JOURNAL OF THE COUNTY DONEGAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY O'Donnells, a sept largely conneeted and widely respected in those parts. Hm mother's kinsfolk would bot have been slow to rally _tp the support o:f one of tJheir own in h.is trouble. QLIDNFINN, too, was well represented, but, strangely enough, the Glassagh OIDonnells did not !PUt. in an appearance. Practlcally the entire Kilmacrenan countryside was there. IBrighid na Gl!aistghe and the men . "\nd women of the area assembled on the t'OP' of KnociknaJbollan. T.here they knelt and recited a Rosary prior to setting out for Lifford !before dawn. Brighid and the two. co:tna)anions with her carried their beads in their hands th:mughout the journey, and even during the fight, and muttered many a fervent Pater and Ave for Manus's deliverance. The biggest crowd that was evE:r seen in the county 1s said to !lave assembled to see Manus match his skill with the dragoon on that memorable day in March, 1799, I was told that their numbers have been exceeded on only two ..iccasions since. The first was the Ga:otnn Centenary Celebrations of 9th June, 1'897, and tJhie other was when 12;000 peQ'pl:e 1g:a.thered in iLett-e:rkenny to wei1come our former T.aoiseaoh, Mr. de Va·lera, in 1934. The Arena piART of the field had bee~n railed oft' as an arena. The first to enter was the tall dragoon on his stately charger. He received the cheers and applause of his comrades and elite. When Manus, accompanied 1by his escort, appeared, he was .greeted with .the wild shouts of his mountain supporters; Feelings ran high and the ix>sition became so threatening that a hostile demonstration on the part of the troops was necessary -- 200 to restore order. A warning wasiss:ued a:r;ld some horse took up a.- position near the demonstrators. The large inducements held out to Manus to turn informer and the presence of such strong contingents· from so many parts who marched to Lifford to cpeer him are understandable only ·on the ground of his being known for his United Irishmen activities over a· - large part of Donegal. The Combatants MANUS was a man of powerful physique and was 40 years old at the time. He had been much weakened by his long· confinement, lack of food and cruel treatment since his arrest many months before, !but he was nevertheless undaunted and faced his opponent with confidence and. courage. It was heartening for· him to see such a large and lusty body 10lf floUiOWem. 'Tihese, despdte the previous wamtng and· the threatening presence of the military, could not be restrained and' continued to cheer him to the echo. This was a source·of great encouragement and Manus's heart leaped· with joy when he spied his wife proudly to the fore. Their eves met for an instant and :flashed a; message of love and hope. Captain O'Donnell's spirits were high and· he waived his JJ·ike in acknowledgment to the crowd. Then, with a pray.er on his lips, he turned to face his enemy. Captain Murray, was, at this time, riding around the enclosure. He whispered a word of final instruction in the ear of the dragoon and immediately withdrew. At the sound of a , trumipet the contest w.as oil! The Victory and after M ANIUS toek up his stanc:e towards the oentre of the field a!Jd awaited the onslaught· of
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