A historic 40-mile march through the Slieve Felim Mountains by Red Hugh O'Donnell will be commemorated in a tree-planting ceremony at Kilcommon Cross, Co Tipperary, tomorrow.
The overnight march by the Ulster chieftain with 3,000 troops formed part of his journey south from Ballymote, Co Sligo, to Kinsale, Co Cork, where he tried to link up with the Spanish troops which had landed there. Ultimately, the campaign led to defeat at Kinsale on Christmas Eve, 1601.
Mr Eamonn de Stafort, a Shannon Development tourism officer and local historian, said the journey across frozen swamps was recognised as one of the great military marches.
The tribute at Kilcommon Cross, between Thurles and Newport, will lead up to commemoration events in Kinsale in January.
O'Donnell made his Slieve Felim march in unusually cold weather to avoid the troops under Sir George Carew, who had been sent to Cashel by Mountjoy. Carew described the feat as "the greatest night-march in military history".
The commemoration will start at 2 p.m. with a walk to Augsullish Bridge, a mile from the Kilcommon Cross assembly point, led by piper Mr Michael Flanagan of the Sean Treacy Pipe Band, Moycarkey, and horseman Mr Noel Moynihan.