not only are their material remains ignored, the story of the
final domination of the area comes from the vantage-point of the invaders.

The final cry of the natives themselves arose from the quills of Gaelic poets of the
region, which survive in the book of the O’Byrnes. Other than this source, little
remains except for several large modern engraved stones scattered throughout the
region. It seems that today, we—including Irish institutions—happily ignore the
history of these lost tribes. Is this the final act of submission to the original de-
sires of the invaders who set out to eliminate the civilisation, history and even the
memories of the native people in this area? Without doubt, countless numbers in
Ireland and amongst the Irish diaspora have sprung from the Gaelic tribes of the
south-east and should have the same access to their history and heritage as any
other group. It is—without doubt—time to rectify the situation. But how?

Filling a conspicuous gap

There are many ways to bridge the gap in Ireland’s Ancient East initiative, rang-
ing from the ambitious to the less elaborate. Given enough resources it might be
worth considering the establishment of a museum of Gaelic tribes in a town like
Rathdrum which is within easy reach of prominent venues like Powerscourt
(O’Toole lands), Huntington Castle (formerly a MacMurrough holding) and Bor-
ris House (the only big house which is still owned by the descendants of the Mac-
Murrough-Kavanagh chiefs). Rathdrum also has easy access to Glenmalure
(O’Byrne stronghold and the scene of the battle of Wicklow’s firebrand Fiach
McHugh O’Byrne against Lord Grey in 1580). It is relatively close to the valleys
of the poets (Pallis and Loggan). Given the development of Coillte’s property at

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