This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Shscoulsdon (talk | contribs) at 13:44, 12 November 2012 (1. Art was a Captain in the Hungarian Hussars Regiment of the Austrian, not a colonel.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:44, 12 November 2012 by Shscoulsdon (talk | contribs) (1. Art was a Captain in the Hungarian Hussars Regiment of the Austrian, not a colonel.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Art Ó Laoghaire; IPA:ˈaɾˠt̪ˠoːˈl̪ˠiːəɾʲə (also Airt Ó Laoghaire or Art O'Leary, died May 4, 1773), an Irish Roman Catholic, was a a captain in the Hungarian Hussars Regiment of the Austrian Army.
Having returned home to Rathleigh House near Macroom, Cork, Ireland, Art became involved in a feud with an Englishman, Abraham Morris of Hanover Hall, Macroom. When Morris was High Sheriff of County Cork in 1771, he laid charges against Art following Art's alleged attack on Morris and wounding of his servant 13th July at Hanover Hall. In that October, Art was indicted his absence, and Morris offered 20 guineas for his capture.
The feud between the two men continues and in 1773, Morris demanded that Art sell him his fine horse for £5. The Penal Laws stated that no Catholic might own a horse worth more than £5 and could be forced to sell a more valuable one to any Protestant on request at this price. Art refused to sell and challenged Morris to a duel, which was declined. Morris used, or misused, his position as Magistrate to persuade his fellow Magistrates to proclaim Art an outlaw, who could then be shot at sight legally. Morris led a contingent of soldiers which tracked O'Leary down on May 4, 1773 and gave the order to fire on Art. The first shot, which killed Art, was fired by a soldier called Green. O'Leary's wife Eileen O'Connell composed the famous "Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire" or Lament for Art O'Leary, mourning his death and calling for revenge. His tomb can be found at Kilcrea Friary with the epitaph (probably composed by his widow): "Lo Arthur Leary, generous, handsome, brave, / Slain in his bloom lies in this humble grave." According to tradition Eibhlín got the murderers punished by transportation; Morris is supposed to have been shot in Cork by Art's brother. References
O'Leary, Peter (1998) The Life and Times of Art O Laoghaire. Journal of the Ballingreary & Inchigeela Historical Society 1998, online at www.ballingearyhs.com Brennan, Brian Anthony (2000) Songs of an Irish Poet: The Mary O'Leary Story. pp.128-9. The Collins Press, Cork ISBN 1-8982-5698-5 O'Leary, Peter (1998) The Life and Times of Art O Laoghaire. Journal of the Ballingreary & Inchigeela Historical Society 1998, online at www.ballingearyhs.com Brennan, Brian Anthony (2000) Songs of an Irish Poet: The Mary O'Leary Story. pp.128-9. The Collins Press, Cork ISBN 1-8982-5698-5 External links
The Life and Times of Art O Laoghaire by Peter O'Leary
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