New visual attraction in Roscrea
The Battle of Roscrea Art Installation
Generations of schoolchildren have been told about the famous Battle of Roscrea.
They would have learned that at a very large fair in the town – the Aonach Éile, a combined gathering of tradesmen, monks and townspeople joined together to defeat the Vikings who raided the fair.
For many years, people have always said that this should be commemorated in some way. Like many thoughts, although it took some time, it eventually became a plan and has now finally come to pass. During the past year an art installation has gradually been assembled on the Mall. An explanatory plaque was posted on the pillar opposite the installation on the Mall.
The sculptor is Jerry Cahir, who has been most generous of his talents, donating much of his work to Roscrea Tidy Towns, which can be seen in a number of locations around Roscrea. This commemorative artwork is by far the largest and consists of a group of ‘armed warriors’ – be they monks, traders or townspeople. On Sunday, June 25 (almost 1200 years since the event happened), the final piece was installed. This was a Viking boat in the style that was in use in the ninth century. In the coming days, weather permitting, this will be painted.
We must be grateful to many people for this display – Jerry Cahir for his generous donation of this and so many pieces of rustic art installed elsewhere, the Walsh Family for allowing its installation at this location, Roscrea Community Employment workers for the earlier ‘warrior’ installation and Southwest Engineering for the creation of the ship, its transportation to Roscrea and fitting. Photographs are by Dick Conroy, Secretary, Roscrea Tidy Towns.
The carving was executed by Southwest Engineering, Ballyoughtragh, Milltown, Co Kerry. The boat is ‘carved’ from one sheet of steel and measures some 10 feet in length. It arrived by truck from the steelworks at nine am and was installed using the truck’s crane.
While this marks a huge milestone in the commemoration of such a monumental co-operative event, the final bit of work to paint the ship and tidy its location remains to be done. Jerry also plans to install two other pieces in the near future.
These works plan to honour Roscrea’s Milling History.
There’s a brilliant article to be found in the Round Tower at Roscrea and its Environs by George Cunningham (2014) regarding the Battle of Roscrea. In an appendix on pages, there is a passage from Fr John Gleeson’s publication The History of the Ely O’Carroll Territory originally from 1915, reprinted in 1982, which quotes an even older publication of 1775 that has what is described as a fanciful account of the battle. The article also states that many of the townland names we have today relate directly to the battle and its outcome.
The Battle of Roscrea story records that a combined force of Vikings from Connacht and Limerick under the leadership of Olfinn planned and attacked the Aonach Éile – one of the chief fairs in the locality. This happened either on June 842 or 845 as there’s some debate regarding the year.
As already stated, they were repelled by a combination of monks, traders and townspeople. It is recorded that over 4,000 Vikings were killed including their leader Olfinn, as they were pursued towards Nenagh (from whence the joint armies came).
This battle does not represent the only time the Aonach Éile was raided – either by Vikings or locals. What it does relate is the response of those at the Aonach Éile to being raided. The articles mentioned above relate how the organisers of the fair planned an advance warning system for raiders arriving and how they were ready to repel them.
The Battle of Roscrea and its outcome are forever part of the town’s folk memory and this commemorative art installation guarantees that it will also be part of the rich visual history of Roscrea.