This month the Oireachtas Library is exhibiting a 1797 print of General Lazare Hoche. Hoche was the commander of an attempted French invasion of Ireland in December 1796.
Theobald Wolfe Tone had promised the French that hundreds of thousands of Irish people would be willing to support them. However, stormy weather broke up the fleet. Wolfe Tone, who was on board one of the ships, lamented that they were “near enough to toss a ship’s biscuit ashore”, but could not land due to the severe weather.
To find out more, visit the digital exhibition of the documents in the display case.