Ballinamuck Visitor Centre

Ballinamuck Visitors Centre in County Longford presents a lively exhibition on the Year of the French and the Battle of Ballinamuck, which took place in 1798.

Officially opened in July 1999 by then President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, the Centre is located in the historic former Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks in the picturesque village of Ballinamuck. It is situated on the site of a battle fought on 8 September 1798, the last pitched battle on Irish soil and one of the final episodes in the 1798 Rebellion. At Ballinamuck, a Franco-Irish force, commanded by General Humbert, was defeated by British troops under the command of General Lake and Lord Cornwallis.

The Battle of Ballinamuck are vividly presented with eyewitness accounts from local people and officers of the opposing armies. The exhibition explains the background to these events and the national and international significance of the collision of forces around this County Longford village.

After learning about the impressive history of the area, you may tread the ground where the battle took place, visiting the many historically significant sites.

The Battle of Ballinamuck

Humbert and his 1,019 men had landed at Killala Bay, County Mayo on 23 August 1798. They were joined by some Irishmen, and after capturing Castlebar, they intended to move eastwards, gain more local support and attack Dublin.

However, British forces were massing to stop them. Humbert’s army marched northeast, through Sligo and into Leitrim, with General Lake’s force pursuing them. By the time the French and Irish camped at Cloone, County Leitrim on the night of 7 September, Lake was close behind, and Lord Cornwallis and his army were shadowing them, having reached nearby Mohill.

Humbert decided to stand and fight at Ballinamuck on 8 September. As you face the pike-man statue at Ballinamuck Visitors’ Centre, you will see Shanmullagh Hill behind the centre. It was there that Humbert halted. The rear of his army was on Kiltycreevagh Hill, which is northwest of the village.

The brief first action of the battle occurred at Kiltycreevagh and ended in the surrender of some of the French. General Blake, the principal Irish commander, Gunner McGee and others engaged the British close by, but soon withdrew to the Black Fort, near the road to Gaigue Cross on the south side of Ballinamuck.

Meanwhile, Humbert had retreated to the eastern side of Shanmullagh Hill, away from the enemy, which was attempting to ascend it. As the British mounted a major attack on Shanmullagh, Humbert surrendered. The final action of the battle was the last stand of Gunner McGee and his comrades.

When their one remaining cannon was damaged by British artillery, McGee’s men held it up themselves to fire it. They were soon overrun. Due to his bravery, McGee is remembered as one of the heroes of the battle. He was reputedly born near Longford town and served as a gunner in the Longford Militia before deserting to join the rebels at Castlebar.

Following the surrender, the French were treated as prisoners of war, but the Irish were shown no mercy: General Blake, Gunner McGee and others were immediately hanged, and many more were killed as they attempted to escape the battlefield.

It has been estimated that the Irish and French had a combined total of 2,500 men. Of those, about 500 Irish and an unknown, though probably small, number of French died that day. The British lost roughly 150 of a force of close to 30,000. Many of the Irish were buried on Shanmullagh Hill. Blake was buried in Toberpatrick Cemetery.

The Garden of Remembrance in the centre of Ballinamuck commemorates those who died in the battle.

The Ballinamuck Battlefield 1798 Visitors Centre has an interesting exhibition on the battle. 

Visiting the Ballinamuck Visitor Centre

The Ballinamuck Visitors Centre is located at Ballinamuck Community Hall, Main Street, Shanmullagh, Ballinamuck, County Longford N39 Y7C1.

Opening times vary, so please contact the centre before travelling.

Phone 087 961 33 12 or ballinamuck1798@gmail.com.