1797 - News of the French at Bantry

Many of us were in Carlow, attending the quarterly meeting, when, on the morning of the 25th of Twelfth-month, the alarm came that the French fleet had been seen of Bantry. We saw the troopers march out of town to meet them. It was an awful sight, not knowing but that these, now in the pride of health, would be sacrificed to horrid war. The weather became very inclement, and the rigours of frost and snow were severely felt by the crowds of soldiers who were hastening to Bantry. Carlow was all in confusion; so was Ballitore, our houses being for a long time open to the military, going to and returning from Bantry. We were relieved from the present apprehension of invasion, but it had caused ferment in the minds of the people. The inconvenience of having our houses thronged with soldiers we bore with becoming patience, but the idea that this might be the beginning of sorrows was distressing.