An American Family History

The Whiteboys, Rockites, or Levellers were names used for secret Irish agrarian organizations in 18th-century Ireland. They used violent tactics to defend tenant farmers' land rights. Their name came from the white shirts the members wore in their raids. They sought to address excessive rents, tithe collection, excessive priests' dues, and evictions.

One raid was in Limerick on August 15, 1821. The Whiteboys planned to burn the tithe books, which were held at the house of Tithe Proctor John Ives, near Askeaton. Terence Moran (1791) was the leader of this raid. There were about 200 men in white shirts with blackened faces. He was, according to a current newspaper account, "attired in a most conspicuous manner, with a white dress, a cocked-hat and feathers."

The raid was doomed to failure. An informer, believed to have been Mickey Frawley, warned the chief magistrate, Major Richard Going. The men crossed the river Deel to Inchirourke. Moran led his men to the Curragh-house, the seat of Sir Aubrey De Vere Hunt, Bart. They were ambushed by Major Going who was inside with a detachtment of highlanders and Palatine mercenaries who were outside. Moran was badly wounded in the first volley, but escaped only to die in a house in Barrigone. Constable Thomas Manning was killed.

Most of the insurgents fled, but three wounded men remained: Hayes from Askeaton, Fitzgerald, from Rathkeale and O' Callaghan Darby from Cappagh. The others were chased by the authorities.

In the morning, one of the wounded men was discovered by a servant girl who betrayed him. The authorities captured all three of the wounded. They were to Rathkeale bridge where they were interred in a deep pit and covered with quick lime. Accounts differ as to weather they were alive when interred.

Three other men were captured, Michael Moran, Michael Halloran, and Michael Fitzgerald. They were tried for murder. Michael Moran was acquitted and other two were sentenced to death by hanging.

In the following days, Going paid £1,600 to informers and transportations and executions follwoed. The leader of the Askeaton insurrection,

This event led to the Irish rising in west Limerick and the assassination of Major Going.

"In 1823 a James Fitzgibbon was tried with a Patrick Neville for murdering Richard Going and in spite of being ably defended by Daniel O'Connell, they were convicted and executed."