Does anyone know where there is a Liberty Tree in Ireland, or indeed, what a Liberty Tree is? A letter from Tom McCaughren, old friend and colleague, mentions his book on the 1798 Rising in Ballymena In Search of the Liberty Tree. Tom, a native of the town, was up there recently, invited as he says "to a most unusual function".
For Ballymena Borough Council, working with the mid-Antrim Historical Group under Dr Uell Dunlop, was unveiling a plaque in memory of the United Irishmen who were hanged at the Moat, a Norman mound on the edge of the town. The plaque names nine of the rebels including their leader, Thomas Archer, who headed the big force, mostly Presbyterians, who laid siege to the Market House, now the town Hall, for three days. Presbyterians, it will be remembered, in those times suffered the same disabilities as did Catholics.
Present in the town hall this time were members of the Democratic Unionist Party, the official Unionist Party, and SDLP. Invited to say a few words, Tom mentioned that as the plaque unveiled on the 200th Anniversary of '98, had commemorated the defence of the Market House, as it was, by the church of Ireland schoolmaster, six yeomen and four Catholics, a plaque should also be put up at the Moravian settlement at Gracehill nearby, as they gave refuge to families of both sides. This, said Tom, would complete the circle of reconciliation. A fascinating place, Gracehill. We will visit it another day. The town of Ballymena tends to get into the news when sectarianism raises its head. But, as Tom sees it, is not all like that. At the ceremony he met that great reconciler, the good Dr John Robb, founder of the New Ireland Group, a modern Armour of Ballymoney.
Back to the Liberty Tree. Ann Fay, a former teacher who published a book on Roddy McCorley, wrote to Tom a few years ago to say that the only Liberty Tree she had ever seen was outside the Cathedral of Bayeux - presumably home of the famous tapestry. She thought there were still a couple extant in Ireland "but I've forgotten where." Anyone know? Liberty Trees were planted in France after the 1789 overthrow of the monarchy and it is believed we did the same around 1798.