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 The French, Landing in Killala Bay. William Sadler 2nd.
The town of Killala is remarkable in Irish history as the place where
the French under General Humbert landed in 1798.
On the banks of a creek at the western extremity of the Bay of Rathfran stand the moss grown ruins of Kilcummin, a cell built by Cumin
in the seventh century.
It was within sight of this romantic spot that,early in the afternoon of the 22d of August, 1798,several fishermen, while busy repairing their nets,were surprised by the appearance of three large war-ships suddenly rounding a neighboring promontory and casting anchor two hundred feet from the shore.
For some days past vague rumors had floated through the air that a French fleet had left La Rochelle and was on its way to the Irish coast.
At first sight, therefore, the men decided that this must be the enemy. But a second glance revealed the British colors flying at the vessels' bows...this was in fact a ruse, the ships were indeed French!
On board were 1000 french troops, led by General Humbert, a 'spearhead' for more troops that had been promised later, heading ultimately to Castlebar via Killala and Ballina.
They travelled to Castlebar by a little-used route which took them
through Lahardane and over the pass known as the Windy Gap.
At an
ensuing battle just outside Castlebar, the English forces were routed
and put to flight in an incident which became known as the "Races of
Castlebar".
After this victory, Humbert moved further east but
eventually was forced to surrender at Ballinamuck, Co. Longford, when
faced with a vastly superior English force under General Lake.
In more recent years the 'Year of the French' was immortalised by a film of the same name, produced in Killala and also presented as a series on RTE television ...
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Year of the French 1798
