Hunt For Red O'Donnell: Does Spain Chapel House Irish Rebel Remains?
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published June 02, 2020 | 04:15 PM
Forensic experts will begin testing 15 skeletons uncovered at an ancient Spanish chapel this week to see if any belong to 16th-century Irish rebel chief Red Hugh O'Donnell
Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jun, 2020 ):Forensic experts will begin testing 15 skeletons uncovered at an ancient Spanish chapel this week to see if any belong to 16th-century Irish rebel chief Red Hugh O'Donnell.
The discovery of the chapel in the northwestern town of Valladolid where O'Donnell was buried with full honours in 1602 has sparked a wave of interest among historians in Spain, Ireland and beyond.
Known as Red Hugh, the young Irishman led a rebellion that nearly ousted Elizabeth I's English troops from Ireland, sparking a nine-year war which the rebels ultimately lost, despite help from the Spanish crown.
Just 29 at the time, O'Donnell quickly sailed to Spain to seek further support for their cause but died en route to Valladolid, the capital at the time.
He was buried in St Francis' monastery in the prestigious Chapel of Wonders.
But for centuries, the location of the chapel -- where Christopher Columbus was initially buried 100 years earlier before being moved to Seville -- has remained a mystery, until archaeologists began excavating a site in the town centre in mid-May.
"It's been confirmed that this is the chapel where Christopher Columbus and Red Hugh were buried," said Carlos Burgos, head of the Hispano-Irish association and spokesman for the dig.
"What hasn't been confirmed is whether any of the 15 bodies that have been found are Red Hugh O'Donnell," he told AFP.
"There is one body which is bigger and stronger than the rest and seems to be a foreigner because it's taller than normal and may have been a fighter.
" Although O'Donnell's remains might have quickly been identified by the fact he lost both big toes to frostbite during a winter escape from prison in Dublin Castle, Burgos said most of the corpses did not have feet.
"There was only one with the feet intact, and that had its big toes," he told AFP, saying the experts would run DNA testing.
- 'Emblematic place' - To date, only around half of the chapel has been excavated -- around 50 square metres -- with another 40 square metres extending underneath the nearby Santander bank.
Burgos said talks were under way with the bank to secure access to the rest of the site. Ana Redondo, who is responsible for culture and tourism in Valladolid, described the chapel as "an emblematic place", writing on Twitter at the weekend that it would become "a place of pilgrimage and an important place for the history of Ireland".
If the chapel was confirmed as O'Donnell's last resting place, it would be "very important" for both Spain and Ireland, Burgos said.
For Ireland, he was "a very important leader" and for Spain it would reinforce its historic alliance with the Irish people.
"Many Irish come to Valladolid asking about Red Hugh and until now, there's been nothing except for a plaque that was put up a few years ago," he said.
"It's important that we try and create a respectful and visible memorial for those who want to know more about his history."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From World
-
Pakistan envoy visits TomatoWorld in Netherlands
8 minutes ago -
Chinese defense minister to attend SCO meeting in Kazakhstan
9 minutes ago -
China, Pakistan should engage in greater counter-terrorism cooperation to combat hostile forces: Khu ..
9 minutes ago -
Scottish leader scraps coalition deal with Greens
9 minutes ago -
Macron, in key speech, warns that Europe 'is mortal'
9 minutes ago -
China continues to battle flood in Pearl River basin
19 minutes ago
-
Death toll from Tanzania's flash floods rises to 155: PM
29 minutes ago -
Iron ore futures close higher
39 minutes ago -
Two runaway army horses in 'serious condition': UK minister
39 minutes ago -
Myanmar's health ministry issues heat advisory amid soaring temperature
49 minutes ago -
Russian oil production facility in Siberia catches fire
49 minutes ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closes 0.48 pct higher
49 minutes ago