The Story of Roddy McCorley
Part I
The Ashes of Antrim
To understand Roddy McCorley, we must first look at the wreckage of 1798. The United Irishmen rebellion in County Antrim collapsed quickly. After the defeat at the Battle of Antrim in June 1798, the British forces crushed the uprising with brutal efficiency.
Most rebels threw down their pikes and went home, hoping for amnesty. Roddy McCorley did not.
Roddy was the son of a miller. His family had already suffered; his father was executed for "sheep stealing"—a common charge used to remove political agitators—and his family was evicted from their home. With nothing left to lose, Roddy refused to surrender.
He retreated into the landscape. He joined a group known as the Archer Gang, led by the deserter Thomas Archer. For nearly two years, they lived as ghosts in the Duneane Bogs and along the banks of the River Bann.
Here’s an interesting fact actually. If you run a Google Search looking for a picture of Roddy McCorley, the picture that comes up is actually Henry Joy McCracken. There is no photo or painting of Roddy McCorley. So keep that in mind when you’re doing your own research online! Check it out for yourself and you will see that the pictures are the same when you search for their names!
Part II
The Betrayal
By early 1800, the "war" had turned into survival. The Archer Gang raided Loyalist houses for arms and money. The British military viewed them as common bandits, but the local peasantry saw them as the last flicker of resistance.
But the British government had a powerful weapon: gold. They offered a reward for Roddy’s capture.
Roddy was not taken in a glorious last stand. He was taken in his sleep. He was hiding in a "cot" (a small boat) concealed in the reeds of the River Bann, near Toomebridge. A man named Duffin—believed to be a friend or associate—revealed his location to the authorities.
"He was sold to the red-coats by a neighbour..."
The soldiers surrounded the boat. Roddy McCorley awoke to the barrel of a musket. He was captured without firing a shot.
Part III
The Execution
Roddy was taken to Ballymena for a court-martial. The verdict was a formality. He was sentenced to death by hanging. But the British wanted to send a message to the people of Toomebridge.
They marched him from Ballymena back to Toome—the very place he was born. This is the "march" described in the song.
The execution did not happen in a prison yard. It happened on the bridge over the River Bann. The bridge was the main artery of the county; everyone had to see him die.
Myth vs. Fact: Good Friday
The song claims he died on Good Friday. This is a myth added later to create religious symbolism. Historical records confirm he was executed on February 28, 1800.
After the hanging, the authorities committed a final act of disrespect. He was denied a Christian burial in consecrated ground. Instead, they buried him under the gallows, in the middle of the public road.
The intent was clear: every traveler crossing the bridge would trample over his body.
Part IV
The Resurrection (The Song)
Roddy McCorley lay under that road for 52 years. In 1852, workmen repairing the bridge discovered his remains. His family and the community finally reclaimed him, reburying him properly in the Duneane Churchyard.
Fifty years after that, the poet Ethna Carbery wrote the song we know today.
She took a grim execution and turned it into a triumph. She set the lyrics to a marching air—defiant and strong. In the song, Roddy never speaks of fear; he looks at the "blue hills" of Antrim and steps bravely toward death.
Carbery transformed a betrayed outlaw into a timeless martyr, ensuring that while the British army is gone, Roddy McCorley remains.
Quick Reference
| Element | The Song Says... | History Says... |
| The Date | Good Friday | Feb 28, 1800 |
| His Role | Young Leader | Rebel & Outlaw |
| Capture | Vague betrayal | Betrayed by Duffin while sleeping |
| Burial | Tragic/Noble | Under the road (to be walked on) |
