| Diaspora gathers 400 years on to
remember Irish earls THE Irish Diaspora in Belgium turned out
in force at the European launch of the Flight Of The Earls 400th anniversary
exhibition at the European Parliament last week.
Four centuries after Earl of Tyrone Hugh O’Neill and Earl of Tyrconnel
Rory O’Donnell fled to Belgium to escape English rule, Ireland’s
latest generation of emigrants gathered to commemorate an event that spread
Irish people throughout mainland Europe.
Enda Bonner, chairman of Donegal County Council who co-hosted the exhibition,
said: “The Flight Of The Earls marked the first stage of emigration
from Donegal, which was followed by the Famine in the 19th century and
waves of emigration which has continued ever since.
“It is important to launch the exhibition here because so many people
that took part in the Flight Of The Earls came to Belgium and then stayed
there.”
The exhibition displays the history of the earls, who left Rathmullen,
Co. Donegal, by ship in 1607.
On board were the chieftains of some of the leading Gaelic families that
had fought a nine-year war against English forces.
After landing in France, many of the 99 people on board settled in Belgium,
Spain and Italy.
“The Flight Of The Earls marked the end of an ancient Gaelic order
and made way for the Plantation of Ulster,” said marketing manager
of the exhibition Aidan Haughey.
“It also was a key event that established the Irish Diaspora abroad.”
The exhibition details how many of the Gallaghers and O’Briens on
board went to Spain and became high- ranking officers in the Spanish army.
Over the years, the O’Briens of Spain changed their name to Obrégon.
Many people of this name now live in Spain and Latin America.
“Even in Belgium today there are as many as 500 people with names
derived from people that arrived from the Flight of the Earls,”
said Mr Haughey. |
