Carnew massacre

The Carnew Massacre was the summary execution of 35 prisoners being held as suspected United Irishmen by the local garrison in the British army barracks base of Carnew Castle, Carnew, County Wicklow, Ireland on 25 May 1798.

By the morning of the 25 May, news of the long-expected outbreak of the 1798 rebellion in neighbouring County Kildare and of military losses in Ballymore-Eustace, Naas, and Prosperous had reached the garrison in Carnew, who decided to take preventative measures by rounding up the rebel suspects under detention. The prisoners were marched from Carnew Castle to the local handball alley and executed by firing squad as a warning to the local populace.

News of the summary executions, together with news of a similar massacre at Dunlavin, spread throughout County Wicklow and across the border into County Wexford, giving substance to the rumours of widespread killing already prevalent. On 7 June, the town was burned and sacked in a revenge raid by Wexford rebels, led by Anthony Perry.

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