The Lords Pool, River Mourne, Sion Mills, 7 Feb 2021, DSC_0202-2
Another one of the renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne near the village of Sion Mills. Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland. The Lord's Pool is a prized fly-fishing pool, for both salmon and sea trout. It is best fished at the start of the season when fish are running or when water levels are too low upstream.
This is the stretch of river where a 22-year-old 'Lord Strabane' died on 16th June 1655 being drown bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten, near Strabane.
James Hamilton, 3rd Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane (b.1633 d.1655) fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland together with his stepfather Phelim O'Neill (b.c.1604 d.1653) in the Siege of Charlemont, County Armagh, from July to 14 August 1650, they defended Charlemont fort against the Parliamentarian army of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661), however after a massive defense the garrison was exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of it's gunpowder and ammunition so on 14 August Sir Phelim O'Neill requested terms of surrender.
James was born in 1633 probably at Strabane Castle, as the eldest son of Claude Hamilton (b.c.1605 d.1638) and his wife Jean Gordon (b.1601 d.1616). His father was the 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane, a member of the Strabane cadet branch of the Abercorns. James mother was the 4th daughter of George Gordon (b.1562 d.1636), 1st Marquess of Huntly who had married in 1632.
James had one brother, George and two sister. Catherine (b.1623 d.1670/1), who 1st married her cousin James Hamilton of Manorhamilton (b.1630 d.1652), the eldest brother of Gustavus Hamilton (b.1642 d.1723), 1st Viscount Boyne. 2nd married, Col. Owen Wynne of Lurganboy (b.1657 d.c.1670) and 3rd married, John Bingham, of Castlebar, Co. Mayo. James 2nd sister, Cecilia, also called Mariana (b.1637 d.?), married Richard Perkins of Lifford.
Claude died on 14th June 1638 probably at the Castle of Strabane and was buried at Leckpatrick, Strabane, County Tyrone. James succeeded his father at the age of about 5, his mother ran the family estate for the young Lord Strabane, as he was now known, and they continued to live in the Castle of Strabane.
In 1641, when James was about eight years old, the Irish Rebellion broke out. The rebel leader Phelim O'Neill captured and burnt Strabane Castle and took James, his mother, and his siblings captive. Phelim brought them to his castle in Kinard (County Kerry) but released them after a few days and sent them to "Sir George Hamilton". This may have been Sir George of Donalong, the younger, (b.c.1607 d.1679) or his great-uncle Sir George Hamilton, the elder of Greenlaw and Roscrea (b.1594 d.1662).
In 1649, when he was about 16, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Strabane Castle was attacked again, this time by Robert Monro (b.c.1590 d.1675) and his Covenant army.
The castle was relieved by Phelim O'Neill, it's previous attacker. Phelim married James' mother in November 1649. Phelim became his stepfather and his half-brother Gordon
O'Neill (b.c.1650 d.1705) was born.
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell (b.1599 d.1658) invaded Ireland with the Parliamentarian forces. On 21st June 1650 the Confederate Ulster Army lost the Battle of Scarrifholis (near Letterkenny in Co. Donegal). His stepfather, Phelim fought in this battle and then fled to escape capture. In July 1650, aged about 17, James joined his stepfather in a fight against the Parliamentarians. Together with Phelim O'Neill he defended Charlemont Fort (in County Armagh) in the Siege of Charlemont against Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661).
The fighting at Charlemont was one of the bloodiest conflicts to be fought in Ireland by the Parliamentarians. Almost all the 500 soldiers who died at Charlemont were killed in the attempted storm of the fort.
Coote bore a great deal of responsibility for the massive casualties. He had proven himself ruthless on a number of occasions, executing any enemy who fell into his hands. As such, the Ulster Irish defenders were willing to fight to the death.
After this huge effort the garrison was however exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of their gunpowder and ammunition. As a result, on 14 August 1650 O'Neill requested terms of surrender. The terms obtained were that he and his men would march out with bag and baggage after their wounds had healed, and proceed to a port where Coote would have ship waiting to carry them overseas.
James, however, did not want to leave the country, and therefore escaped and hid in the woods and bogs of the Munterlony mountains (now known as the Sperrin Mountains) where he was captured soon after. He then sought Coote's protection; but in December, he returned to his old cause and took up arms again with Phelim O'Neill. His lands, comprising among others what is today called the Baronscourt Estate (near Newtownstewart), were confiscated.
In 1652 Phelim O'Neill was captured on an island (crannog) on Roughan Lough, near Newmills, by Lord William Caufield (b.1624 d.1671), 5th Baron Charlemont. O’Neill was tried at Kilkenny and was conviced in October with all the barbartities then inflicted on persons adjudged guilty of high treason and was hanged, drawn and quartered at Dublin on 10th March 1653, one quarter was sent to be put up in Lisengarvey (Lisburn) as a memorial for the burning of that town at the begining of the war November 1941, another quarter sent to Dundalk for the taking of that town. another quarter in Drogheda for beseiging the same that winter and the other quarter and his head was sent and affixed on the bridge in Dublin as being the chief man that contrived and plotted to take it on Friday night, 22nd October 1941.
In 1655 Lord Strabane accidentally drowned while bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten near Strabane, aged about 22. He had never married and was succeeded by his younger brother George Hamilton (b.c.1636 d.1668) as the 4th Baron of Strabane. Hence this stretch of the river, “The Lords Pool” was named after him.
The Lords Pool, River Mourne, Sion Mills, 7 Feb 2021, DSC_0202-2
Another one of the renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne near the village of Sion Mills. Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland. The Lord's Pool is a prized fly-fishing pool, for both salmon and sea trout. It is best fished at the start of the season when fish are running or when water levels are too low upstream.
This is the stretch of river where a 22-year-old 'Lord Strabane' died on 16th June 1655 being drown bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten, near Strabane.
James Hamilton, 3rd Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane (b.1633 d.1655) fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland together with his stepfather Phelim O'Neill (b.c.1604 d.1653) in the Siege of Charlemont, County Armagh, from July to 14 August 1650, they defended Charlemont fort against the Parliamentarian army of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661), however after a massive defense the garrison was exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of it's gunpowder and ammunition so on 14 August Sir Phelim O'Neill requested terms of surrender.
James was born in 1633 probably at Strabane Castle, as the eldest son of Claude Hamilton (b.c.1605 d.1638) and his wife Jean Gordon (b.1601 d.1616). His father was the 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane, a member of the Strabane cadet branch of the Abercorns. James mother was the 4th daughter of George Gordon (b.1562 d.1636), 1st Marquess of Huntly who had married in 1632.
James had one brother, George and two sister. Catherine (b.1623 d.1670/1), who 1st married her cousin James Hamilton of Manorhamilton (b.1630 d.1652), the eldest brother of Gustavus Hamilton (b.1642 d.1723), 1st Viscount Boyne. 2nd married, Col. Owen Wynne of Lurganboy (b.1657 d.c.1670) and 3rd married, John Bingham, of Castlebar, Co. Mayo. James 2nd sister, Cecilia, also called Mariana (b.1637 d.?), married Richard Perkins of Lifford.
Claude died on 14th June 1638 probably at the Castle of Strabane and was buried at Leckpatrick, Strabane, County Tyrone. James succeeded his father at the age of about 5, his mother ran the family estate for the young Lord Strabane, as he was now known, and they continued to live in the Castle of Strabane.
In 1641, when James was about eight years old, the Irish Rebellion broke out. The rebel leader Phelim O'Neill captured and burnt Strabane Castle and took James, his mother, and his siblings captive. Phelim brought them to his castle in Kinard (County Kerry) but released them after a few days and sent them to "Sir George Hamilton". This may have been Sir George of Donalong, the younger, (b.c.1607 d.1679) or his great-uncle Sir George Hamilton, the elder of Greenlaw and Roscrea (b.1594 d.1662).
In 1649, when he was about 16, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Strabane Castle was attacked again, this time by Robert Monro (b.c.1590 d.1675) and his Covenant army.
The castle was relieved by Phelim O'Neill, it's previous attacker. Phelim married James' mother in November 1649. Phelim became his stepfather and his half-brother Gordon
O'Neill (b.c.1650 d.1705) was born.
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell (b.1599 d.1658) invaded Ireland with the Parliamentarian forces. On 21st June 1650 the Confederate Ulster Army lost the Battle of Scarrifholis (near Letterkenny in Co. Donegal). His stepfather, Phelim fought in this battle and then fled to escape capture. In July 1650, aged about 17, James joined his stepfather in a fight against the Parliamentarians. Together with Phelim O'Neill he defended Charlemont Fort (in County Armagh) in the Siege of Charlemont against Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661).
The fighting at Charlemont was one of the bloodiest conflicts to be fought in Ireland by the Parliamentarians. Almost all the 500 soldiers who died at Charlemont were killed in the attempted storm of the fort.
Coote bore a great deal of responsibility for the massive casualties. He had proven himself ruthless on a number of occasions, executing any enemy who fell into his hands. As such, the Ulster Irish defenders were willing to fight to the death.
After this huge effort the garrison was however exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of their gunpowder and ammunition. As a result, on 14 August 1650 O'Neill requested terms of surrender. The terms obtained were that he and his men would march out with bag and baggage after their wounds had healed, and proceed to a port where Coote would have ship waiting to carry them overseas.
James, however, did not want to leave the country, and therefore escaped and hid in the woods and bogs of the Munterlony mountains (now known as the Sperrin Mountains) where he was captured soon after. He then sought Coote's protection; but in December, he returned to his old cause and took up arms again with Phelim O'Neill. His lands, comprising among others what is today called the Baronscourt Estate (near Newtownstewart), were confiscated.
In 1652 Phelim O'Neill was captured on an island (crannog) on Roughan Lough, near Newmills, by Lord William Caufield (b.1624 d.1671), 5th Baron Charlemont. O’Neill was tried at Kilkenny and was conviced in October with all the barbartities then inflicted on persons adjudged guilty of high treason and was hanged, drawn and quartered at Dublin on 10th March 1653, one quarter was sent to be put up in Lisengarvey (Lisburn) as a memorial for the burning of that town at the begining of the war November 1941, another quarter sent to Dundalk for the taking of that town. another quarter in Drogheda for beseiging the same that winter and the other quarter and his head was sent and affixed on the bridge in Dublin as being the chief man that contrived and plotted to take it on Friday night, 22nd October 1941.
In 1655 Lord Strabane accidentally drowned while bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten near Strabane, aged about 22. He had never married and was succeeded by his younger brother George Hamilton (b.c.1636 d.1668) as the 4th Baron of Strabane. Hence this stretch of the river, “The Lords Pool” was named after him.