Adam's The Irish Library Wednesday 17th April 2019

47 www.adams.ie The Irish Library| 17th April 2019 57 A GEORGE III 1796 PATTERN LIGHT CAVALRY SABRE, in a brass scabbard, throat engraved 8th Armagh, the stir- rup hilt with wire wrapped bone grip, the blade etched with regimental motifs. 85.5cm wide The sword belongs to the 8th Armagh Militia. € 2,000 - 3,000 The 8th Armagh Regiment was set up in 1793 but was not fully engaged in active service until the French Invasion of 1796-98. Following their own revolution, the newly established French Republic carried a sympathy for other nations similarly repressed under Crown Rule and therefore agreed to assist the United Irishmen in their push for independence. However, be- hind this lay the more calculating desire for an invasion of Britain itself. The French perceived that if they could arrest rule in Ireland, they could use the country to gain access to the British mainland. Protective of Ireland and aware of the greater threat, the 8th Regiment was mobilised to halt the French advance. 2Q WK 6HSWHPEHU WKH VSRUDGLF ȴJKWLQJ FDPH WR D KHDG LQ %DOOLQDPXFN &R Longford. With a successful win over the British at Castlebar, General Humbert led the French army through Mayo and towards Dublin. Nearby, in Westmeath and Roscommon, French allies were being defeated and Humbert thus chose to make a stand at Ballinamuck. Humbert and a small force of Irishmen were met in the early morning by the Armagh militia. A cursory attack was made by the French before, seeing that they were greatly outnum- bered, Humbert gave the order to surrender. Unfortunately, the Irish did not share this sentiment and the resulting battle gave way to an unconditional slaughter of Irish forces. 7KH $UPDJK 5HJLPHQWȇV YLFWRU\ DW %DOOLQDPXFN H΍HFWLYHO\ VLJ - nalled the end of the 1798 Rebellion, but the militia was kept in service for a further twenty years.