Ballyguile - Wicklow, IE - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

The sign is a simple granite plaque cemented into the pavement, with the following text:

BAILE NA nGOL - BALLYGUILE - THE TOWN OF CRYING

Local belief is that a terrible massacre was inflicted upon the people of this area in the year of 1641. With the rebellion of the O'Neills of Tyrone at its height, a well known local chieftain, Luke O'Toole, attacked nearby Black Castle in support of the Ulstermen.

Sir Charles Coote and his English forces arrived to relieve the defenders of the castle, only to discover that O'Toole and his army had returned to the vastness of the Wicklow Mountains to continue his guerilla tactics.

Locals, fearing reprisals from the angry Coote, fled to a church here seeking protection. On arrival, Coote's men set the church on fire, which quickly became an inferno. It is said that over 300 people including their parish priest died that day. Tradition describes how the lane below ran red with their blood.

Afterwards the road was called Melancholy Lane while the hill overlooking the town became known as Baile Na nGol, The Town of Crying, in memory of Fr. Byrne and his congregation.

Kindly sponsored and erected by the local community.

Group that erected the marker: Local community URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Convent Road Wicklow, Ireland

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