The Islands Of Ireland: Fine and Tandy in Rutland

United Irelander Napper Tandy who landed on the island with an expeditionary force in 1798 in a failed attempt to start an insurrection.

From a French corvette in 1798, a very important visitor alighted to Co Donegal’s Rutland Island. Napper Tandy was a Dubliner and a scourge of the city’s councillors as he waged war on their corruption. A few years prior had assisted Wolfe Tone in setting up the United Irishmen and agitated for Ireland’s independence. He now sought French assistance in overthrowing British rule and by 1798, via a sojourn in the US and a time in France, had been given command of a ship.