The Roddy McCorley Society

Images from the grounds of The Roddys club, Glen Road, Belfast, with memorials to McCorley (“In memory of Rody McCorley who was hanged here for his part in the rising of 1798 ‘The dead who died for Ireland, let not their memory die””), the deceased 1981 hunger strikers, the earlier 20th century hunger strikers (Thomas Ashe, Michael Fitzgerald, Terence MacSwiney, Joseph Murphy, Joseph Whitty, Denis Bary, Andrew Sullivan, Tony D’Arcy, Jack McNeela, Sean McCaughey, Michael Gaughan, Frank Stagg), Lenadoon deaths (Tony Henderson, Tony Jordan, John Finucane, Laura Crawford, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Mairead Farrell, Bridie Quinn, Patricia Black), Billy ‘Red’ Higgins founder member/president of the club, IRA volunteers from Lenadoon, “to the Irish men and Irish women who gave their lives in the rebellion of 1798”. Roddy McCorley, a Protestant member of the United Irishmen, is best known by the song written about his hanging at the bridge of Toome in 1800. (Here’s a version by Tommy Makem.)

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Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
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The Battle Of Antrim

The Battle of Antrim took place on June 7th, 1798, as part of the Irish Rebellion of that summer. Led in the North by the Protestant Henry Joy McCracken, the rebellion met with initial successes in smaller towns, before failing in Antrim. British soldiers can be seen in the distance.

The Roddy’s club, Glen Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
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Let Not Their Memory Die

Presbyterian Roddy McCorley was executed on 28 February, 1800, and his name is famous due to a ballad written by Ethna Carbery (sung here by Tommy Makem).

“In memory of Rody McCorley who was hanged here for his part in the Rising of 1798. Those who died for Ireland, let not their memory die.” “I gcuımhne Ruaırí Mhıc Thoırdheallıagh a crochadh annseo as a bheıth páırteach ı nÉırghe Amach 1798. Iad sıúd a dhéag ar son na hÉıreann go mhaırıdh a gchú go deo.”

Moneynick Road, Toome

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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The Teeling Family And The United Irishmen

This monument is between Pantridge Road and Stewartstown Road on the Michael Ferguson Roundabout (Ferguson was a Protestant republican and MLA for West Belfast (An Phoblacht)). From top to bottom: the harp of the United Irishmen with the slogan “Equality. It is new strung and shall be heard”; a pikeman; an Easter lily; “Erin go brách.” and finally the dedication: “Erected by the people of Twinbrook and Poleglass to commemorate the Teeling family and the United Irishmen in this Bi-Centennial Year. 1798-1998.” Bartholomew Teeling is included in a Twinbrook mural alongside modern-day IRA volunteers (Twinbrook Final Salute); he was a United Irishman from Lisburn (Rebel Breeze has a full account of his deeds). Charles Teeling was a journalist and founder of the Northern Herald, among others (WP).

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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United Irishmen 1791-1798

Images from inside Kelly’s Cellars in Belfast city centre, with portraits of Henry Joy McCracken and Theobald Wolfe Tone. ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ is Thomas Russell, an Anglican from Cork who joined the British navy and then the cause of the United Irishmen and the Emmet rebellion. He was executed for treason after the rising in October, 1803 (video of the full poem by Florence WilsonIrish News account of his death).

There is also a “blue plaque” on the exterior wall.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Out Of The Ashes Of 1798

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“I ndıl chuımhne – this plaque is dedicated to all those from the greater Newington area who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in this country.” Pikemen from the 1798 uprising flank a phoenix, with portraits above of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly, Henry Joy McCracken, and Mary Ann McCracken.

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
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Twinbrook Final Salute

Three generations of republicans, from the Troubles, the Rising, and the Rebellion, salute “F[rankie] Ryan, B[obby] Sands, J[ohn] Rooney, G[erard] Fennell, B[artholomew] Teeling”. The first four are modern IRA volunteers; the last is a United Irishman from Lisburn (Rebel Breeze has a full account of his deeds).

For an unspoiled view, see J0194.

Juniper Way, Twinbrook, Dunmurry

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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