Since the late 1400s Irishmen have been recruited for military service in Europe in small regiments who served until the later part of the eighteenth century.
Thomond’s 54th and last king was Murrough O’Brien, who under duress was the first Irish Chief / King to surrender his Irish title and clan lands in 1543 to English King Henry VIII, who regranted the lands to Murrough and created him Earl Thomond for life, and Baron Inchiquin for his descendants. Murrough’s nephew became the 2nd Earl of Thomond and Baron Ibracken which continued through his descendants.
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| Irish mercenaries in Europe, 1510 |
1st Viscount Sir Daniel O’Brien
A branch of the O’Brien Clan lived at Carrigaholt in County Clare. Daniel served in many conflicts for Ireland at home and abroad during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and was wounded many times. For his service to the Crown, he was knighted by the Queen on 1 July 1604, at Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland, and granted large tracts of land in County Clare and had former lands in Counties Clare and Limerick restored to him that the family had lost during Cromwell’s term in power. Sir Daniel served in the Irish Parliament in 1613, and was a member of the Supreme Council of the Catholic Confederates. In 1662 on 11 July, Sir Daniel was created Viscount of Clare and Baron Moyarta in the peerage by King Charles II. Sir Daniel was the third and youngest son of 3rd Earl Thomond, Cornelius O’Brien and his wife Una O’Brien. Cornelius’ father was Donongh “The Fat” O’Brien (d: 1553), whose father was the 53rd and last king of Thomond, Conor Ó Briain. Daniel died in 1666.
CHILDREN
- Donogh O’Brien –
- Conor O’Brien – 2nd Viscount Clare. Married Honoria O’Brien.
- Murrogh O’Brien –
- Teige O’Brien -
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| Irish mercenary bagpiper, 1514 |
2nd Viscount Conor O’Brien
Conor O’Brien succeeded his father as 2nd Viscount Clare upon the death of his father in 1666, whose wife, Lady Catherine Fitzgerald (daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl Desmond and Eleonar Butler), survived him. Conor, who was born in 1605, married to Honora O’Brien (daughter of Daniel O’Brien and Ellen FitzGerald [daughter of the Knight of Glin]) and died in 1670.[i]
CHILDREN
- Daniel O’Brien - 3rd Viscount Clare. Married Philadelphia Lennard. He died 1691.
- Honora O’Brien - Married John FitzGerald, 13th Knight of Kerry.)
3rd Viscount Daniel O’Brien
The 3rd Viscount Clare was Daniel O’Brien (named for his grandfather) who was one of the chief supporters of King James II (who was a younger brother to Charles, and ascended the English throne on the execution of Charles II) and a member of the privy council beginning in 1684. Daniel succeeded to his father’s honors in 1670, and was also Lord Lieutenant of County Clare. Daniel married Philadelphia Leonard/Lennard, daughter Duke (Lord Dacre) Francis Leonard/Lennard, and sister of Earl Sussex Thomas Leonard. She gave birth to three children.
A regiment of foot was raised by Daniel in Ireland for service in Holland on 8 August 1674, and designated as Clare’s Regiment of Foot. A year later the commander, Daniel, was replaced by Sir John Fenwick. Clare’s Regiment was renamed the Northumberland Fusiliers in the English army which later was known as the 5th Regiment of Foot. This unit would later serve in the Williamite War in King William of Orange’s army and fight at the Battle of the Boyne.
King Charles II died in1685 and was replaced by his younger brother James II. James was Catholic and this condition was not pleasing to most of the English and Irish nobility who were Protestant. The Queen gave birth to a son in 1688, and became heir to the throne and taught as a Catholic. Finding this situation unfavorable the Protestant nobility approached Mary Stuart, whose husband was William of Orange, the ruler of the Netherlands, and a Protestant. Mary and William came by invitation to England in December 1688, and King James II fled to France where war had broken out earlier in the year between France and European states lead by William of Orange of the Netherlands. Under King James, England supported French King Louis XIV, but now switched sides supporting King William’s interests.[ii]
Ireland’s position was declared by the Earl of Tyrconnell in the support of King James II, except the citizenry of Ulster didn’t like the declaration supporting the Catholics. King Louis XIV was disheartened with the swing in England’s support, was uplifted to hear that Ireland was on his side. To show appreciation the French King supplied the ousted English king French army officers, money, and arms in the hopes that James and his followers would keep William and the English army busy in Ireland.[iii]
March 1689 James and 400 French officers landed at Kinsale by the French Navy. William didn’t arrive in Ireland until June 1690 at Carrickfergus.
Three regiments (about 2600 men) were raised by Daniel O’Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare, to fight in the army of King James II:
Unit Commander
Clare’s Buy (yellow) Dragoons - 3rd Viscount Clare, Daniel O’Brien.
1st Clare Regiment of Foot - Col. Daniel O’Brien (eldest son).
2nd Clare Regiment of Foot - Col. Charles O’Brien (youngest son).
Clare’s Dragoons were the elite of Jacobite army of King James, and were sent to Ulster under the command of Sir James Cotter, and the overall general was Lord Mountcashel Justin McCarthy. The advance Jacobite troops were ambushed by the English at Lisnakea which is in Fermanagh. Drawn up a narrow pass the dragoons were routed by a superior force. Clare’s Dragoons were disbanded and the troops placed into other units. A year later the unit was reorganized and participated in the Battle of the Boyne as one of two regiments of King James’ cavalry that performed poorly.[iv]
Upon defeat at the Boyne in 1691, Lord Clare was outlawed and his estates in Clare forfeited to the Crown. In this same year he died.
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| Banners of Irish Brigade regiments |
CHILDREN
- Daniel O’Brien - 4th Viscount Clare. Colonel of O’Brien’s Regiment in the service of France, was killed in 1693 near Piguerol, Italy. Never married.
- Charles O’Brien – 5th Viscount Clare. Married 9 January 1696, Charlotte Bulkeley. He died in May 1706.
- Honora O’Brien - She died in 1662.
By March 1690 nearly 6000 French troops landed in Cork to lend aid to the Jacobite cause.
Most of the soldiers were mercenary and raw recruits with little experience. The outcome in Ireland might have been different if veteran troops had been sent by France.
Fimoreon Regiment - 1000
Zurhaubens Mercenaries (Swiss, Italian, and German) - 1500
Merodess - 800
La Forest - 900
La Marches - 900
Corvassiers - 900
These French troops were not free. King Louis XIV requested 5000 troops be sent to him, and one of them was Lord Clare’s 1st Clare Regiment (1000 men) commanded by his eldest son, Col. Daniel O’Brien, who joined the other Irish troops under the command of Lord Mountcashel. These 5000 men left Kinsale on 7 August 1690, and arrived on the 23rd at Brest, France, where 500 men were found unfit for duty and returned to Ireland.
Originally the Irishmen were divided into five regiments, but the men of Butler and Fielding were disbanded and joined the regiments of Mountcashel, O’Brien, and Dillon making three regiments that consisted each of two battalions of eight companies; each company comprised of 100 men, and in all there were 4500 men including officers and cadets. The first regiment was commanded by Lord Mountcashel Justin McCarthy, the second by Daniel O’Brien, and the third by Arthur Count Dillon. King Louis had complete control over the Irish Regiments and he paid them an extra half penny a man per day then he did the French army.
Uniforms for the Irish Regiments were cast-off grey, but the Irish immediately protested and demanded that they should be red, the same as the English army. The facings for the jacket and vest were of different colors depending on the regiment. Mountcashel was green, Dillon was black, and Clare was yellow. The regimental colors consisted of the red cross of St. George, fimbrated white overall. In each quarter of the flag was a gold Stuart crown bend ways, and in the center of the cross a gold harp crowned with a Stuart crown, and on the cross arms was the motto in gold, “In hoc signo vinces (In this sign thou salt conquer).” The first and fourth quarter were the color of the regiment’s uniform facings, and the 2nd and 3rd quarter were red.[v] (In 1762 the colors for the uniform facings were; black for Dillon, yellow for Clare, white for Rothe, green for Bulkeley, and red for Berwick. Fitzjames’ cavalry wore blue.)[vi]
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| Clare's Regiment (Clare's Dragoons). |
During the year of 1690 O’Brien’s Regiment was assigned to M. Sainte Ruth and sent on active duty to the Alps to dislodge Count Benex and his 400 men in Savoy that were entrenched on a mountain nearly inaccessible. de Lee ordered that O’Brien’s Irishmen should climb the mountain on the opposite side where they descended down upon the Savoy men charging with their battle-cry. Taken by total surprise hardly a shot was fired, the Savoy men left their artillery and munitions, and scrambled into the surrounding mountains trying to escape. de Lee was promoted to full colonel. From this date on the regiment was engaged in almost every siege and battle that the Wild Geese were a part of.
Meanwhile the conflict in Ireland was not going well for King James and the Jacobites. Col. Charles O’Brien commanded a cavalry regiment during the siege of Limerick.[vii] In 1691 a treaty was signed at Limerick between a defeated James II Stuart and William of Orange. Jacobite soldiers who still carried arms against King William were given the choice to go home, join William’s army, or follow James to France. Over 20,000 men, women, and children made the last choice and were transported to France.
For almost a hundred years the Irish regiments in France, Spain, and Austria needed recruits to replace those troops who died. These recruits were listed as “wild geese” on the ship manifest in the hopes to fool the harbor master who worked for the English Crown.
King William outlawed in 1691 the following O’Briens; 3rd Viscount Daniel O’Brien, his sons Daniel and Charles O’Brien all of Carrigaholt. Murrough O’Brien of Corrofin. Morgan, Conor, and Daniel O’Bryen of Hospital. Daniel O’Brien of Castletown, County Limerick. Teigue O’Brien of Carrowmore, County Sligo.[viii]
Upon arriving in France James II formed an army but didn’t pay much attention to where he placed his men. Many high ranking officers found themselves as privates in the new army. The grey clothing offered to Louis’s Irish army was given to James’ but they quickly dyed them red.
On 4 October 1693, the Battle of Marsaglia, Italy was fought, and mortally wounded was the 3rd Viscount Clare, Daniel O’Brien (whose 56, 931 acres of land in County Clare, Ireland, had been confiscated by King William), Daniel’s eldest son and namesake, Daniel, inherited the title and the French Wild Geese regiment of O’Brien had its name changed from O’Brien to Clare.
5th Viscount Charles O’Brien
Charles O’Brien was one of those who fled to France and he was commissioned a captain in James’ Irish Horse Guards but was soon transferred to the Queen of England’s Dismounted Dragoon’s, commanded by Col. Francis O’Carroll. At the Battle of Marsugen, O’Carroll was killed and Charles was promoted to colonel in October 1693. Sadly though it was in this same year of 1693, that Charles’ older brother, Daniel, died at Piguerol from wounds received during the victory at the Battle of Marsaglia in Italy on 4 October 1693.[ix] On the colonel’s death, Lee was promoted to full colonel and ordered to take permanent command, and stationed in the Piedmont. A few months later Lee was made a Chevalier in the Order of St. Louis, and on 28 July 1694, was transferred to take command of the Regiment of Mountcashel.[x]
With the transfer of Lee, Clare’s Regiment was commanded by Brigadier Richard Talbot, natural son of the Duke of Tyrconnell in Ireland. Talbot incurred the wrath of King Louis in April 1696. He was arrested and sent to the dungeons for a year in the Bastille, and relieved of his command, but returned to service and was killed in battle in 1702.[xi]
Upon the death of the 4th Viscount Clare the title passed to his brother Charles who became the 5th Viscount. Lord Clare was married on 9 January 1696, to Charlotte Bulkeley, eldest daughter of Henry Bulkeley and Sophia Stuart, who was Master of the Household of King Charles II and King James II, at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.[xii]
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| 5th Viscount Clare Charles O'Brien |
By 1698 over one third of King James’ army was either dead or crippled, and when the treaty of Ryswick ended the war between Louis and William, James’ soldiers were disbanded, unemployed, and homeless. Many became beggars but others joined the Irish Brigade in the Spanish army, while others went to Austria and entered the Catholic Corps.
The 5th Viscount Clare had two sons born at Germain-en-laye, France.
CHILDREN
- Charles O’Brien – 6th Viscount Clare. Born 27 March 1699. Married Marchioness Louise Gauthier de Chiffreville. He died in 1761.
- Henry O’Brien – Born 12 February 1701.
Hostilities were renewed and Clare’s Regiment was assigned to the Army of Germany for two years in 1701-02. At the Battle of Cremona, in 1702, the Irishmen defended the town against Prince Eugene and the imperial army. The attack was to be a surprise but the Wild Geese foiled the attempt.[xiv] The following year Lord Clare was promoted to brevet Brigadier of Infantry on 2 April 1703. A few months later on 20 September 1703, the unit took part in the successful Battle of Hochstedt, and a year later was involved with the unsuccessful battle on 13 August 1704, at Hochstedt, better known as Blenheim. Although Clare’s Regiment experienced ups and downs, they were always admired. Two months after Blenheim, Charles rose to the brevet rank of Marshal-de-Camp on 26 October 1704, and a year later Lord Clare was assigned to the Army of the Moselle under the Marshel de Villars. Clare’s Regiment fought in the disastrous Battle of Ramillies on 23 May 1706, but they distinguished themselves with great glory. Sadly Lord Clare was mortally wounded and died at Brussels, Belgium.[xv]
Because the O’Brien’s had risked all but honor and their swords for the Jacobite cause, King Louise XIV didn’t want the regiment to pass from the family, and sense there was an heir (although a minor), the command was given to the regiment’s Lt. Colonel, who was promoted to brevet Colonel with the right to the minor Charles O’Brien to obtain the colonelcy when of age.
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| Colonel 's flag: Clare's Regiment |
Maj. General Murrough O’Brien
The command of Clare’s Regiment was given to Murrough O’Brien of Carrigoginnell, County Limerick, Ireland. His ancestry branches off from the King of Thomond Conor Ó Briain (1406), through his son Brian “Dubh” Ó Briain, who settled in Pubble-Brien, County Limerick, and built a castle on a lofty hill.[xvi]
Murrough had enlisted in the Irish Regiment of Count George Hamilton which passed over to France in 1671. Murrough fought in the sieges of Orsoy and Rhimberg, was at the passage of the Rhine, and the taking of Doesburgh in 1672. A year later he was at the siege of Maestricht in the Netherlands, and promoted to Ensign during 1673. Three years later Hamilton was killed and the Irishmen were transferred to the Regiment of Furstemberg and Greider.[xvii]
Over the next few years Ensign O’Brien fought in many battles and in 1688 was promoted to captain. He was one of the 200 Irishmen that were brought by Lt. Col. Lee to the new Irish regiment called O’Brien in 1690, where he served as a captain until he was promoted to Lt. Colonel on 25 January 1705, and the colonelcy on 11 August. The “Régiment d’ O’Brien” served for several years in six conflicts in Flanders. On 29 March 1710, Murrough was promoted to brevet Brigadier of Infantry. The unit was transferred to the Army of the Rhine in 1713 and fought at the sieges of Landau and Friburgh. On 1 February 1719, a promotion was granted as brevet Maréchal-de-Camp (Major General), which rank he held when he died in July 1720.[xviii]
Murrough is remembered as a man of ability and great bravery who did not received the honors due to him for his gallantry at Palluë and Ramillies, the latter where he captured the only two standards by the French that day.[xix] He had a son, Daniel, who was himself a Colonel of Infantry in the service of France. Daniel was a Chevalier in the Order of St. Lazarus, and given the title of Earl of Lismore and Viscount Tallow (Jacobite Peerage) in 1747, by King James III. Later he was appointed to Grand Cross in the Order of St. Louis in 1750. King James III appointed Daniel as Secretary of State and Minister to the Court at Rome, where he died on 5 November 1759, at the age of 76. Sir Daniel’s son was Lt. Col. 2nd Earl Lismore Sir James Daniel O’Brien (Chevalier de St. Louis), who served in Clare’s Regiment and died without issue before 1789.[xx]
6th Viscount Clare Charles O’Brien
Charles was born on 27 March 1699, and younger brother Henry on 12 February 1701. Young Charles served in Spain in 1719 under his uncle Marshal Duke Berwick. In July 1720 he was given the Colonelcy of Clare’s Regiment on the death of Maréchal-de-Camp Murrough O’Brien, and commissioned on 3 August 1720.[xxi]
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| 6th Viscount Charles O'Brien |
War broke out in 1733 between France and England. Clare’s Regiment was assigned to the Army of the Rhine commanded by Duke Berwick. A year later Lord Clare’s regiment distinguished itself at the siege of Philipsburg, where Charles was wounded in the shoulder from shrapnel when a cannon ball exploded that killed the Marshal Duke of Berwick. Several months later Lord Clare was promoted to brevet Brigadier on 20 February 1734, and four years later he was advanced in rank to brevet Maréchal-de-Camp on 1 March 1738, and Inspector-General on 22 May 1741, and ordered to the Army of Bohemia on 20 July.[xxiii] During this same year his cousin the 8th Earl of Thomond, Henry O’Brien died in 1741, and left £20,000 to Lord Clare, but handed over the title and estate to Murrough O’Brien, eldest son of Earl Inchiquin who was Protestant. However Charles assumed the title of “ Earl Thomond” in France.[xxiv]
Lord Clare became known for his knowledge of strategies which he well displayed in 1743 at the Battle of Dettingen, and in 1745 at the famous battle of Fontenoy which is considered by historians to be the Irish Brigade’s finest hour.
Battle of Fontenoy[xxv]
On the death of Austrian Emperor Charles VI in 1740 there arose what is called the War of the Austrian Succession. France and Prussia were in favor of the Bavarian prince’s claim, while England, the Netherlands, and Austria were supporting Princess Maria Theresa Hapsbourg, daughter of the former emperor.
The final battle was fought on a plateau called Fontenoy some five miles southwest of Tournay. Assembled were some 50,000 troops on both sides. The battle began at 6:00 a.m. on 11 May 1745. Throughout the morning there was heavy fighting with the English and their allies gaining the advantage over the French. The French cavalry made several attempts but failed to break the formidable British square until the Wild Geese rushed upon the scene. The Irishmen were excited to fight England’s elite soldiers, and observers have noted that the Irish regiments seemed to be very formidable when fighting against the English.
Bagpipers led the regiments of Dillon, Clare, Roth, Berwick, Bulkeley, and Lally playing the Jacobite song “The White Cockade.” Calmly advanced the Irish Brigade with level bayonets, and suddenly a ferocious battle-cry rose from the throats of the exiled sons of the Emerald Isle: “Cuimhnigh ar Luimnech agus feall na Sassonach!” (Remember Limerick and Saxon perfidy!) In the van were regiment’s of Dillon and Clare who’s first rank was leveled by hot lead, but they were undeterred in the attack. Finally the two lines met in hand-to-hand battle. One French officer witnessed, “In 10 minutes the battle was won.” French Marshal de Saxe, overall commander of the French and Prussian armies stated, “What finer reserve than six battalions of Geese.” The English retreated leaving behind them 5,000 of their fallen comrades.[xxvi]
At the battle Lord Clare received two musket balls through his coat, and was wounded by shrapnel at the siege of Tournay. For his gallantry he was promoted to Lieutenant-General on 2 May 1745. A letter with orders arrived on 18 December 1745, as one of the leaders of the Irish volunteers from the regiments of Wild Geese in the service of France, to serve under Bonnie Prince Charles Stuart in Scotland, but he never arrived with the majority of troops because of the English blockades. One of the English blockades was under the command of Captain O’Brien, an Irish Protestant, chased the Prince Charles for over 150 miles with four English man-of-war ships, as the pirate ship tried to free itself from the chase for the sloop that contained boxes of money, 14 chests of pistols and sabres with 13 barrels of powder. With the English ships gaining and many ship mates dead, the Irish privateer ran his ship aground fleeing with his crew into the Scottish countryside with the boxes of money.[xxvii]
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| Battle of Fontenoy, 1745 |
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| Memorial to the Irish Brigade |
Charles married in 1755 to the Marchioness Louise Gauthier de Chiffreville of Normandy. Six years later Lord Clare died at Montpelier at the age of 62. Maréchal de Thomond died at Montpellier on 9 September 1761.[xxx]
CHILDREN
- Charles O’Brien – 7th Viscount Clare. Born 1757, Paris, France. Married
- Antoinette-Charlotte-Marie Septimanie O’Brien – Born 1758. Married Duke de Choiseul Praslin.
- Known son O’Brien – Born 1761 & died 1764.
“Remember the glories of Brien the brave,
Tho’ the days of the hero are o’er;
Tho’ lost to Mononia, and cold in the grave,
He returns to Kinkora no more!
The start of the field, which so often has proud
Its beam on the battle, is set;
But enough of its glory remains on each sword,
To light us to victory yet!”
Moore[xxxi]
7th Viscount Charles O’Brien
The last of the Carrigaholt O’Brien line was born in Paris in 1757. Being a minor, the Colonelcy of Clare’s Regiment was reserved for the child until he came of age. 6,000 livres was allowed for a officer to take command as Colonel-in-Second who was Brigadier James FitzGerald. FitzGerald resigned his commission in 1762 and was replaced by Chevalier de Biatagh who resigned in 1770. Biatagh was replaced by Chevalier de Meade until 1775 when Clare's Regiment was disbanded and reassigned to Berwick on the death of the minor Charles on 29 December 1774.
The 7th Viscount Charles O’Brien died in 1774 at Paris unmarried.[xxxii] With no heir to take over Clare’s Regiment the unit was disbanded and assigned to Berwick’s Regiment. The end of the Wild Geese regiments came with the French Revolution in 1790.
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| 7th Viscount Charles O'Brien |
The Williamite War
Regiments of Dragoons[xxxiii]
Colonel Daniel O’Bryan’s (Lord Clare)
The Colonel - 3rd Viscount Daniel O’Bryan
Lt. Colonel - James Phillips
Major - Francis Browne
Captains - Florence MacNamara, John MacNamara, Redmond Magrath, Morres Fitzgerald, James McDaniell, Nicholas Bourke, John Fitzgerald, Roger Shaughnessy, Teigue O’Bryan, Thady Quin.
Lieutenants - Turlogh O’Bryan, David Barry, James Purcell, John Hurley, John Ryan, Murrough O’Bryan, Owen Cahane, Silvester Purdon, William Lysaght, Joseph Furlong, Patrick Hehir, Richard Bedford.
Cornets - Daniel O’Bryan, Thomas Fitzgerald, Thady Mulquiny, Murtagh Hogan, Hugh Perry, Thomas Donnell, Nicholas Archdeken, John Bourke, William Neylan, Laurence Dean, Hugh Hogan, Thomas Clanchy.
Quarter-Masters - James Neylan, William Hawford, Laur. McNamara, James White, James Ryan, Christopher O’Bryan, Edmund Bobilly, Gerald Fitzgerald, Daniel MacNamara, Dermott Sullivan, James O’Dea, Thomas Lee.
Staff:
Colonel, Lt. Col., and Major.
Adjutant - ??? Devon
Chaplain - ??? Daly
Quarter-Master - ??? Barry
Chirurgeon - ??? Nelan
Regiments of Infantry[xxxiv]
Colonel Charles O’Bryan
Colonel - Charles O’Bryan
Lt. Colonel - La Motte Darquet
Major - William Saxby
Captains - Cornelius M’Mahon, Thomas Magrath, Dermott O’Callaghan, Daniel Malooney, Iguatius Sarsfield, Morgan Connell, Donogh O’Bryan, Turle M’Mahon, Donogh McNamara, John Rice, Thady McNamara, Teigue Ryan, William Bourke, Daniel Neiland, Thomas Fitz-Gerald.
Lieutenants - ??? McNamara, ??? Burke, Thomas Barry, Teigue O’Bryan, Winter Bridgman, James Malooney, William Sheenan, Edward Barry, Barnard Sale, Henry McDonough, Donogh McNamara, Donogh O’Bryan, Philip Dwyer, Nicholas Comyn, John Hurley, Dominick White.
Ensigns - ??? McNamara, ??? White, Thomas Bourke, Calla O’Callahane, Stephen Stritch, Joseph Sarsfield, Teigue Connell, Teigue O’Heighir, Murto McMahon, Thomas Grady, Patrick White, ??? Dodd, Lewis Ryan.
Quarter-Master - ??? de Bourg
Chaplain - Rev. ??? Hurley
Surgeon - ??? Bolton
Clare’s Regimental Battles
1693 Marsaglia
1703 Siege of Kehl
1703 at Numderkirchen } noted for great bravery
1704 at Hochstedt } “ ” “ ”
1706 Flanders, Ramilles
1707 Malplaquet, Arleux
1715 Denain; O’Donnell regiment incorporated with Clare
1719 Siege of Fontarble, Saint Sebastian, and Urgell. Blockade of the Roses.
1735 Ettlingen and siege of Philippsbourg
1743 Battle of Dettingen
1744 Siege of Menin and battle at Ypres.
1745 Fontenoy noted for great bravery
1745 Scottish Expedition (Culloden)
1746 Rancoux
1760 Villingshausen
1762 Scottish regiment of Oglivy incorporated into Clare.
1775 Clare regiment incorporated into Berwick.
Clare's Dragoons
1) When on Ramillie's bloody field,
The baffled French were forced to yield,
The victor Saxon backward reeled
Before the charge of Clare's Dragoons.
The Flags we conquered in that fray,
Look lone in Ypres' choir, they say,
We'll win them company to-day,
Or bravely die like Clares Dragoons.
Chorus:
Viva la for Ireland's wrong!
Viva la, for Ireland's right!
Viva la in battle throng,
For a Spanish steed, and sabre bright!
2) The brave old Lord died near the fight,
But, for each drop he lost that night,
A Saxon cavalier shall bite
The dust before Lord Clare's Dragoons,
For never when our spears were set
And never, when our sabres met,
Could we the Saxon soldiers get
To stand the shock of Clare's Dragoons.
Viva la, the New Brigade!
Viva la, the Old One too!
Viva la, the rose shall fade,
And the shamrock shine forever new!
3) Another Clare is here to leasd,
The worthy son of such a breed;
The French expect some famous deed,
When Clare leads on his bold Dragoons.
Our Colonel comes from Brians race,
His wounds are in his breast and face,
The bearna baoghail is still his place,
The foremost of his bold Dragoons.
Viva la, the New Brigade!
Viva la, the Old One too!
Viva la, the rose shall fade,
And the shamrock shine forever new!
4) There's not a man in squadron here
Was ever known to flinch or fear;
Though first in charge and last in rere,
Have ever been Lord Clare's Dragoons;
But, see! We'll soon have work to do,
To shame our boasts, or prove them true,
For hither comes the English crew,
To sweep away Lord Clare's Dragoons.
Viva la for Ireland's wrong!
Viva la, for Ireland's right!
Viva la in battle throng,
For a Spanish steed, and sabre bright!
Oh! Comrades! Think how Ireland pines,
Her exiled Lords, her rifled shrines,
Her dearest hope, the ordered lines,
And bursting charge of Clare's Dragoons,
The fling your Green Flag to the sky,
Be "Limerick!" your battle cry,
And charge, till blood floats fetlock-high,
Around the track of Clare's Dragoons!
Viva la, the New Brigade!
Viva la, the Old One too!
Viva la, the rose shall fade,
And the shamrock shine forever new!
Thomas Davis
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| For the bagpipes |
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| Banner given the Irish Brigade in 1791 when they were disbanded in France |
ENDNOTES
[i]. John Cornelius O’Callaghan, History of the Irish Brigades in the service of France. (Shannon, Ireland: Irish University Press, 1969 [originally published 1870]) P. 26. (HBLL-BYU DA 914.O2s.)
[ii]. Kieran Kennedy, “The Regiment of Clare, 1689-1775,” The Other Clare, #25, pp. 11-15.
[iii]. Kennedy, p. 11.
[iv]. John D’Alton, King James’s Irish Army List (1689). Volumes I-II. Second Edition - enlarged. (Dublin: Self published, 1860) V. 1, Pp. 358-359. (FHL-BRITISH 941.5 M2d v.1.)
[v]. Jane Urwick, “The banners of the ‘Wild Geese’,” The Coat of Arms, vol. IV, #15 (Autumn 1980). Pp. 285-289.
[vi]. Thomas Bartlett and Keith Jeffery, A military history of Ireland. (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1996) P. 298.
[vii]. D’Alton, v. 2, p. 699.
[viii]. D’Alton, p. 362.
[ix]. Kennedy, p. 12.
[x]. Kennedy, p. .
[xi]. O’Callaghan, p. 39.
[xii]. D’Alton, p. 359.
[xiii]. O’Callaghan, p. 39.
[xiv]. Bartlett & Jeffery, p. 298.
[xv]. O’Callaghan, p. 40.
[xvi]. O’Callaghan, p. 40.
[xvii]. O’Callaghan, p. 41.
[xviii]. O’Callaghan, p. 41.
[xix]. Kennedy, p. 13.
[xx]. O’Callaghan, p. 41.
[xxi]. D’Alton, p. 360.
[xxii]. D’Alton, p. 360.
[xxiii]. O’Callaghan, p. 42.
[xxiv]. D’Alton, p. 360.
[xxv]. Pierre Joannon, “Remember Fontenoy,” The World of Hibernia, pp. 36-44.
[xxvi]. Joannon, p. 43.
[xxvii]. O’Callaghan, pp. 440-441.
[xxviii]. O’Callaghan, pp. 43-44.
[xxix]. Gerard A. Lee, “Irish Chevaliers in the Service of France.” Vol. V, # 1 (February 1965), p. 5.
[xxx]. O’Callaghan, p. 43.
[xxxi]. O’Callaghan, pp. 350-51.
[xxxii]. D’Alton, p. 361.
[xxxiii]. D’Alton, p. 351.
[xxxiv]. D’Alton, v. 2, p. 698.
