HARDRESS WALLER, AGE 90, RYNSKAHEEN, DROMINEER (Part 4)

On this visit to Hardress Waller’s home, the focus was on the 1798 Rebellion. We began by looking at a local Ordinance Survey map, as Hardress explained why there was no uprising around the Nenagh area. In 1796 the government formed Volunteer forces around the countryside and as a result the landowners were well protected. Hardress listed all the infantry and cavalry deployments, and we looked at some old family letters written at that time, one addressed by Robert Waller, Castle Waller, to the Chief Secretary at Dublin Castle. Robert Waller reported that he was managing to patrol the hill areas. Another interesting letter discussed where a known rebel by the name of Murphy might be located. This discussion moved to Hardress’s own involvement in research work on the Royal Irish Artillery between 1756 and 1801. Finally we talked about the Gentleman’s Club in Nenagh, and the restrictions put in place there. This was the final interview with Hardress Waller, and was one of several very informative discussions over a period of many months.