flight of earls

English

Noun

flight of earls

1. (Ireland, historical) the departure into exile of the Irish chieftain Hugh O'Neill and his followers in 1607.
2. (Ireland, poetic) the mass emigration of the younger population in the 1970s and 1980s due to unemployment.
   • 1987, Liam Rielly, Song: Flight of Earls:

     So farewell you boys and girls, another bloody flight of Earls, Our best asset is now our best export too.

   • 1994, Brendan Kennelly, Dark fathers into light, page 40:

     The 'flight of earls' theme with its various threnody on the decay of rural Irish life in song, ballad, play and fiction was everywhere […]