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Cromwell’s curse revisits Drogheda

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — The memory of Oliver Cromwell and his reputation for massacring thousands of defenseless people in Drogheda has long cast a shadow in the town. Now, the loan of his death mask by a British museum has resulted in pickets being placed at the town’s heritage center.

Protesters last weekend carried placards with slogans like "Cromwell drank Drogheda Blood," "Satan and Cromwell lads together," and "No Welcome for the British Mass Murderer."

The death mask, which was taken after Cromwell died in 1658, is on loan from Britain’s Cromwell Museum in Cambridgeshire. Cromwell was beheaded after his death and the exhibition traces the history of what happened to his head.

Deputy Mayor Frank Godfrey, who brandished a sword at the protest, said the mask is "a symbol of terror, murder and dispossession in Ireland and particularly in Drogheda, where he massacred quite a number of people.

"People have long memories and it is a symbol of evil and death. It is like showing Hitler’s mask to the Jews in a Jewish town. Quite a lot of my constituents are very, very angry and feelings are running high," he said.

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However, historian Tom Reilly, who organized the exhibition and has written a book, "Cromwell, An Honorable Enemy," said criticisms of Cromwell are based on myth.

The battle for Drogheda in 1649 was between two English armies. Those defending Drogheda wanted the return of the monarchy while those attacking were fighting for parliament.

"Cromwell’s orders were explicit," Reilly said. "Contrary to popular opinion, he excluded unarmed civilians from hostility throughout. I also believe he didn’t touch a hair on the head of any civilian in Drogheda deliberately.

"It’s possible that in the cross-fire people may have died, but that is much as I will concede. This was 351 years ago and I would have thought that we had grown up as a country. All this encourages bigotry.

"People are protesting about a myth. Most modern academic historians believe today that massacres of civilians did not take place at Drogheda."

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