Mayo history series: High sheriff failed to gain release of imprisoned ‘old man’
FIGHTING FITZGERALD - PART TWO
By Tom Gillespie
ON July 15, 1939, The Connaught Telegraph republished an account of the character and eccentricities of the famous or infamous Fighting Fitzgerald, as he was known, as taken from a book entitled The Irish at Home and Abroad, published in 1856.
George Robert Fitzgerald (of Turlough Castle) one day paid a visit to Lord Tyrawley, the kindhearted Jemmy Cuffe (of Ballinrobe), at his seat, Deel Castle. On sending in his name he was admitted and found Cuffe in his study standing with his back to the fireplace, his hands behind him holding a large poker, which, when Fitzgerald was announced, he had hastened to thrust into the fire.
George Robert had come to quarrel, and Cuffe knew the object of his visit, and prepared to receive him in the way described.
Fitzgerald, who was quick-sighted to an almost miraculous degree, immediately perceived on entering how matters stood, and knew well that Cuffe would unrelentingly enact the part of Baille Nichol Jarvie when similarly armed. He therefore conducted himself civilly and after some unimportant conversation took his departure.
The hostilities carried on between George Robert and his partisans with his neighbouring gentleman, Mr. Patrick Randall MacDonnell (of Chancery Hall, Ballyvary), and ‘his clan’ kept the county of Mayo, or rather the entire province of Connaught, in perpetual alarm.
The whole kingdom in fact resounded with the quarrels and conflicts; but besides this foreign feud upon his hands, he had a very grave affair which occupied his leisure hours at home.
His father, having refused to join him in levying a fine and selling his estate, George Robert confined him in a small room in his own mansion, the castle of Turlough, Co. Mayo, and kept him prisoner there during some years.
The government, being informed of the circumstances, ordered the high sheriff of Mayo to proceed to Turlough and set the unfortunate old man at liberty.
The sheriff repaired thither accordingly, accompanied by a body of dragoons to enforce submission. On coming in to the neighbourhood he took the precaution of making some enquiries of the people, who flocked in considerable numbers to enjoy resistance of the laws and the discomfiture of the sheriff, to whom they knew Fitzgerald would not submit.
“Don’t go for your life, sir,” said a man to whom the magistrate addressed himself; “the master is prepared to blow you all to —!”
Prosecuting his enquiries further, the sheriff learned that Fitzgerald had built two small towers in advance of, and flanking, the castle, and had mounted in them some ship-guns which had belonged to a vessel that had foundered on the coast close to his residence.
He nevertheless announced himself by an agent, who trembled as he delivered the message, and demanded the instantaneous release of Mr. Fitzgerald senior.
George Robert did not hang up the messenger, but told him to acquaint the sheriff, with his compliments, that the old gentleman had gone out fishing, and could not consequently be given up to the magistrate.
This was true, for on the approach of the sheriff, George Robert persuaded his unhappy parent to enter unarmed a boat ‘for the amusement of fishing’, as he said, and which put to sea, and remained in the offing during the negotiations.
The sheriff, not content with the reply made to his summons, put a bold face upon the matter, and disposing his force, marched upon the castle.
The moment he came within range, he was complimented with a salute from the forts, the projectiles from which cut the branches of the trees of the avenue over the heads of himself and his party. A general scamper of the sheriff and escort instantly followed.
When beyond the reach of shot they pulled rein and rallied. Scarcely had they recovered breath, when a servant appeared, coming from the castle. With mock respect he presented his master’s civilities to the sheriff, apologising for the little incident that had just occurred, and which was ‘merely the execution of orders given by Mr. Fitzgerald to some of his people, to employ themselves in duck-shooting’. He begged the sheriff to return therefore, assuring him of a distinguished and warm reception.
There was in the leer of the man who presented this message something admonitory. The sheriff declined the invitation, therefore, and retired.
He sent to the government a detailed account of the facts declaring his conviction that Fitzgerald, added by his miscreant adherents, would defend Turlough Castle to the last extremity.
The Privy Council was held at Dublin Castle, in consequence of this lawless and outrageous conduct of George Bernard Fitzgerald, and a new expedition against Turlough was ordered.
This time the law was enforced. George Robert made no resistance and surrendered the prisoner.
Disembarrassed of his home-occupation, he devoted all his time and all of his strength to his struggle for the dictator of Mayo with Pat Randall MacDonnell.
In a journey in to the North of Ireland he had collected half a score of villains, whom he brought up to Mayo and planted in various directions about Turlough Castle. These desperadoes formed his bodyguard, and were ready to perform any service Fitzgerald might require of them.
The Corypheus of the gang was a man named Andrew Craig, nicknamed by the county people, on account of his north county accident, ‘Scotch’ Andrew.
Coming up in Part 3: Fitzgerald is conveyed to Castlebar Jail