Massacre at Gibbet Rath.

The 1798 rebellion was strongly supported in the Kildare area, and it was at the Gibbet Rath on the Curragh of Kildare that the worst atrocities of the rising took place.

The rebels initially had much success taking over a number of towns and successfully holding them for nearly a week, when the tide of fortune turned against them they negotiated a favourable surrender with Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Dundas, commander of the Midland District Militia. Under the terms they were to proceed on the 29th to Gibbet Rath on the Curragh, where after handing in their arms they would be allowed to return to their homes unharmed.

Large numbers gathered at the rath to meet General Dundas, they were met instead by General Sir James Duff, Dundas having been called away. Duff had with him a regiment known as Roden's Foxhunters led by Viscount Jocelyn, a leading racing man whose father the Earl of Roden was one of the original founders of the Turf Club in Kildare town. General Duff had been informed that a soldier from Rommey's Fencibles had been knocked from his horse and killed on the Curragh

Reports from Kildare town on the evening of the 28th told of several of Roden's Foxhunters marching through the street in a drunken state stating their intention of slaughtering the Croppies tomorrow on the Curragh. This behavior deterred many rebels from proceeding to the Curragh, thereby saving their lives

The following day, May 29, 1798 the rebels assembled at the Gibbet Rath where they handed in their weapons. They were immediately surrounded by General Duff and his forces which, besides Roden's Light Dragoons, the Monasterevan cavalry were there also. Duff ordered his army to charge. Over 350 men were slaughtered as they fled in panic, many more were badly injured but wisely feigned death until calm prevailed.

It was reported that in one street alone in Kildare town 85 women were left widows. Within a 10 mile radius of the Curragh there was hardly a house or cottage that didn't have a father, brother or son killed. Some of the rebels were buried in Kildangan where their names are recorded. Others were buried in the Grey Abby in Kildare and some in Nurney.