Séamus Mór Mac Mhurchaidh
Encyclopedia
Séamus Mór Mac Mhurchaidh, (alias Mac Murphy), Irish
poet
and outlaw
, 1720-1750.
, and in 1740 the leader of a strong band of raparees.
, in County Armagh
, about 1720. The Mac Murchadha
clan were the original kings of the Fews, until the Clan Aodh Buidhe (Clandeboye
) Ó Néill invaded in the 13th and 14th century, displaceing the clan from Caledon into The Fews.
His father's name is unknown; his mother was Aine. A grandfather was said to have been killed at the Battle of Aughrim
in 1691. Séamus Mór had four sisters; one of whom, Aillidh, who was married to Mr. Duffy, a nephew of the poet Niall Óge Mac Murchadha, to whom he was closely related. No brother of Séamus Mór is mentioned.
He was noted as a handsome
man, and used to introduce himself to his victims as Mise Seumus 'A' Mhurchaidh is deise 'bhfuil in Eirinn/Meet Seumus Mac Murphy, the handsomest man in Ireland.
He had a reputation as a great drinker and a charming companion of many women. Yet was over-indulgence in drink and promiscuity
that were to lead to his downfall.
, a fellow-poet with whom he founded a school of Gaelic poetry. They held regular sessions at Dunreavy Wood and Mullaghbane. In the summer of 1744, Mac Mhurchaidh and O'Doirnin organised a monster meeting on Slieve Gullion
to motivate the people for the expected arrival of the Young Pretender.
since at least 1740. His main adversary was John Johnson of Roxborough, know as Johnson of the Fews, a tóraidhe
hunter (see "The MacShane
O'Neills" in O'Neill Dynasty
).
or inn
at Flagstaff (or Upper Fathom?), a mountion route to Omeath
, owned by Patsy MacDecker, known as Paddy of the Mountion. The area remains particularly remote even in the 21st century, and in the 1740s was the perfect hideaway for raparees.
Mac Mhurchaidh became a lover of Mac Decker's daughter, Molly. However, the affair was tempestous; after a fierce argument and breck-up, Molly swore revenge on Mac Murphy. To this end, she plyed Ó Doirnín with drink one eveining, and inveigled him to compose a satirical poem about Johnson, which he called The Heretic Headhunter. She took the poem to Johnson, saying Mac Mhurchaidh was the author. Johnson was angry at this breech of their truce. Molly was offered fifty pounds by Johnson to trap Mac Mhurchaidh.
However, another version lays the blame on a lieutenant of Mac Mhurchaidh, Art Fearon, who wished to ingratiate himself with Molly. This version claims that he told her in-depth stories about infidelities Mac Mhurchaidh had with other women. Paddy of the Mountion decieded to take advantage of the fifty pounds offered as reward money, and joined the scheme. On the Saturday night before the patten
of Killeavy, Mac Mhurchaidh was to spend the night at the inn; the Mac Decker's were to get him insensibly drunk and off-guard.
However it came about, Johnson and his men caught Mac Mhurchaidh at Mac Decker's inn, sometime late in 1749 or early in 1750.
, before been tried, found guilty and sentenced to execution. He is said to have had not fear on the day and forgave all who helped his capture, including Molly. His body was left hanging for three days before it was taken down, waked for two nights at his mother's barn in Carnally, before been buried in Creggan churchyard. In 1973, Jem Murphy, a descendant of the family, erected a memorial headstone
to all the Mac Mhurchaidh's and Séamus Mór.
Paddy MacDecker is said to have received his blood money at Armagh
in copper coin, so disgusted with the authorities with him. Folk legend has it that the effort of carrying the reward twenty miles home caused him to die within sight of his home.
Molly MacDecker became ostracised by her community, and became mentally ill. She eventually drowned herself.
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
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
, 1720-1750.
Biography
Mac Mhurchaidh was a tóraidhe or rappareeRapparee
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...
, and in 1740 the leader of a strong band of raparees.
Origins
He was born at Carnally, Creggan parish, near CrossmaglenCrossmaglen
Crossmaglen or Crosmaglen is a village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,459 people in the 2001 Census and is the largest village in south Armagh...
, in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, about 1720. The Mac Murchadha
Mac Murchadha
-Origins:Mac Murchaidh was the surname of a branch of the Cenél nEógain. They were originally native to the district of Muintir Birn and Tellach Ainbhith in Tír Eoghain, where they were chiefs of Siol Aodha...
clan were the original kings of the Fews, until the Clan Aodh Buidhe (Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
) Ó Néill invaded in the 13th and 14th century, displaceing the clan from Caledon into The Fews.
His father's name is unknown; his mother was Aine. A grandfather was said to have been killed at the Battle of Aughrim
Battle of Aughrim
The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691 , near the village of Aughrim in County Galway....
in 1691. Séamus Mór had four sisters; one of whom, Aillidh, who was married to Mr. Duffy, a nephew of the poet Niall Óge Mac Murchadha, to whom he was closely related. No brother of Séamus Mór is mentioned.
He was noted as a handsome
Handsome
Handsome is the debut album of the Ian Dury rock group Kilburn and the High-Roads.The band had apparently originally wanted to call the album No Hand Signals.-Original album:# "The Roadette Song" - 3:25...
man, and used to introduce himself to his victims as Mise Seumus 'A' Mhurchaidh is deise 'bhfuil in Eirinn/Meet Seumus Mac Murphy, the handsomest man in Ireland.
He had a reputation as a great drinker and a charming companion of many women. Yet was over-indulgence in drink and promiscuity
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
that were to lead to his downfall.
Association with Ó Doirnín
His close friend was Peadar Ó DoirnínPeadar Ó Doirnín
-Biography:Ó Doirnín is one of the most celebrated of the Ulster poets in the eighteenth century and along with Art Mac Cumhaigh, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song...
, a fellow-poet with whom he founded a school of Gaelic poetry. They held regular sessions at Dunreavy Wood and Mullaghbane. In the summer of 1744, Mac Mhurchaidh and O'Doirnin organised a monster meeting on Slieve Gullion
Slieve Gullion
Slieve Gullion is a mountain in the south of County Armagh in Northern Ireland. The mountain forms the core of the Ring of Gullion and stands as the highest point in the county with an elevation of 573 metres...
to motivate the people for the expected arrival of the Young Pretender.
Raparee
The two were active Jacobites in the years up to the 1745 rebellion; Mac Mhurchaidh was an active rappareeRapparee
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...
since at least 1740. His main adversary was John Johnson of Roxborough, know as Johnson of the Fews, a tóraidhe
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
hunter (see "The MacShane
MacShane
MacShane is a patronymic surname originating in Ireland. The surname evolved from the given name Shane, a derivative of John, of Hebrew origin. Early records spelled the name Mac Seáin or Mac Seagháin. Historically, the MacShanes from Ulster are a branch of the O'Neills, while in County Kerry, the...
O'Neills" in O'Neill Dynasty
O'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
).
A truce
In the summer of 1744, as a result of the unrest caused by the Slieve Gullion meeting, Johnson was attacked and very seriously wounded. Though he survived, he met with Mac Mhurchaidh and Ó Doirnín, where they agreed to a "an uneasy truce."Molly MacDecker
Mac Mhurchaidh and Ó Doirnín often attended a sibínShebeen
A shebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages were sold without a licence.The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland, to Scotland, Canada, the United States, England,...
or inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
at Flagstaff (or Upper Fathom?), a mountion route to Omeath
Omeath
Omeath is a village on the R173 regional road in County Louth, Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. It is roughly mid way between Dublin and Belfast, very near the County Louth and County Armagh / County Down border. Omeath has a population of 439, and is approximately from...
, owned by Patsy MacDecker, known as Paddy of the Mountion. The area remains particularly remote even in the 21st century, and in the 1740s was the perfect hideaway for raparees.
Mac Mhurchaidh became a lover of Mac Decker's daughter, Molly. However, the affair was tempestous; after a fierce argument and breck-up, Molly swore revenge on Mac Murphy. To this end, she plyed Ó Doirnín with drink one eveining, and inveigled him to compose a satirical poem about Johnson, which he called The Heretic Headhunter. She took the poem to Johnson, saying Mac Mhurchaidh was the author. Johnson was angry at this breech of their truce. Molly was offered fifty pounds by Johnson to trap Mac Mhurchaidh.
However, another version lays the blame on a lieutenant of Mac Mhurchaidh, Art Fearon, who wished to ingratiate himself with Molly. This version claims that he told her in-depth stories about infidelities Mac Mhurchaidh had with other women. Paddy of the Mountion decieded to take advantage of the fifty pounds offered as reward money, and joined the scheme. On the Saturday night before the patten
Patten
-People:*Alice Patten, English actress, daughter of Chris Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes*Arthur B. Patten, American clergyman and author of books, hymn texts and poems*Barry Patten , Australian Olympic alpine skier and architect...
of Killeavy, Mac Mhurchaidh was to spend the night at the inn; the Mac Decker's were to get him insensibly drunk and off-guard.
However it came about, Johnson and his men caught Mac Mhurchaidh at Mac Decker's inn, sometime late in 1749 or early in 1750.
Trial and aftermath
Séamus Mór Mac Mhurchaidh spent eight months in prison in NewryNewry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, before been tried, found guilty and sentenced to execution. He is said to have had not fear on the day and forgave all who helped his capture, including Molly. His body was left hanging for three days before it was taken down, waked for two nights at his mother's barn in Carnally, before been buried in Creggan churchyard. In 1973, Jem Murphy, a descendant of the family, erected a memorial headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
to all the Mac Mhurchaidh's and Séamus Mór.
Paddy MacDecker is said to have received his blood money at Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
in copper coin, so disgusted with the authorities with him. Folk legend has it that the effort of carrying the reward twenty miles home caused him to die within sight of his home.
Molly MacDecker became ostracised by her community, and became mentally ill. She eventually drowned herself.
External links
- http://creggan.armagh.anglican.org/second.html
- http://creggan.armagh.anglican.org/fourth.html
- http://www.newryjournal.co.uk/content/view/275/31/
- http://creggan1.tripod.com/CregGui2a.htm
- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxnYXBvdGhlbm9ydGh8Z3g6NTdlMmYwMzE4ZTNkYmYzNw