While there a friend told me about this long forgotten statue, built in 1898 and now in a state of disrepair it is located a few minutes walk from Collooney and is visible from the dual carriageway to Sligo. I wonder how many people have passed this monument and not noticed it.

Bartholemew Teeling, from Co. Antrim, was involved in the Irish Rebellion in 1798 and, having travelled to France to encourage support for a French invasion of Ireland, he served as Chief aide de camp to General Humbert when the French forces landed at Killala.

At Collooney the Franco-Hibernian forces met a unit of English troops who had a cannon located on a hill just outside of the village.

Teeling advanced alone on the gunner's position, having broken ranks, and single-handedly captured the cannon allowing the French and Irish troops to advance and ultimately win the battle. 60 English troops were killed and 100 were taken as prisoners during the battle.

Teeling went on to fight at The Battle of Ballinamuck, where along with many Irish and French soldiers he was captured. He was hanged at Arbour Hill in Dublin.