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From: Pat Connors <>
Subject: [OCONNOR-TIPP-L] Celtic Calendar, Tuesday, October 12
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:21:03 +0000


do' dheag Deireadh Fo'mhair, De' Mairt (12 october, Tuesday), or in
Scots
Gaelic, da' dheug an Da'mhair, Di-Mairt

In 1788 the French sailed toward Ireland to help the Irish cause but
were
intercepted by the English fleet. They surrendered. Theobald Wolfe Tone,

Irish patriot, was on board in a French uniform ( he had served the
French
cause in uniform). The English did not notice until Sir George Hill came
up
to him and politely enquired about his health , etc. Whereupon the
English
arrested Tone. Tone ended up being tried as a traitor although he wanted
to
be treated as a soldier. he died in prison, choosing to inflict his own
death
wound rather than to hang on the English gallows. His final address was
as
follows:

"From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection between
Ireland
and Great Britain as the curse of the Irish nation, and felt convinced
,
that while it lasted, this country would never be free or happy. In
consequence, I determined to apply all the powers which my individual
efforts
could move, in order to separate the two countries. That Ireland was not

able, of herself, to throw off the yoke, I knew. I therefore sought aid
wherever it was to be found.... Under the flag of the French Republic I
originally engaged with a view to save and liberate my country. Fir that

purpose I have encountered the chances of war amongst strangers: for
that
purpose I have repeatedly braved the terrors of the ocean, covered as I
knew
it to be with the triumphant fleets of that Power which it was my glory
and
my duty to oppose. I have sacrificed all my views of life; I have
courted
poverty; I have left a beloved wife unprotected, and children which I

Submitted by John Laughland,

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