2006 marks the year when my native County Wicklow “celebrates” the 400th anniversary of its creation as a Shire (an Administrative Region). “Celebrate” is an odd word for it. In the face of commercialism and the incompetent bureaucracy of the local county council however its probably inevitable the event would be celebrated for the cash it will drag in from tourism…

The truth of the matter is that its the 400th aniversary of the final defeat of the local O’Byrne, O’Kavanagh and O’Toole clans in their incessant resistance against the invasion of the Normans/English. These clans controlled most of the county, and defeated all comers who dared attempted to take over their lands, or impose the rule of some foreign ruler.

Of course the defeat led to the Irish clans losing most of their lands – booted out in favour of whichever Lords were in favour at the time. In the years that followed the persecution of we rebellious Catholic peasants only grew worse.

Definitely not something I would be “celebrating” in 2006 with festivities and special events…

No related posts.