Clár Fhéile an Átha Bhuí
Yellow Ford Festival Programme
Dé hAoine 5ú Lúnasa agus Dé Sathairn 6ú Lúnasa 2011
Friday 5th August and Saturday 6th August 2011
The Battle of The Yellow Ford, known in Irish as ‘Béal an Átha Bhuí’, was fought across a number of townlands just north of Armagh City, in the area of the Grange and An Port Mór, on the 14th August 1598. The outcome of the Battle sent shockwaves all over Europe and brought the English administration in Ireland to its knees. It was fought between an English army led by the Queen’s Marshall, Sir Henry Bagenal, and Irish forces led by Hugh Ó Néill and his fellow Gaelic Lords, Red Hugh O Donnell and Hugh Maguire.
Troideadh Cath Bhéal an Átha Bhuí i mbailte fearainn ar an taobh ó thuaidh de chathair Ard Mhacha, i gceantar na Gráinsi agus an Phoirt Mhóir, ar an 14ú Lúnasa 1598. Bhí toradh an chatha ina ábhar iontas ar fud na hEorpa agus is beag nár chuir sé deireadh le réimeas Sasana in Éirinn. Cath a bhí ann idir arm Shasanach faoi cheannas Mharascal na Banríona, Sir Henry Bagenal, agus fórsaí Éireannacha de chuid na dTiarnaí Gaelacha Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill agus Aodh Mag Uidhir.
Around 5,000 English troops and cavalry left Armagh City on the morning of battle to relieve a small English garrison besieged by O’Neill’s forces on the Blackwater River. In a feat of extraordinary planning, engineering and execution, O’Neill used his superior knowledge of the local terrain to inflict the greatest ever defeat on any English Army in Ireland. 18 English Captains and at least 1,800 of their men were lost in battle. Famously, Sir Henry Bagenal himself was killed upon momentarily lifting the visor of his battle helmet. This episode is immortalised in the name of a bridge on the Blackwatertown Road – Bagenal’s Bridge.
D’imigh thart ar 5,000 de thrúpaí Sasanacha ó Chathair Ard Mhacha maidin an chatha le tarrtháil a thabhairt ar gharastún beag Sasanach a bhí faoi léigear ag fórsaí Uí Néill ar an Abhainn Mhór. In éacht míleata tharr barr, maidir lena phleanáil agus lena chur i gcrích, bhain Ó Néill leas as a chuid sar-eolais ar an tírdhreach áitiúil leis an bhuaileadh ba mheasa ariamh a imirt ar arm Sasanach in Éirinn. Cailleadh 18 Captaen Sasanach agus breis is 1,800 dá gcuid fear sa chath. Mar is eol do go leor, maraíodh Sir Henry Bagenal féin nuair a d’ardaigh sé cealtair a chlogaid. Go dtí an lá inniu tá droichead ar Bhóthar an Phoirt Mhóir atá animnithe as an eachtra – Droichead Bagenal.
Memories of the Battle of the Yellow Ford survive in local place names, legend, folklore and song. Enquiries from throughout the island of Ireland and from many parts of the world have encouraged a local committee to lobby for official recognition of the area’s historical significance. The two day Yellow Ford Festival which begins on Friday 5th August at 8.00pm at the Grange GFC and continues through Saturday 6th August has been organised by CAIRDE Teo in an effort to raise awareness of the Battle’s potential to attract visitors and tourists to the Armagh countryside and to boost the local economy.
Maireann cuimhní Bhéal an Átha Bhuí san cheantar i logainmneacha, sa tseanchas agus in amhráin. Spreag spéis agus fiosruithe ó gach páirt d’Éirinn, agus den domhan, coiste áitiúil le haitheantas oifigiúil a lorg do thábhacht stairiúil an cheantair. Tá Féile an Átha Bhuí a thosnaíonn ag Clubtheach CLG na Gráinsí ar an Aoine an 5ú Lúnasa agus a leanann ar an Satharn an 6ú á eagrú ag CAIRDE Teo le haird a dhíriú ar na féidearthachtaí turasóireachta agus forbartha don cheantar a bhaineann leis an chath.
Aoine 4ú Lúnasa Friday 4th August
ÁIT: Clubtheach CLG na Gráinsí Grange GFC, Co Armagh
8.00in Léacht Léirithe le David Swift ‘Uirlisí agus Straitéisí an Átha Bhuí’
Illustrated Talk by David Swift ‘Weapons and Strategies at the Yellow Ford’
10.00in Ceol Traidisiúnta le ‘Ciorcal Comhrá Ard Mhacha’ Traditional Music
Satharn 5ú Lúnasa Saturday 5th August
11.30rn Teacht le chéile @ Droichead Achadh an Dá Chora
Meeting at the bridge in Charlemont
12.00 mean lae Turas Báid Staire ar an Abhainn Mhór
Historical Boat Trip on the River Blackwater
A flotilla of vessels including currachs and canoes will travel the historic stretch of river with points of historic interest being referenced along the way by Dr Antaine Ó Donnaile.
Táille: £10 gach duine
2.00in Lón pacáilte ar bhruach na hAbhann ar An Phort Mhór
Bring a packed lunch to enjoy on the river bank at Blackwatertown before the next leg of the tour
2.30in Siúlóid Threoraithe – ‘Dearcadh na nGael’
Walk from An Port Mór to The Grange – an exploration of the Ó Néill encampments
5.00in Sciath an Átha Bhuí
The Yellow Ford Challenge Shield – a hurling challenge match between the current holders Cúchulainns, Ard Mhacha and Naomh Éanna, Aontroim
6.30in Deireadh na Féile
Tea, coffee and refreshments in the Grange Clubhouse, Naomh Colmchille, CLG An Ghráinseach
CAIRDE Teo is a community based limited company and recognised charity which promotes and develops the Irish language, culture and heritage through the organisation and sponsorship of Irish language projects and events within schools, community groups, sports and cultural organisations
A wide range of Irish language greeting cards, giftware and clothing items are available at our shop ‘CULT ÚR’ on the first floor of Armagh City Shopping Centre and through our online shop www.cairdeteo.com.
As a social enterprise, all profits generated through the trading activities of CAIRDE are re-invested in Irish language community projects in Armagh City and surrounding district. The company has offices in Armagh City Shopping Centre where its two full-time employees are based.
For additional information on CAIRDE Teo’s Irish language products and services contact Seán nó Gearóid:
CAIRDE Teo, Ionad Siopadóireachta Ard Mhacha, Sráid Thomáis, Ard Mhacha, BT61 7AE
www.cairdeteo.com Guthán: 028 37515229 eolas@cairdeteo.com
Tá Féile an Átha Bhuí urraithe ag:
CAIRDE Teo, Comhairle Chathair agus Cheantar Ard Mhacha agus Foras na Gaeilge
