Mail Coach raid at Blessington

A letter written on August 23rd 1813 by John Hornidge of Russelstown mentions a mail coach raid at Tinode, a few miles north of Blessington. The hold-up had occurred on a farm leased by the Healy family from John Finnemore of Ballyward. He in turn had leased it from Thomas Greene who had it from the Allans of Celbridge. Responsiblity for compensating the raid victims seems to have fallen on Finnemore, and in the letter Hornidge advises that it would be in Finnemore’s interest to bring the original lease from Allen to Greene to Wicklow in order that he could ” traverse for damages”. The Grand Jury of Wicklow were being applied to to pay whatever compensation was due. Hornidge wishes the lease to be brought to the turn-off at Oldcourt the following morning at 10 o’clock to save him going down to Ballyward. We can safely assume he would be crossing the Sally Gap on his journey to Wicklow. On the reverse side of the letter Finnemore notes his handing over of the lease to Hornidge the following morning. Both his penmanship and his grammar are appalling. It suggests that literary pursuits were not a priority with this family who were among the largest graziers in the county of Wicklow. A case of “let the shoemaker stick to his last” maybe. Many of the upper class with pretentions drove themselves into debt. Not the Finnemores, though. We find that they were able to purchase or rent lands all over this area. A Marquis of Downshire borrowed money from the family and at a high rate of interest.

We can speculate at will on several aspects of this trip. Did he travel alone? How well armed was he? Did he have places along the way where he and his horse could take a break and refresh themselves? On reaching the Sally Gap did he go straight on to Roundwood? When the Military Road was being built in the year 1800, and later, la Touche used his influence to have a bridge constructed over Cloghoge River on the way to his house at Luggala. From there on, however, the bridal path was very boggy for several miles. Would he have taken advantage of the new Military Road as far as Laragh and then on to Ashford and Wicklow town. This route would be longer but easier to travel on. Maybe safer as well.

The ‘X’ marks the situation of Healy’s farm. It was between the Great Road to Ballymore Eusatce and the river.

This old map of 1779 shows ‘Green’s’ part of Tinode. Finnymore’s part of Tinode was leased from Green as well. If there had been different landowners on either side of the road interesting to speculate who would bear the responsibility.

Even today its a long way across from Blessington to Wicklow town.

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