Fort plays host to ancient battles
Sometimes historical accuracy was consigned to the bin as English redcoats skirmished with Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War.
“It can make history a bit confusing, but it’s all good clean fun,” explained Paddy Bassett, a member of the Pards group which specialises in Confederate battle scenes.
Facing his group were old foes from the 8th Missouri Regiment, Union troops who were mainly Irish. Looking resplendent in his officer’s uniform, Stan Prater said his small group were delighted to come to Charlesfort, in Kinsale, Co Cork.
“We’re proud to represent the Irishmen who fought for the regiment,” the American said.
His outfit were pitted against a handful of Southern troops, a lot less than they were used to facing in the US.
“We were in a recreation of the Battle of Gettysburg five years ago. About 27,000 people took part,” he said.
An English-based group depicting the 1810 Connaught Rangers were the most impressively turned out and spent the weekend drilling and taking part in various skirmishes.
They’re hoping to travel to Belgium next year to take part in a Government-organised reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo which is expected to involve 10,000 enthusiasts.
Surprisingly, member Rob Anderson said their uniforms were relatively inexpensive to make.
However, the replica muskets set them back over €300 each.
The Monasterevan Historical Society put on a display of pikemen from 1798. “We have an original pike from the era which was found in a thatched cottage,” Eamonn Dunne said proudly.
Outside the walls, the Society of Irish Knights, clad in armour and brandishing colourful shields, fought it out to the delight of onlookers and then laid siege to the fort with huge catapults.
“We use deflated soccer balls, packed with sand and covered with plastic to fire at the castle.
“We don’t want to damage the walls,” group leader Seán Shiels, from Co Limerick, pointed out.
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