The Popes Irish Brigade

By Nioclás Ó Gríofán

Three men went from Ring in 1860 to defend the Pope. story has it that they walked 15 miles to Youghal to get the boat to Liverpool and then onto Rome.
they were all fluent Gaelic speakers and went to the same school as the famous Major Fitzgerald who welcomed them to Rome.
Major Fitzgerald was born Gabriel Thomas Fitzgerald to Anthony and Mary gee in 1827 at Seaview House Ring, Dungarvan, Co, Waterford. Both his parents were local landlords.
Mary gee being in Ardmore.
he joined the Austrian Army in 1847 and became Captain of cuirassier regiment No2. and served through the Hungarian revolutionary war.
He was nominated to train and command the Irish battalion of St. Patrick to fight for Pope Pius IX in 1860.
The original choice of a commanding officer of the Irish fell on Major Fitzgerald. he actually arrived at Ancona and took command of four companies but owning to his rank in the Austrian army it was deemed inadvisable that Fitzgerald should accept command of a Battillion in the papal Army and the choice fell on major Myles Reilly's.
Major Fitzgerald returned to Austrain service and served through to the war of 1886. he received wounds at Sadona and died of these in 1879 having being an invalid for some time.