By the morning of the 25 May, news of the long-expected outbreak of the
1798 rebellion in neighbouring
County Kildare and of military losses in the battles of
Ballymore-Eustace,
Naas, and
Prosperous had reached the garrison in Carnew, who decided to take preventative measures by assembling the rebel suspects in detention. The suspects were marched from Carnew Castle to the local
handball alley and executed by firing squad (consisting of
yeomanry soldiers) as a warning to the local populace. ==See also==