Who were "The Men of the West"? Folk historiographies and the reconstruction of Democratic histories

Folklore, August, 2004 by Guy Beiner

Dominick McDonnell of Muingrevagh (a short distance from Kilcummin) was also capable of repeating fragments of stories heard from his grandfather:

   Humbert was watching the guns when they were giving them out to the
   Irish. "Ah," says he after a while, "I'm lost among ye," when he saw
   they weren't able to use the guns he brought. "My curse on ye," says
   he, for he was looking at them catching the muzzle and using the gun
   as a hammer against the rocks and wall (Hayes 1979, 218).

Humbert's dismay at the new recruits' abuse of the guns they were given is an authentic reflection of a historical reality described by Bishop Joseph Stock, the Protestant bishop of Killala who was an eyewitness to the events. Stock's Narrative also confirms the story that a misfire by an awkward recruit almost hit the general, and in his anger he ordered that ammunition no longer be issued to the Irish. Though the contemporary account shows that Humbert was less forgiving than folk memory would have him be and "instantly punished with an unmerciful caning" the hapless recruit (Stock 1800, 27).

Stock described the poor conditions of the Irish recruits and the clumsy situations that arouse from their being issued quality French military gear: "... the coxcombry of the young clowns in their new dress; the mixture of good humour and contempt in the countenances of the French, employed in making puppies of them" (Stock 1800, 26-7). With more empathy, folk traditions acknowledged the dearth among the Irish rebels. For example, a Mayo tradition maintained that more than one-half of the local recruits were barefoot and that many deserted upon receiving boots from the French (O Cathain 1980, 5). In folk narrative, the derisive reaction of French soldiers was personalised and attributed specifically to Humbert. This did not necessarily correspond to the historical Humbert, who remarked to Bishop Stock: "Look at those poor fellows, they are made of the same stuff with ourselves" (Stock 1800, 27). Yet, folk narrative simplified and personified general attitudes current at the time and presented Humbert as the exemplary representative of the sentiments of the French troops in general. Indeed, following the defeat at Ballinamuck, the disillusioned French general and his staff expressed contempt and scorn towards the Irish rebels (Edgeworth 1969, 235-6).

Friction between the French and Irish leadership was personified in a Leitrim tradition from around Drumshanbo, which told of a duel between Humbert and Irish rebel leader General George Blake on the eve of the battle of Ballinamuck (Hayes 1979, 104). Similarly, James O'Neill of Crowdromin (near Ballinamuck) preceded his account of the battle with a description of an argument between Humbert and Blake regarding the placing of the Irish pikemen:

   Blake wanted them on the hillside of Shanmullagh, and Humbert wanted
   them round the Black Fort. "Don't think," says Humbert, "that I'm
   going to lose my men for a lot of savages." Some of the Irish then
   were marched up the hill with Humbert and some stayed on the road
   with Blake (Hayes 1979, 234).