Spectacular monuments unveiled
Hundreds of people turned out for the unveiling ceremony of two
spectacular terrazzo monuments to commemorate those who died in
the struggle for Irish freedom.
The first memorial, a re-dedication of the Bobby Sands memorial
in Twinbrook, also included the names of those other IRA
Volunteers from the area who died in the struggle.
After a wreath-laying ceremony Gerry Adams addressed the crowd.
He spoke of the links between those fighting for Irish freedom
today and the United Irishmen of 200 years ago.
After the Twinbrook unveiling the crowd marched to the site of
the second monument at Poleglass which was dedicated to the
United Irish movement, but particularly remembering the Teeling
family who lived in the area and who lost their lands and
business because of their involvement with the United Irishmen.
Joe Cahill unveiled the second monument.
Special thanks must go to the Teeling Group whose efforts, hard
work and commitment has seen this project of the two monuments
through to its successful conclusion.
The Teeling family
Under Colin Mountain, to the south of the road leading from
Belfast, the low-lying meadow that was once the Bleaching Green
of Luke Teeling, linen merchant of Lisburn, is known as Teeling's
Green.
Further up the mountain is Brian's Well where King Brian of the
Cattle Countings passed on his journey north to Craobh Tulcha,
now Crew Hill near Glenavy, and stopped to drink of its water.
The old highway, along which Brian Boru passed to Muckamore,
Glenavy and Antrim, may still be traced.
Luke Teeling was a Catholic. His sons Charles and Bartholomew
were United Irishmen. As a Catholic the Penal Laws meant the
elder Teeling couldn't vote. The notorious Lord Castlereagh,
however, pledged himself to political reform in the Catholic
interest if returned to Parliament and won the support of the
Teelings.
On being elected Castlereagh pretended the warmest friendship for
the family. But one morning in 1796 Luke, while riding through
Lisburn with his son Charles, was joined by Castlereagh who, with
a show of courtesy, rode with them. When they reached the house
of his relative, the Marquis of Hertford, Castlereagh manoeuvred
his horse and trapped Charles, who was taken prisoner.
``I regret,'' said Castlereagh, ``that your son cannot accompany you
further. He is under arrest.''
Charles was charged with high treason and brought to Kilmainham
Gaol where he was held for several years. In his ``Narrative'',
written years later, Teeling says, ``the interior of our prison
was of the most gloomy description and calculated as far as the
extended structure would admit to gratify the feelings of the
despotic mind in the solitary confinement of the prisoner. Pen,
ink and paper were prohibited and all intercourse with our
friends was denied.''
Bartholomew was educated in Dublin by the Rev W Dubordieu, a
French Protestant, and joined the United Irishmen before he was
twenty. In 1796 he went to France to assist Wolfe Tone in
securing a French invasion of Ireland. He held rank as Etat-Major
in the French Army under Hoche and landed at Killala with General
Humbert and fought at Ballinamuck and Castlebar. When the French
surrendered he was given into the power of the English. Taken to
prison in Dublin he was found guilty of ``high treason'', sentenced
to death and hanged on 24 September 1798. He was 24.
A record of the time states, ``scarcely had his head been severed
from his body when the latter was thrown into `The Croppy's
Hole', a place prepared for the purpose of burying all the
Irishmen who were executed''.
On his release Charles Teeling established a bleach green at The
Naul, County Meath where he employed Jemmy Hope of Templepatrick.
During Hope's stay at The Naul a foreman of Teeling's, McCarroll,
gave information to the Yeomen, declaring him to be a Unitedman.
Hope fled to Dublin where, with the assistance of Teeling, he set
up a haberdasher's in The Coombe.
After `98, Luke Teeling opened a linen shop in Mill Street,
Belfast two doors from Marquis Street.
Next door lived a Mrs Murdoch, a leader among the women of the
Orange Party. Brown Square and district were ultra-loyal while
Millfield and Mill Street were National.
At his linen shop Mr Teeling lived quietly, but in disturbances,
often raised by the Orange mobs, his house and shop were sacked,
and most of his goods and household effects stolen. Once, after a
raid, Teeling's window curtains were seen on the windows next
door, and his cuckoo clock was heard in the house. Later Mrs
Murdoch saw Teeling passing as the clock chimed. She insultingly
shouted after him ``Thank you, Croppy.''
The woman's husband, George, was a hearth-tax collector. Edward
John Newell, the notorious informer, lived with them. He was the
son of Scottish parents born in Downpatrick in 1771. In the
secret list of the blood-money paid by the English Government
Newell is named as receiving thousands of pounds for making false
accusations which led to the deaths of many innocent people.
Newell also informed on Charles Teeling.
Newell was shot at the ``Holestone'' in the neighbourhood of Doagh,
and his grave, it is said, can still be pointed out near
Templepatrick.
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