About six o'clock
Groups were silently hurrying with an eager and energetic step to their places of rendezvous , grasping their weapons more closely , or grinding their teeth in the impatience of their fury . The veterans on each side were surrounded by their respective followers , anxious to act under their direction ; and the very boys seemed to be animated with a martial spirit , much more eager than that of those who had greater experience in party quarrels . `` Jem Finigan 's public-house was the head-quarters and rallying-point of the Ribbonmen ; the Orangemen assembled in that of Joe Sherlock , the master of an Orange lodge . About six o'clock the crowd in the street began gradually to fall off to the opposite ends of the town -- the Roman Catholics towards the north , and the Protestants towards the south . Carson 's window , from which I was observing their motions , was exactly half way between them , so that I had a distinct view of both . At this moment I noticed Denis Kelly coming forward from the closely condensed mass formed by the Ribbonmen : he advanced with his cravat off , to the middle of the vacant space between the parties , holding a fine oak cudgel in his hand . He then stopped , and addressing the Orangemen , said , `` ` Where 's Vengeance and his crew now ?