1798 THE YEAR OF THE FRENCH - THE BIRTH OF MODERN IRISH POLITICS

By Michael Brabazon

The 1798 Rebellion in Ireland was one of the most defining events in the nation’s history, and Swinford, Co Mayo was within an important location of political and military activity.  The Brabazons of Swinford played a significant and colourful role.  William Brabazon was one of the Swinford United Irishmen – the Society which organised the uprising – and was part of an armed group that turned back some 200 British Dragoons who were trying to reach Castlebar, the county town of Mayo.  William along with his compatriots then journeyed to Castlebar themselves and took part in the famous battle between the British and French-Irish forces.  The French had landed at Kilalla on the north Mayo coast and proclaimed an Irish Republic.  The British lost the Battle but won the war - they regrouped, counter-attacked and finally defeated the French-led army.  After the Battle of Castlebar, the French commander General Humbert marched through Swinford and rested at Corley’s Hotel in the town’s centre, the meeting place and HQ of the local United Irishmen.  The soldiers were encamped on the Brabazon demesne and Sir Anthony Brabazon provided two steers and large wrought-iron gates to roast them on for what was in effect a mega BBQ.

After the defeat, the Irish rebels were tried in the courts but many got off.  In the Swinford jurisdiction Sir Anthony’s youngest brother Edward, who was a local lawyer, successfully defended many of the rebels.  The authority in Dublin wrote (in vain) to Sir Anthony, the J.P., instructing him to make Edward desist – they were obviously unaware of Brabazon intransigence (and family loyalties)!  

The pics are from a recent 1798 commemoration ceremony in Swinford in which a plaque was placed on the exterior of Corley’s Hotel.

Pictures courtesy MichaelMaye.com

Monument to Sir William Brabazon - Lord Justice of Ireland

Monument to Sir William Brabazon - Lord Justice of Ireland
in the reign of Henry VIII - Erected in St. Catherine's Church Dublin

Lord Justice of Ireland in 1543, 1546 and 1550. Appointed Vice Treasurer and General Receiver of Ireland in 1534, which office he retained until his death.  See more at: http://www.brabazonarchive.com/Pages/Sir%20William%20History.htm

Sub hoe Tumulo in Christo

ob dormit GULIELMUS.

Brabazon, Eques Auratus,

qui bringinta annos belli

Thesaurarius & obiit Knochfergus

Anno Salutis 1548

And on the Graves-stone, under the Monument, is this inscription:

Here Lieth the Body of Sir William Brabazon, Knt. 

Who continued Treasurer in this Kingdom XXXII 

Years, in which Time he was Lord Justice v several 

Times; he was the first Englishman that planted in 

Connaught, and wan the Castle of Athlone. He served 

In the Reigne of King Henry the VIII, and King Edward 

The VI. His Son, Sir Edward Brabazon, Knt. Lord Baron of 

Ardee, purposeth to be entomed by his Father and Mother

Sir William Brabazon – From England to Ireland

Extracted from a talk given by Michael Brabazon at the family Reunion – September 2003

The Tudor Conquest of Ireland and the transplantation of the Brabazons to the new realm - like the move from Betchworth - has greater meaning than simply a change of scenery. Sir William Brabazon - sent to Dublin by Henry VIII in 1534 as part of the new Irish Establishment - left his community in Leicestershire, and like his antecedent Jacques, displayed all the qualities of a fierce and able warrior, but without regard to the national community of which his descendants would become a very integral part.

From his grandfather fighting against the Tudors, William became one of their greatest supporters. He must have been very much a favourite of Henry VIII as he excelled at jousting, being one of the main English contestants at the historic meeting between Henry and Frances I of France at the so-called Field of the Cloth of Gold near to Calais. The name was drawn from the appearance of so many gold covered tents housing the assembled Courts. The king liked to surround himself with young knights who were intended to revivify the spirit of Arthurian Albion. Who better then to champion Henry in Ireland than William - like Jacques, a standard bearer for a conquering king? To add, there may have been a further reason; that of existing Irish land ownership. There are a handful of pre Tudor references to names like Brabazon occurring in Ireland, one such record is for a John Brabesoun in Ardee in the year 1362. There is a John Brabazon at Eastwell at this time – is it the same person? The reason I pick on this reference is the co-incidence of the name with the town of Ardee. We are all aware, I assume, that the title of Baron Ardee preceded that of the Earldom of Meath by one generation – but why Ardee when, to my knowledge the acquisition of property by Sir William was principally in Dublin and its environs? Is this pointing to a more ancient connection to Ireland than we assume? I leave the question necessarily open but would be most interested if anyone is able to elucidate.

EARLY BRABAZONS IN IRELAND - By Jan Barnes

It was once thought that the name Brabazon was brought to Ireland in the sixteenth century by Sir William Brabazon, ancestor of the Earls of Meath, but the name was recorded there in earlier times, although not in great numbers. Could some of those people be the ancestors of Brabazons living today?

In D’Alton’s ‘History of Ireland’ there is a map of Anglo-Norman settlements of the thirteenth century. Brabazon is marked in Uriel County (Louth) approximately in the barony of Ardee, so this might be where Brabazons first settled in Ireland. Could this be the origin of the title, Baron of Ardee, which is held by the Earls of Meath? 

The following are some records from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Most of the original records have been destroyed and only the basic details survive. The land deeds are held in the National Library of Ireland. 


Records from the second half of the thirteenth century show Adam in Tipperary, Dublin and Limerick, Nicholas in Kilkenny and Louth, William in Kildare and Walter in Dublin, the majority being from the courts or county sheriff’s accounts. Money received by the exchequer was often owed for many years, so it is possible that some of the payments could have been received months or even years after the initial event.

There was no standard spelling for the name. For instance, Adam’s surname was written as Brabecun, de Brabebouns and Brabeston. About 1275 Adam paid a penalty of half a mark for not appearing at a court hearing in Tipperary. In 1288-89 he was being held as a hostage, but either escaped or was released. In 1299 the Bishop of Ossary complained that Adam unjustly occupied goods belonging to Theobald Casteillon, who had died without making a will.

Before the deed below was made, in about 1277, Nicholas Brabezun or Brabecun had land in Kilkenny, possibly two townlands. One of them was named Brabasuniston in 1314, Brabyston or Brabbeston in the sixteenth century. It was in the parish of Tulleroan. Today it is called Brabston. There is another townland named Brabston in Listerlin parish.

Henry Schenegord grants to Adam le Leye, burgess of Kilkenny, and his heirs in fee, eight acres in Corbali, two of which lie together in the moor between the land of William Casse and the land of Nicholas Brabezun ; and six acres lie in four places in the field that lies between the mansion that was Walter Cor's, and the land that was Nicholas Brabecun's ; paying yearly two shillings silver, saving to grantor and his heirs said rent and to Sir William Grasse and his heirs suit of their mill. Consideration five marks ten shillings sterling. Witnesses: Sir Geoffrey de Forestall, Sir Richard Ollard, Silvester de Netilton, David Archebold, John Archebold, Thomas Archebold.