Reenacting the defeat of French forces supporting the United Irishmen at Ballinamuck.
The Battle of Ballinamuck took place in County Longford on 8 September 1798. It was one of the most significant confrontations of the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland.
Members of the 17th Infantry Battalion based in Longford took part in the reenactment playing French soldiers, pikemen and English forces. They were joined by historical reenactment groups from all over Ireland.
They've come to Ballinamuck to join locals in a major battle reenactment which has been in the making for a long time.
Former Fianna Fáil TD Séamus Dolan says that the reenactment has been two years in the making.
On 8 September 1798, war weary soldiers who had marched from the west of Ireland joined a camp at Ballinamuck. One of the pikemen became the first victim in the Battle of Ballinamuck which lasted just half a day.
John Carty of the bi-centenary committee says that the Battle of Ballinamuck was the last pitch battle in Ireland and the last major event of the 1798 Rebellion. Five hundred people, mainly pikemen, lost their lives at Ballinamuck.
The English won, the French were given pardon and the pikemen were slaughtered.
Three hundred and fifty people took part in the reenactment with several thousand coming to watch history being repeated. Organisers say that while the event was organised to commemorate the battle, it was also about peace. The village of Ballinamuck has a new peace garden which commemorates 1798 and aims to promote peace in Ireland.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 September 1998. The reporter is Eileen Magnier.
