Page 229 - Demo

Chapter Seven 229
“O’Farrell and Clanricarde, Preston and Red Hugh, Audley and MacMahon—ye valiant, wise and true: But—what are ye all to our darling who is gone?
The Rudder of our Ship was he, our Castle’s corner stone.
“Wail, wail him through the Island! Weep, weep for our pride! Would that on the battleield our gallant chief had died! Weep the Victor of Beinn Burb—weep him, young and old: Weep for him, ye women—your beautiful lies cold!
“We thought you would not die—we were sure you would not go, And leave us in our utmost need to Cromwell’s cruel blow— Sheep without a shepherd, when the snow shuts out the sky—
O! why did you leave us, Eoghan? Why did you die?
“Soft as woman’s was your voice, O’Neill! bright was your eye,
O! why did you leave us, Eoghan? Why did you die?
Your troubles are all over, you’re at rest with God on high,
But we’re slaves, and we’re orphans, Eoghan!—why did you die?”
The capture of Wexford by Cromwell was followed by the speedy surrender of New Ross, Dungarvan, Kinsale, Cork, Bandon, and Youghal, amongst others, although he failed to take Waterford and Duncannon. Proceeding to Youghal Cromwell set up winter quarters from where over the course of the season he had many other prominent southern towns delivered up to him.
By the following spring, the only major towns still holding out in the region were Water- ford, Limerck, and Clonmel. Resuming his campaign with gusto early in 1650, Cromwell marched on Kilkenny. Though ravaged by a plague which decimated the garrison, reduc- ing the numbers from 1,200 to 400, Kilkenny still ofered a determined resistance- but in March, it too was forced to surrender. As a result, what was left of the Confederation forces were scattered into small fragmented bands. The pluckiest resistance to Cromwell was by Black Hugh O’Neill, nephew to Eoghan Ruadh, who in May 1650, with 1,500 men, held the town of Clonmel for a prolonged time against him; entrapped, fought, and killed 500