Scullabogue Barn massacre facts for kids

Location in island of Ireland

The Scullabogue Massacre was a very sad event that happened on June 5, 1798, in a place called Scullabogue, near Newbawn, County Wexford, Ireland. This took place during the 1798 rebellion, a time when many Irish people were fighting against British rule.

During this event, a group of rebels killed between 100 and 200 people who were not fighting. These people, including men, women, and children, were held prisoner in a barn that was then set on fire. Most of the prisoners were Protestant, but about 20 Catholics were also among them. The killings happened because the rebels heard reports of terrible things done by British soldiers during the Battle of New Ross. The people who died were seen as loyal to the British government. This was the only time during the rebellion that rebels killed women and children. A rebel leader, General Thomas Cloney, said about 100 people died.

What Happened at Scullabogue?

Why Were People Held Prisoner?

Before the Battle of New Ross, a farm and its buildings in Scullabogue were used by the rebel forces. The main rebel camp was about a mile away on Carrigbyrne Hill.

The rebels gathered people they believed were loyal to the British government. These prisoners, including men, women, and children, were kept in a barn. This was to stop them from giving information about rebel movements to the British army.

The Terrible Day

On the morning of June 5, the main rebel army left Scullabogue to attack the town of New Ross. They left only a small number of guards to watch over the prisoners. The battle at New Ross was a big defeat for the rebels, who lost almost 3,000 men.

While the battle was still going on, survivors who had run away from the fighting reached Scullabogue. They brought news of the heavy losses. This news made some of the rebels at Scullabogue very angry. These angry rebels joined with the deserters and demanded revenge on the prisoners.

Massacre at Scullabogue - illustrated by George Cruikshank (1845)

Thomas Cloney, a rebel commander, later explained what happened. He said that the people who burned the barn did not plan it beforehand. Instead, it was caused by the "cowardly ruffians" who ran from the battle. They spread the news that wounded rebels had been burned in a house in Ross by the military.

At first, the guards tried to stop the angry crowd from hurting the prisoners. But eventually, they gave in. They allowed more than a dozen prisoners, who were especially disliked, to be shot. After this, the situation quickly got out of control. The barn was set on fire. People who tried to escape the burning barn were shot, stabbed, or beaten. Some were even forced back into the flames.

Only two men are believed to have escaped the fire: Richard Grandy and Loftus Frizzel. After the rebellion ended, at least twelve or thirteen men who were thought to have been involved in the massacre were executed. Two others were sent away from Ireland.

Some people have said this event was about different religious groups fighting. However, about 20 of the victims were Catholics who were loyal to the British. Also, three of the seventeen rebel guards linked to the massacre (John Ellard, John Turner, and Robert Mills) were Protestants. Robert Mills even gave detailed information about what the other guards did. He was set free even though he admitted attacking prisoners with his pike.

Remembering Scullabogue

There is a special stone called the Scullabogue Memorial in the graveyard of Old Ross Church of Ireland church. This memorial is about bringing people together and healing.

See Also

• List of massacres in Ireland
• Gibbet Rath executions
• Dunlavin Green executions
• Carnew executions