A famous incident that took place in Aghagallon in 1790. "The Battle of Annaghdroghal Bridge" .
In 1790 members of the Orange Order accompanied by flute and drum under the command of Col, Sharp marched from Waringstown at the request of Lord Waring to plough and prepare a field in Aghagallon County Antrim for a friend and fellow English landowner and Orangeman.
Their journey from Waringstown to Aghagallon was a controversial one, with several incidents occurring along the way in the town of Lurgan.
As Col, Sharp and his men reached the Annaghdroghal Bridge just east of Aghagallon they were met by local men who refused them passage. A fight incurred and the Battle of Annaghdroghal began.
Col, Sharp led his men in the first attack and was fatally wounded by "The Darkie McStravick," receiving a chest wound from a three pronged muck fork.
McStravick fled the scene and dumped the fork (The Three Pronged Revolver)down a dry well at Derryclone.
The fork was retrieved around 1890 from the well and was presented to a local museum by Phelim McStravick in 2008.
The Words of the Battle of Annaghdroghal.
The original "Three Pronged Revolver" is on display in a local museum.
Words to the poem
The Battle of Annaghdroghal
It was on the 12th of April we all remember well, when Orangemen assembled to plough the Droghal hill. To plough for Colonel Waring the Orangemen were bound, they sang their hate of popery, as they left their Waringstown.
They started their spree of wrecking at the pub up at Kilmore, as they cursed the pope with orangeism as they headed for the shore. But when they got to Droghal they didn’t stand alone, as the noise was heard across the cut by the boys in Derryclone.
At a quarter to three sure a big drum did beat, to alert all the brave men around Gawley’s Gate. But when they arrived they saw a great sight, as the Derryclone hero’s had engaged in the fight.
Here’s to the man that did use the grape, The Darkie McStravick he halted their hate. With his three pronged revolver he caused them to fall as he massacred Sharps up against the bridge wall.
There was brave Barney Heaney, McConaghey’s all, McAlornans, Mulholland’s the Kelly’s stood tall. Jim Gribbon came late but he soon joined the fight, as the brave sons of Ireland showed England their might.
When the fight it was over they stood side by side, because they knew in their victory they’d tanned orange hide. They stood on the bridge and their ground did re-claim, sure we’re ready to do battle if called on again.
I remember my father reading this poem to me when I was a child, that was 70 years ago now !
A great story. The Three Pronged Revolver still exists in the area to this day.
Guest
2. 24-11-2010 19:11
We often heard the story of the Three Pronged Revolver growing up in Waringstown. I think it is now in a museum.
Guest
3. 06-12-2010 18:27
There is a folk song about this incident, can anyone please tell me where I can get the lyrics and what tune it is set to?
Big Thanks Michael
Guest
4. 09-12-2010 15:20
I live in Waringstown. There is a book written about the incident. I got it in Lurgan Library some years ago. The original "Three Pronged Revolver" was on show in Waringstown in the 1980's at the annual vintage car event. I had my photograph taken with it.
Guest
5. 20-12-2010 15:53
Lurgan is 400 years old this year and I recently saw the "Three Pronged Revolver" was on loan to the the Ulster Museum Belfast, it really should have been on display in Lurgan.
Guest
6. 10-01-2011 09:46
Wow, great story, I contacted Belfast Museum about it, they only hold photographs of the "Three Pronged Revolver" they told me it is held in Lurgan. Possibly Craigavon museum has it.
Sterling.
Guest
7. 17-01-2011 18:31
It is currently in a museum in Lurgan, I saw it there last year. Local newspaper, the Lurgan Mail ran a story about the event.
Guest
8. 06-05-2011 21:40
I now live in Boston USA. I am from Aghagallon and fondly remember the poems and the song about "The Three Pronged Revolver." It featured in a BBC programme in the mid seventies.
The original muck rack known as "Three Pronged Revolver" is in a museum in Lurgan.
