Govt to announce Flight of the Earls commemorations

Ceremonies to mark the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls will be announced in coming days, it emerged tonight.

Last year the Government set up a cross-departmental committee to decide how to mark the watershed event in Ireland’s history.

In September 1607, Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell and 90 of their followers fled to Europe.

Their armies had been defeated by the English and they feared arrest.

The exodus led to the demise of the ancient Gaelic aristocracy in Ireland and paved the way for the Plantation of Ulster.

There are currently exhibitions dedicated to the Flight of the Earls in Cos Donegal and Derry.

A Government spokeswoman confirmed that a programme of commemorative events will be announced next week.