Art Ó Laoghaire

Who was Art Ó Laoghaire?

Art Ó Laoghaire, an Irish Roman Catholic, was a captain in the Hungarian Hussars Regiment of the army of Maria Theresa of Austria.

He married Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill in 1767; she had been a widow from the age of 15 and was now 23. They had three children, Cornelius, Fiach and a third who apparently did not survive infancy.

Having returned home to Rathleigh House near Macroom, Cork, Ireland, the hot-tempered Art became involved in a feud with an arrogant Englishman, Abraham Morris of Hanover Hall, Macroom. When Morris was High Sheriff of County Cork in 1771, he laid charges against Art following Art's alleged attack on Morris and the wounding of his servant on July 13, 1771 at Hanover Hall. In that October, Art was indicted his absence, and Morris offered a 20 guinea reward for his capture.

The feud between the two men continued and in 1773, Morris demanded that Art sell him the beautiful horse that Ó Laoghaire had brought back from his service in the Austro-Hungarian army for £5. The Penal Laws stated that no Catholic might own a horse worth more than £5 and could be forced to sell a more valuable one on demand to any Protestant at this price.