CATHOLIC PRIEST who fought and died for Ireland. Take a walk in Arklow, County Wicklow and be amazed

We walk around the Irish town of Arklow and discover its rich history - in the rain! A lot of work goes into these videos as you can well see! You can now buy me a pint as a means of appreciation for my work on Naked Ireland, no obligation, obviously - only if you can afford it... I appreciate it. Cheers. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nakedire... A Frenchman named Palladius arrived here before me - in fact he came here in 431. That’s a long time ago and it’s the first official mention of Arklow. Palladius became the first Bishop of Ireland - a predecessor to our St Patrick and when he arrived there was already a christian community here. While on the subject of religion. This is Father Michael Murphy a priest from the Wicklow area who fought and died in the 1798 Rebellion, despite the Catholic Church’s anti-United Irishmen stance. His parish church was vandalised by yeomanry during the conflict, causing him to join the rising and subsequently die in battle. The inscription on the monument reads, “To the memory of Father Michael Murphy and his galant followers, who fought and died for country and liberty at Arklow.” The plaque on the statue seems to have been vandalised - I wonder what that’s about? Maybe you could let me know in the comments if you’re a local and knows the answer? The church is St Mary’s and Peter’s Catholic Church, a renaissance revival building from 1861 designed by Patrick Byrne. And across the street the Ormonde Cinema. alas it’s about to be destroyed. The council has given permission for a housing development - so the credits are rolling and the lights have gone up on this old building. My walk through Arklow continues down the main street, braving the rain and imagining the place in better weather. Arklow was a Viking settlement in the 9th Century, in fact the name is derived from Norse, Needless to say then that historically this was a seafaring town. Shipping, fishing and shipbuilding were its main industries. This being the east coast of Ireland, the Anglo-Normans dominated the area on their arrival. and later Arklow was to become a flashpoint during the Irish Confederate wars in 1649 resulting in an English garrison being installed here. What Arklow is most famous for though is its Battle of Arklow, the bloody event that Father Michael, whose statue is back up the hill, was drawn into. Many hundreds of Irish Rebels died here trying to take the town from the British forces in June 1798. In every town we visit you’ll notice that I always end up passing a monument to or citing a battle from the 1798 United Irishmen rising. This failed rising let by Theobald Wolf Tone and inspired by the French revolution was a dark turning point in Irish history leading to the Acts of Union in 1800 where all of Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. The Society of the UnitedIrishmen was, believe it or not, formed by Belfast Presbyterians who were opposed to the landed Anglican establishment. They sought to form a republic by uniting with catholics. It’s hard to imagine that today. Ulster Presbyterians don’t seem to celebrate their Irish rebel roots. If there are any northern presbyterians watching, I’d love to hear your comments below on the events of 1798. Is it something you feel a part of?