The Kingscourt mail coach was stopped by the rebels at the Blackbull. This was the signal that the rebellion had started: Meath had risen #1798
British military and yeomen escorting military supplies to Dublin are intercepted at Dunshaughlin by a strong rebel force. The military are routed - first blood to the rebels #1798
Word is spreading throughout the towns and villages of Meath as the mail coach fails to arrive. Wild rumours are flying through the county: the British have been defeated. Pikes are retrieved as men prepare to advance towards Tara #1798
But it’s not just men who are fighting. Molly Weston - a great hero of the Rising - leaves her home at Oldtown in Fingal to join the rebel camp. She finds the rebels below Tara #1798
The British were in disarray. Captain Molly of the Kells Yoeman Infantry finds himself the most senior officer in the county. The Fencinles of Reay (British regiment) were somewhere in the county - he needs to find them - and fast #1798
Lord Fingal hears about the rebel force gathering at Tara - Fingal is a loyalist, he gathers the local Yeomen and waits for word from the authorities - a major clash is inevitable. #1798
Moving quickly to Dundhaughlin Molloy and his yeomen find the Fencinles already there. The rebels had been here too but had moved off towards Tara. A surprised Molloy found himself between the rebel force and Dublin - he could also join Fingal. A major mistake by the rebels #1798
Instead of threatening Dublin and trying to join other rebel forces already in the field, the Meathmen encamp on the highest ground in the area - the Hill of Tara. It is a strong defensive position - but the rebels need to be on the offensive #1798
Molloy and the Fencinles number about 200 men- crucially they have some light artillery. The rebels have taken up positions behind the walls of the graveyard on the Hill of Tara. Can he dislodge them from this strong position #1798
The inimitable Molly Weston is seen rallying the rebel forces on the hill - she rides a fabulous white charger and is dressed in vibrant green. The rebels are in the mood for a fight #1798
Yesterday’s fighting at the Hill of Tara was a disaster for the rebels. The British Regiment - the Fencibles of Reay -Lord Reay’s Highlanders - had joined with the Kells Yeoman Infantry and decided to attack the rebel positions #1798
With their artillery they bombarded the rebels fortified behind the walls of the graveyard on the hill. The rebels sent a detachment around the hill to prevent their position being outflanked. There is some confusion among the rebel leaders #1798
The Fencibles are professional soldiers - battle hardened and well trained. Recruited in the area around Sunderland called Duthaich Mhic Aoidh - McKay Country - Gaelic sounding - Gaelic speaking - they now faced the rebel Irish gathered on their most sacred site #1798
The Fencibles move up the hill. Their artillery piece supports their advance. Molly Weston is seen rallying the rebels. In their haste the Fencibles outpace their artillery - point of the bayonette.. its hand to hand stuff.... #1798
Sensing a chance to sieze the gun, the rebels leave their fortified position - it’s a fatal error - Captain Molloy sees the rebels charging his gun .. he waits ... the rebel ranks are crowded before his gun ... Malloy waits..... #1798
The charging rebels are almost upon him .. grapeshot is devastating on the closely packed ranks of the approaching rebels... when the smoke clears the scene is one of carnage.. the rebels are thrown back ..#1798
Now the experience gained in battles across the continent by the Fencibles becomes apparent. The rebel centre collapses and the battle becomes a route ... 400 rebels .. some say up to a thousand .. no quarter given ... all night long the slaughter continues ... #1798
220 years ago today, the sun rose on the dead strewn on the slopes of the sacred hill. The Battle of Tara is over - it has been a disaster. Molly Weston lies among the dead. But the horror is not finished ... prisoners are rounded up and executed out of hand #1798
For days the slaughter will continue .. the trees around Tara are used as gallows .. and not just around Tara.. stragglers captured by the Yeos are hanged where they are found .. and their graves will be pointed out by future generations #1798
How many dead? No one knows but the number runs to thousands ... Carts carry bodies to the city where there are buried in a mass grave .. an awful spectacle to cow the population - they are buried at the Croppie Acre #1798 
1/2 A story; The Yeomen unable to dislodge the rebels from their positions on Tara sent a wagon of whisky along the lower slopes of the hill, knowing Paddy’s fondness for the drop- the folklore commission tells us the exact pub in Navan from which the demon drink was sent #1798
2/2 This Story has entered the folk memory of the battle. I find no evidence to support it. It seems likely the story is based on the actual episode of the rebels capturing the supply train of the Fencible Regiment - a matter of great shame to the British army #1798
