Edward Hay (County Wexford) facts for kids

Edward Hay (1761–1826) was an important Irish writer. He wrote a famous book about the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He also saw many of the events of that time.

Edward Hay's Early Life

Edward Hay was born around 1761. His family lived in Ballinkeele, near Crossabeg, in County Wexford, Ireland. They were a Catholic family and owned a lot of land. Edward went to school in France and Germany. His father's name was Harvey Hay.

Edward Hay and the 1798 Rebellion

Edward Hay saw many events in Wexford town during the 1798 Rebellion. His brother, John Hay, was a leader for the rebels. John was executed near the end of the Rebellion. This happened on Wexford bridge on June 26, 1798. John was buried in Kilmallock graveyard in County Wexford. Another brother, Philip, was in the British Army.

Edward Hay was later put on trial. People thought he might have been involved in the Rebellion. However, he was found not guilty. It seems Edward Hay did not take part in much fighting. His exact role in planning the Rebellion is not fully known.

Edward Hay's Important Book

Edward Hay's book was first printed in 1803. Its first title was "History of the Insurrection of the County of Wexford, A. D. 1798". This book was one of the first to tell the story of the Rebellion. It was printed many times after that. Later versions often had a shorter title: "History of the Irish insurrection of 1798". This was probably to reach more readers.

Many later printings did not include Hay's original introduction or a large map. The first 1803 book is now hard to find. But you can often find it online. A copy of his map was printed in another book in 1910.

Edward Hay's Later Life in Dublin

In his later years, Edward Hay lived in Dublin. He was an important member of the Catholic Committee. He was also very active in the Catholic Association. This group worked for the rights of Catholic people in Ireland. He served as the Secretary of the Catholic Association from 1806 to 1819.

Edward Hay's Death

Edward Hay passed away in Dublin on October 13, 1826. He was buried in St. James' graveyard in Kilmainham, Dublin. You can still see his headstone there today.