The French Army in Cloone

The French & Cloone

On Friday evening, 7th September 1798 a small French army of 800 men under General Humbert supported by about the same number of Irish volenteers arrived in Cloone. They had come to help the united Irishmen who had organisied a rising against the English goverment. They had landed a fortnight earlier at Killalla in Co. Mayoand had won a great victory at Castlebar. They were now heading for county Longford and the Midlands and intended to camp for the night in Cloone. The important house in Cloone at the time was that of local landlord, William West, situated on the site of the new Roman catholic church in the centre of the village. Mr. West's workmen were busy bringing home hay on the evening the French arrived. Humbert and his officials were invited into West's for the night while the rank and file set up camp in tents all around. The field where the stayed is still in its origianal state in the centre of the village opposite the church at referred to locally as 'the camp field' The chains for drawing the heavy guns were brought into wests barn and concealed for safety under hay. People from the neighbourhood of Cloone and from Aughavas came in great numbers bringing potatoes, bread, milk and cooked chickens for the soilders. Six bullocks were grilled over a huge fire on gates taken from the entrance to the cemetery. Troops were then allowed a short rest, but it was at 5a.m. on the following morning Saturday, September the 8th, when they were ready to leave Cloone. Just at that critical moment the chains for pulling the canon and powder wagon went mysteriously missing. Irish recruits proceeded to draw the wagons but this caused great delay. The English commander, Lord Cornwallis had reached Mohill by this time and it was now a race to for Hunbert's army to get to the midlands before the army of Cornwallis blocked their path. In fact they did not succeed in reaching the midlands for they were forced into battle at Ballinamuck and made to surrender. Hundereds of the Irish were slaughtered after the battle.On the weekend of Friday August 14th to Sunday August 16th 1998 the people of Cloone commerated the French visit to Cloone with several events including a pagent re-enacting the French arrival in Cloone and the Minister for State at the Dept. of Education Mr. Noel Tracey T.D. unveiling a plaque to commerate the 200th anniversary of the event.

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