The Battle of Vinegar Hill

We saw a mini-series about the Battle of Vinegar Hill and decided to go and have a look at the actual site.

Briefly, a bunch of Irish convicts working on the municipal farm, took umbrage, stole some weapons and decided to take on the NSW Regiment of trained British troops. They lost, obviously.


My convict wife wants to know where the Free Settlers are so that she can go and steal their loaves of bread.
This is the site of the farm, not the battle. It's a very nice park now.
Here's a depiction of the battle. It didn't last very long. The Brits asked for a parley with the convict leaders and promptly hit them over the head. Then they shot at the rest of them. Sorted.

This bit of rock comes from the site in Ireland where the first Battle of Vinegar Hill took place. There, a bunch of disgruntled Irish got some weapons and took on trained British troops. Ring any bells? They lost - and, apparently - didn't learn much in the process.
The battle's memorial close to what is though to be the site of the battle. There is no actual Vinegar Hill in Australia. The name was taken from the first battle which was fought in Ireland. Did I mention that they lost both battles.
I wonder if, were there to be a mass breakout of prisoners today, who rampaged through the countryside stealing guns before taking on a combined police and military force - and losing in the process - would the Hon Tony Kelly MLC have the quite same sentiments. Proof, if it were that we (all of us) should stop voting for idiots.

That's better. A bad thing happened. Some people died who probably didn't deserve it. Some others died who - because they were trying to kill other people who also probably didn't deserve it - probably did deserve it. It all happened a long time ago between people who we, today, have little in common with. Let's hope they rest in peace.