3 shamrocks in the army -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sun, Dec 21 2008, 22:32:28 PST
Author: Chief of Inishowen-SPAIN
Subject: 3 shamrocks in the army

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Three shamrocks in the army.

In Ireland the persecution of the gaelic society, produced by the laws of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth made life impossible for the Catholics, and some of the nobility had to emigrate in what was known as �The Fight of the Earls�, sailing from the port of Rathmullan in Donegal, fleeing to Europe.

Henry O�Dogherty had gone to France to register in the Sorbonne and study medicine, but, in fact graduated as Doctor of theology, and became the Vicar General in the diocese of Meath . As he had three nephews, John, Henry and Clinton, he wished to secure a future for them in Spain, and they moved to Cadiz, where they had Irish family connections. In order to enter in the Spanish armed forces as officer cadets, they had to demonstrate noble roots. Brother Henry returned to Ireland and obtained in Dublin castle a lengthy document in parchment summarising his genealogical tree, with the Coats of Arms of the most important O�Dogherty families down the centuries. It was signed by Lord Chichester Fortescue, Ulster King of Arms, with his seal. It was contained in a metal tube, where the parchment was well protected in its journey. The signature of Westmoreland, the Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland had already confirmed the nobility of the family, but the demands of the Spanish navy went further, and they required documents which would demonstrate the genealogy of the four grandparents of the applicant. Brother Henry returned to Ireland and produced a further series of papers, again in parchment, which described the �Grant� or �Patent� signed in the English Royal Court, with a description which set out in detail the Peninsula of Inis Owen, its possessions, rivers, lakes, fisheries, villages, everything which pertained to the Barony. This was followed by the genealogical �trees� and the Coats of Arms of the four grandparents. Also added is a series of documents with the signature of each parish priest of all the dioceses, and the signatures of the bishops and archbishops of every region of Ireland. These signatures guaranteed the veracity of the declarations. All these documents are bound in a volume entitled �THE GENEALOGY OF HENRY, JOHN AND CLINTON-DILLON O�DOGHERTY�, a total of some hundred pages.

The three brothers entered as officers in the Spanish navy, where they gave brilliant service to the country.

Henry, (1743 � 1803) gave valiant service and with the rigors of naval life died in San Carlos naval hospital in Veracruz, Mexico .

John, (1777 � 1847) took part in many naval battles in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Pacific and the Malvinas. He was a most distinguished officer who was outstanding in the Battle of the bridge of Sampayo , (1809), in which his action was critical. He used launches with mounted cannon which he prepared, attacking the French forces, and cutting off the bridge with his attack: thus Vigo and Portugal were saved from the Napoleonic invasion. This action was highly valued and was named �The Spanish Waterloo�.. A commemorative medal was struck, showing the cannon launches cutting off the bridge. This medal is only available to descendents of the heroes of that battle. He married Maria Josefa Macedo, an orphan whose father had been shot by the French forces.

Clinton-Dillon, (Carlos in Spanish) was a naval lieutenant on the corvette Batidor, and in 1797 took part in the capture of the frigate Enriqueta of the English fleet while sailing in the River Plate. The captain of his ship wrote to his admiral, praising the bravery of Carlos and proposing a promotion for his effort in the war, which would serve as a stimulus to his fellow-sailors. On the 2nd April , 1804 he received the Royal Decree conceding this. On 2nd February, 1805 he died, aged 28 and was buried in Kingston, Jamaica.

On the Coat of Arms of the O�Doghertys are three shamrocks in green, with a chevron which separates them. On the crown is an arm with a small sable and gold outline. The lambrequinines(?) are wide and there is a motto in gaelic which states � PRIDE OF MY RACE OR MY LINEAGE�.

In the successive generations, the following was Juan (1813 -1845), officer in the navy who married in 1835 Loaquna Navajas. They had three sons, Jose, who died young, Ulpiano who emigrated to North America, and Ramon,(1835 � 1902). This latter was orphaned aged nine, and when he was fifteen volunteered for the navy, taking part in the wars in Cuba, Santo Domingo and Mexico,; he was decorated on several occasions, and promoted to Sergeant for his valor. He retired from active service and set off to Ireland to reclaim his legal rights and the possessions of his ancestors. He presented a lawsuit to Queen Victoria, won the case and recovered lands in County Cavan which were sold. He then returned to Spain. He married Isabel Sanchez in 1883 and they had two children, Juana and Pascual (1860 � 1934). Pascual was left an orphan, and he set up with great success an academy for entry into the army and navy. For his social work the city council recognised his efforts and named a street after him. As a mathematician he was able to deal with the most difficult problems with persistence and in the spirit of a teacher. He used to say �To teach what is not known is a work of charity, but at times it is necessary to teach what is not known as is a greater effort in some difficult subjects.� In the navy he found his destiny as adjutant in naval engineering, with the rank of captain. On his death the Cadiz press proclaimed �Don Pascual appears before God, with his hands full.�

Of his two sons, Ramon, (1919 - ) is Head of the international clan of the O�Doghertys which has over 400,000 members. He was a �volunteer sailor� (1936 � 1939) on the torpedo boat �19�, and later with the Marine Infantry in Almu�ecar, Salobre�a and Nerja. He is founder of the Royal Academy of San Romualdo, where he Academic of Honour, and Knight Hospitalario of the supreme council and academic correspondent of Pallma Majorca.

The other son Pascual holds the post of Engineering Admiral, director of hydro-dynamic grouping of Pardo, member of international committees, author of innumerable scientific works on ship stability, on propellers and tubes, and has contributed to conferences in Europe and Japan. He has been given two gold medals for his work as engineer and naval architecture, as well as other navy awards, such as the Grand Cross of Naval Merit of San Hermenegildo and the Order of Naval Merit of Brazil. He has presided as a representative at assemblies in southern Europe (1981 � 1987), is Knight Hospitalario of St John the Baptist and of the Friendly and Literary Assembly of Jorge Juan , honoured by the navy for his dedication and efforts.

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