Shane Bernagh
Encyclopedia
Shane Bernagh Donnelly was a rapparee
local to the Cappagh
and Altmore
area of County Tyrone
during the 17th century who would use his the mountains as a vantage point to launch daring hold ups on carriages passing through the area on the main Dublin to Derry
road nearby.
Local legend has it that the highwayman assisted impoverished locals with his robberies, mainly from English gentry and English
soldiers. A barracks was built in the Altmore area in an attempt to curb his activities but to little avail. Because of this Bernagh has over time become a local legend in the mould of Robin Hood
who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. He was eventually captured and executed by the English. His body was cast into a lough at the summit of Slieve Beagh, which straddles the counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan. He was immortalised further by the local scholar Dr. George Sigerson in his popular ballad "The Mountains of Pomeroy" and by local Irish
poet John Montague
in his poem "A Lost Tradition". There is a small rocky area on the outskirts of Cappagh and Altmore called Shane Bernagh's Chair, called so as it is shaped like a chair. It received its fame from the highwayman, who used the rugged mountain area to hide out and launch his next attack on his unsuspecting victims.
A verse from John Montague's "A Lost Tradition"
Rapparee
Rapparees were Irish guerrilla fighters who operated on the Jacobite side during the 1690s Williamite war in Ireland. Subsequently the name was also given to bandits and highwaymen in Ireland - many former guerrillas having turned to crime after the war was over...
local to the Cappagh
Cappagh
Cappagh is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is between Pomeroy, Ballygawley, Galbally and Carrickmore, with the hamlet of Galbally about one mile to the east...
and Altmore
Altmore
Altmore is a hamlet and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is five miles from Carrickmore and four miles from Pomeroy. Most of the community consists of farmers who make their livelihood in cattle and pig farming...
area of County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
during the 17th century who would use his the mountains as a vantage point to launch daring hold ups on carriages passing through the area on the main Dublin to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
road nearby.
Local legend has it that the highwayman assisted impoverished locals with his robberies, mainly from English gentry and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
soldiers. A barracks was built in the Altmore area in an attempt to curb his activities but to little avail. Because of this Bernagh has over time become a local legend in the mould of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. He was eventually captured and executed by the English. His body was cast into a lough at the summit of Slieve Beagh, which straddles the counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Monaghan. He was immortalised further by the local scholar Dr. George Sigerson in his popular ballad "The Mountains of Pomeroy" and by local Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
poet John Montague
John Montague
John Montague may refer to:*John Montague , Irish poet and writer*John Montague , baseball relief pitcher*John Montague , golfer and con man...
in his poem "A Lost Tradition". There is a small rocky area on the outskirts of Cappagh and Altmore called Shane Bernagh's Chair, called so as it is shaped like a chair. It received its fame from the highwayman, who used the rugged mountain area to hide out and launch his next attack on his unsuspecting victims.
The heathery gap where the Rapparee, Shane Bernagh, saw his brother die. On a summer's day the dying sun stained its colours to crimson. So breaks the heart, Brish-mo-Cree.
A verse from John Montague's "A Lost Tradition"