John Kelly of Killanne facts for kids
John Kelly (also known as Kelly of Killanne) was an important leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He lived in Killanne, a town in County Wexford, Ireland. Kelly was part of a group called the United Irishmen. They wanted to make Ireland a more independent country.
Kelly was well-known during the short time of the Wexford Rebellion. He helped the rebels win a big victory at the Battle of Three Rocks. This win led to the rebels taking over Wexford town. Later, he was badly hurt while leading his group at the Battle of New Ross.
Kelly's Role in the Rebellion
John Kelly was a brave leader during the 1798 Rebellion. He was part of the Society of United Irishmen, a group that wanted to change how Ireland was governed. They believed in more rights for Irish people. Kelly fought in several important battles.
The Battle of New Ross
At the Battle of New Ross, Kelly's group was given specific orders. The main rebel commander, Bagenal Harvey, told them to attack military outposts. However, they were not supposed to attack the town of New Ross itself.
Harvey sent a messenger to the government forces. The messenger carried a white flag, which means he wanted to talk about a surrender. Sadly, the messenger was shot. This made the rebels very angry. They decided to attack the town without waiting for orders.
Kelly led about 800 men. They broke through a gate called "Three Bullet Gate" and entered New Ross. At first, they were successful. But the government forces fought back strongly. Kelly was wounded in the leg during the fight.
Capture and Execution
After being wounded, John Kelly was taken to Wexford town to get better. However, Wexford town was later taken over by government forces on June 21, 1798.
Kelly was found and taken from his bed. He was put on trial and found guilty. On June 25, 1798, John Kelly was executed by hanging. Seven other rebel leaders were also executed with him on Wexford bridge.
See Also
- Wexford Rebellion of 1798
- Bagenal Harvey – Another leader of the 1798 Rebellion
