Duelling exhibition should prove a draw at barracks

THE MODERN Irish man prefers to settle a dispute in a court of law but it was a different story in the 1800s when gentlemen resorted to duels at the drop of a white handkerchief.

Ireland's rich history in duelling is not well known, but that should change when a new exhibition is opened by the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks next week.

The Blaze Awayexhibition will also highlight Ireland's illustrious gun and sword-making past.

At least 19 companies were making duelling pistols in Dublin in the early 1800s.

The Rigbys of Suffolk Street were Ireland's best-known gun makers while Reads of Parliament Street were renowned sword makers.

Some 45 swords and 35 pistols will be on display at the year-long exhibition, which opens on December 3rd.

Military history curator Lar Joye said the museum decided to put on the exhibition because of the huge public interest whenever duelling was mentioned at the museum.

He said duelling reached its peak in Ireland between 1780 and 1820. Research by Prof James Kelly of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, shows that, in a sample of 306 Irish duels fought between 1771 and 1790, there were 65 instant deaths and 16 mortal wounds. Less than a third ended without injury.

Prof Kelly's book This Damn'd Thing Called Honour - Duelling in Ireland 1570-1860provides much of the material for the exhibition.

While films usually portray a lady's virtue to be the prime reason for a duel, it seems Irish men did not get so exercised about this matter. Insults accounted for the vast majority of duels between 1771 and 1810, followed by politics and, trailing in third place, women.

The exhibition will also refer to the memoirs of retired judge Sir Jonah Barrington. He fought a duel as a young man but merely succeeded in shooting the brooch on his opponent's chest.

Barrington wrote that duelling was "a necessary piece of a young man's education". The first two questions often asked of a suitor concerned his pedigree and his duelling skills.

The pistol was the weapon of choice for duellists in Sligo, Roscommon and Tipperary while Galway men preferred the sword. Dextrous Mayo folk were equally adept at handling both weapons.

The most notorious Irish duel involved Daniel O'Connell, who killed John Norcot d'Esterre after the latter challenged him on hearing that he had described Dublin Corporation as a "beggarly corporation". It was said that O'Connell never forgave himself for the death.

Visitors to the exhibition will also see the "26 commandments" of duelling, drawn up in Clonmel in 1777. The rules stated that any insult to a lady "under a gentleman's care" should be considered to be a greater offence "by one degree" than if given to the gentleman.