The beheading of Friar Séamus ‘James’ O’Hegarty in Buncrana has featured as a tale in a new children’s book – ‘Haunted Ireland: An Atlas of Ghost Stories from Every County’.
The book, out this Thursday, is penned by Navan author and teacher Kieran Fanning and illustrated by Mark Hill.
Donegal’s story is about Father Hegarty (1649-1711), who was executed on the Inishowen Peninsula during Penal Times.
The below contribution by Kieran Fanning tells how he discovered the grim story:
In an old copy of the Derry Journal, I came across the story of a group of boys who were out quad biking on the Inishowen Peninsula one night when they were forced to stop their vehicles by a phantom white horse that magically appeared in front of them, and then disappeared just as quickly. Climbing off their quad bikes, they realised that the ghostly horse had saved their lives, for if they were to continue in the direction they’d been going, they would have driven over the edge of a cliff to a watery grave. But who did this phantom horse belong to?
Well, given the particular part of the peninsula where the event took place, the horse could only have belonged to one person – Father Hegarty, a priest who had been killed there during Penal Times. The place where he died is known as Father Hegarty’s Rock.
During the 17th century, the ruling English Crown imposed Penal Laws on Ireland, to, among other things, quash the Catholic religion. Saying Mass was outlawed, but priests practised it in secret, in remote forests and isolated hilltops. These priests, who would have been arrested if caught, were often hidden by the locals.
One such priest was Father Seamas Hegarty, who hid out in a concealed cave on the shores of Lough Swilly. He was brought food by his sister who lived in nearby Ballynarry. She told nobody where she was going, not even her husband. Afterwards, some said this was because she knew he was an English sympathiser. Anyway, her husband became suspicious of his wife’s mysterious trips, and one day decided to follow her and discovered the hidden priest. He reported Father Hegarty to the English authorities, in exchange for a reward.
A Captain Vaughan led the hunt for Hegarty but the locals got wind of the approaching Redcoats and brought a white horse to the priest to make his getaway. As the priest galloped off towards a boat which was waiting to take him across the lough to Rathmullen, Vaughan and his men gave chase.
They caught up with him before he could reach the boat, but rather than be captured, the priest and horse jumped into the sea. Vaughan called out that he would spare Hegarty’s life if he returned to the shore. Foolishly, the priest believed him. As soon as Hegarty got out of the water, Vaughan killed him and cut off his head to send to Dublin as proof of the priest’s demise.
It is said that the rock where Father Hegarty had been killed, cracked apart in the shape of a cross that can still be seen today. The priest’s body was buried where it fell, and the spot is marked today by a plaque.
The story was immortalised in a poem called ‘Friar Hegarty’ by William Roddy in 1893.
So, this is the story of Hegarty’s Rock
That stands out there amidst the shock
Of the Swilly’s waves
Where the wild wind raves
And the sea is plumed with tossing mane,
As of steed repelled and urged again.
Stay, friend, tread light on the sacred sod,
‘Tis the grave of a martyr-priest of God.
Kieran Fanning is a primary school teacher from County Meath. ‘Haunted Ireland’ is his 8th book for young people. For more information on him or his books, please visit www.kieranfanning.com.