Sir, I refer to Richard Roche's "Irishman's Diary" (May 6th) he omitted the most prominent `98 Wexford historian namely, Nicholas Furlong. Also to Donall O'Moran's letter (May 10th) regarding Scullabogue.
The historical accounts which focus on the massacre of Protestants and Catholics at Scullabogue and which highlight the supposed sectarian angle of these events are reductionist. The sectarian interpretation was a propagandist device conceived to alienate Northern Presbyterian and liberal Protest.ant opinion from the United Irish organisation. The propagandist development of a sectarian bloodbath in Wexford struck its purpose and still does.
The narrative of the 1798 rebellion has always suffered from an excessive concentration on its lamentable phases. It was the most concentrated episode of war in Ireland. Over 30,000 died. It was not a sectarian jacquerie. Wexford was one of the most highly politicised counties in the 1790s. Over 22,000 signatures were collected at the time of the Fitzwilliam two month tenure episode in 1795. The United Irishmen, bearers of the Enlightenment, set out to unite Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.
Some historians have argued that what the massacre at Scullabogue represented to the United Irishmen was their inability to transcend the inherited politics of religion in Ireland. Another historian has put forward the theory that it was a reprisal massacre for the burning of the United Irish Hospital during the Battle of Ross. Both events occurred on the same day. Whatever the motivation, it was a tragic departure from the United Irish ideals of Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite
In 1998 County Wexford will memorialise the incident at Scullabogue. The commemoration will be suitable, dignified and appropriate. Hopefully, this disastrous incident will then pass into history and out of the realm of propaganda. Yours, etc., Old Ross, Co Wexford.