The Battle Of Widow McCormack’s Cabbage Patch

In Ireland in 1848, there were many bands of rebellion Irish Republican Brotherhoods growing all over the country. One well known was led by William Smith O’Brien, a gentleman reputed to be the leader of a mass of tough Irish rebels.

One day the English police were alarmed to hear that O’Brien was on his way with a large amount of fierce rebels. By the time word had traveled over several camps, he had amassed a troop of more than 20,000 rebels, and they were coming close to a little village, Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary!

The police were terrified. They sent all they had, which was only about 20 able-bodied men, to make an effort to block the oncoming angry Irishmen.

When the nervous police officers came near to the village, they could see many people milling around! It looked like O`Brien was near with his army! Thinking quickly, they took shelter in a nearby cottage surrounded by a garden.

Upon entering, they found five frightened children huddled together in the cottage. The officers hurriedly broke up the furniture to barricade the door and windows. They armed themselves and hid inside the little house expecting a mass of angry Irish insurgents.

O’Brien came with a collection of twenty rebels. He found the curious villagers crouched behind the low stone walls around the cottage trying to see what was going on inside!

Widow McCormack, who had been in town, came and demanded to know what was going on!

“My children are in that house!”

O’Brien slipped inside the wall and peeked in and, stepping carefully among the flourishing cabbage plants, he could see the barricades inside and the police sneaking peaks through the broken furniture pieces. The children looked safe enough although very startled.

As O'Brien slipped away from the cottage to share his report with the worrisome mother and onlookers, someone shouted “Slash away, boys!" and a storm of rocks battered the cottage walls unexpectedly!

Another group of police came and the crowd scattered for home leaving an angry mother to storm the cottage herself against the invaders and lash at policemen with her tongue regarding her anxious brood who quickly found safety behind her comforting apron.

O'Brien and his men drew safely away chuckling to themselves in reminisce of “The Battle Of Widow MacCormack’s Cabbage Patch!”

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Over the next several weeks, I will be publishing, with the aid of my daughter, Bettse Folsom, a series of answer & questions & snippets about Ireland that many people have asked me during events where I have attended. If you have a question, please contact me by email and I will be happy to address it.

Thank you for reading my blog!