This cache is hidden at the point where General Humbert sent the first of his men ashore on the 22nd of August 1798 after 16 days at sea. They arrived here in 3 frigates La Concorde, La Médée et La Franchise after leaving the port of La Rochelle on the 6th, a journey which should have taken only 6 or 7 days but in order to avoid the British naval blockade they had to sail way out into the north Atlantic making the journey much rougher and longer, they finally sailed into the bay under British flags as part of their cover, the main body of the 1019 strong French army with weapons and supplies came ashore nearby at Kilcummen pier and a few hours later a detachment of about 200 french troops and some local volunteers marched on Killala. .
The whole episode lasted about a month with some notable victories against a vastly superior force before they were finally defeated in county Longford and became known locally as ‘Bliain na bhFrancagh’ or the ‘year of the French’.
Pour en savoir plus en français cliquez ici