Irish Battles

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The Battle of Carrickfergus

Co. Antrim

4th November 1597



Carrickfergus Castle

The Battle was fought on 4th November 1597 between the Ulster-Scots MacDonnell clan and the English garrison of Carrickfergus Castle under the command of John Chichester.

There wasn’t supposed to be a battle at all. James MacSorley MacDonnell, nephew of Sorley Boy MacDonnell, although his name suggests he was his son, marched to Carrickfergus to parley with Chichester over a series of raids by the English into MacDonnell territory. On the 4th MacDonnell was sighted approaching Carrickfergus with almost 2,000 men. The governor left his castle accompanied by 5 companies of foot and one of horse. The two bodies of troops met 4 miles from the castle whereupon Chichester ordered his commanders to charge the Irish, who promptly withdrew behind a hill.

Chichester and a small body of horse drew ahead of the main body of his army and were isolated by a MacDonnell counter-attack. Chichester was shot in the leg and fell off his horse. However he remounted and charged on until killed by another shot to the head. The MacDonnells broke the English formation which withdrew in disarray. Although reinforced from the castle by walking wounded and the sick, the English were routed, losing 180 dead and 40 or so wounded.

Sorley Boy MacDonnell

Sorley Boy MacDonnell, James MacSorley MacDonnell’s uncle (or father) was born in 1505 and died in 1590. For most of his life he fought the English and other Ulster clans. His name was an anglicisation of his Irish name Somhairle Buide MacDomhnaill. His son Randal was created Earl of Antrim and his descendants still hold the title today. Also among his descendants is Winston Churchill (his 6 times great grandson).

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The Battle of Arklow

Co. Wicklow

1st November 1649

The Battle of Arklow took place on the coast road near Arklow, Co. Wicklow, on 1st November 1649. It was fought between the Irish Confederate/Royalist army and the New Model Army of Oliver Cromwell.

By late October, the Irish had suffered a number of defeats including the battle of Rathmines, and the loss of Drogheda and Wexford. The Duke of Ormonde was keen to regain the initiative. In October he received word that a column of English soldiers was preparing to march from Dublin to Wexford to reinforce Cromwell's troops in the south. Murrough O'Brien, the Baron of Inchiquin and Theobald Taaffe were sent with a force of 2,500 men to intercept the Roundheads. Despite the fact that it was a minor operation, it presented an opportunity to Inchiquin who had joined the Royalists recently and was distrusted by the Catholic population due to a number of atrocities he had committed in the years of fighting before the srrival of Cromwell. In addition in the Autumn of 1649 many of the Protestant soldiers in Munster formerly loyal to him had mutinied and joined with Parliament. The Arklow operation presented Inchquin with an opportunity to redeem himself.

The English, under a Major Nelson left Dublin at the end of October. Marching through the Wicklow Mountains his soldiers were harassed by tories, though these attacks did not hinder the force to any great extent. Inchiquin meanwhile prepared an ambush to the south of Arklow, where the hills come close to the sea. A log barricade was placed across the Wexford road and 1,000 infantry deployed behind it and along the roadside. All to naught however for Nelson was informed that an ambush was planned and moved his force by a roundabout route, hoping to avoid Inchiquin. Realising what was happening, Inchiquin moved his cavalry to intercept Nelson, leaving his foot behind so they did not take part in the fighting.

As Inchiquin’s force came into view, the English hurriedly deployed on the beach with their backs to the sea. As the Irish were forming up in preparation for an attack, 350 English horse charged, hoping to catch them by surprise The Parliamentarian cavalry was successfully repulsed on two occasions. Inchiquin then launched a full cavalry assault on the English horsemen who fled back towards their infantry, with the Irish in pursuit. The English infantry opened up their ranks to allow the horse to pass through and then the gaps in the ranks were closed again. Inchiquin’s charging cavalry was presented with a mass of pike-heads and musket barrels Musket fire tore into the Irish Cavalry, throwing them into disorder and leaving many men and horses dead and wounded on the beach. The English cavalry counter-attacked, forcing the Irish to retreat and Nelson resumed his march to Wexford.

Demoralised by his failure Inchiquin returned to Munster, where there were still some forces loyal to him. However these were routed by Broghill in March the following year. Shortly afterwards Inchiquin fled to the continent.

Cromwell wrote an account of the battle in a letter;

Another “mercy” was this. We, having left divers sick men, both horse and foot, at Dublin, - hearing many of them were recovered, sent them orders to march up to us; which accordingly they did. Coming to Arklow on Monday the first of this instant, being about 350 horse and about 800 foot, - the Enemy, hearing of them (through the great advantage they have in point of intelligence), drew together a body of horse and foot near 3,000, which Inchiquin commanded. There were also, with this party, Sir Thomas Armstrong, Colonel Trevor, and most of their great ranters.[15] we sent fifteen or sixteen troops to their rescue, near eight hours too late. It pleased God we sent them word by a nearer way, To march close, and be circumspect, and to make what haste they could to Wexford, by the sea-side. They had marched near eighteen miles, and were come within seven miles of Wexford (the foot being miserably wearied), when the Enemy gave the scouts of the rearguard an alarm. Whereupon they immediately drew-up in the best order they could upon the sands, the sea on the one hand, and the rocks on the other; where the Enemy made a very furious charge: “and” overbearing our horse with their numbers, which, as some of their prisoners confess, were Fifteen-hundred of their best horse, forced them in some disorder back to the foot. Our foot stood; forbearing their firing till the Enemy was come almost within pistol-shot, and then let fly very full in the faces of them: whereby some of them began to tumble; the rest running off in a very great disorder; - and “they” faced not about until they got above musket-shot off. Upon this our horse took encouragement; drawing-up again; bringing-up some foot to flank them. And a gentleman of ours, that had charged through before, being amongst them undiscerned, having put his signal into his hat as they did, - took his opportunity and came off; letting our men know, that the Enemy was in a great confusion and disorder, and that if they could attempt another charge, he was confident good might be done on them. It pleased God to give our men courage: they advanced; and falling upon the Enemy, totally routed them; took two colours and divers prisoners, and killed divers upon the place and in the pursuit. I do not hear that we have two men killed; and but one mortally wounded, and not five that are taken prisoners.

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The Siege of Smerwick

Co. Kerry

7th – 10th November 1580

The Second Desmond Rebellion began in July 1579 when James FitzMaurice Fitzgerald landed a small force of Spanish troops in Dingle. This was followed up by reinforcements under Sebastiano di San Guisseppi in September 1580. However by this time the English were getting the upper hand in Munster and as soon as the Spanish and Italians had landed they were bottled up in Smerwick harbour by the Royal Navy and trapped on the Dingle Peninsula by Earl Grey. The Desmonds had been using an old earth fort called Dún an Óir as their base and San Guisseppi garrisoned his troops there.

Early in November artillery was landed from an English ship in Smerwick harbour and the bombardment of the fort began on the 8th. After three days bombardment the garrison surrendered.

Things immediately turned nasty. In Grey’s despatch to London he said that the garrison had surrendered unconditionally and he had ordered the execution of the rank and file, showing mercy only the officers of the garrison. Local accounts said that the garrison had been guaranteed they would be allowed live. Whatever the case the garrison of Dún an Óir was beheaded almost to a man and their bodies thrown in the sea. One of the perpetrators was Walter Raleigh. The field where the heads were buried is still called Gort na gCeann, the Field of the Heads.

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The Battle of Knocknanuss

Co. Cork

13th November 1647

Fought on Saturday 13th November 1647 as part of the Confederate Wars. Knocknanuss is in Co. Cork, between Mallow and Kanturk. The name derived from Cnoc na nÓs means Hill of the Fawns

The opposing commanders were Murrough O’Brien, Lord Inchiquin and General Theobald Taaffe, both of whom we have met on the same side battling Cromwell in Wexford. Taaffe commanded approximately 7,500 foot and 1,100 horse, Inchiquin 4,000 foot and 1,200 horse. However only about 1/3 of Taaffe’s men had firearms as opposed to 2/3 of Inchiquin’s. In addition Inchiquin had two cannon.

In 1647 Taaffe was on the side of the Catholic Confederates and Inchiquin was fighting for Parliament. Inchiquin was engaged in a campaign in Munster in which he had already sacked Dungarvan, Cappoquin and Cashel. It was during this campaign that he earned the nickname by which he is affectionately known to Irish history, Murrough the Burner. Taaffe, the somewhat ineffectual commander of the Munster Confederate Army, was attempting to put a halt to Inchiquin’s gallop. To that end he assembled his army at Dromalour south of Kanturk in early November while Inchiquin camped at Mallow.

Early on the morning of Nov 12th Inchiquin marched from Mallow west to Garryduff where he set up camp. At the same time Taaffe marched east to Knocnanuss, where he entrenched his men 3 miles south of the Parliamentarians. Taaffe sent an emissary to Inchiquin’s camp inviting him to battle and offering to pit 2,000 infantry from each side against each other for a bit of sport. Inchiquin declined that day but on the morning of the 13th offered to meet Taaffe in battle on the level ground between their two positions. This Taaffe declined as he held the advantage of the high ground of Knocknanuss hill. After a quick council of war, Inchiquin decided to assault the Confederate position. Forming up the army and moving forward took up most of the day and the battle proper did not commence until 3 pm.

Inchiquin feinted with his left flank as if he was attacking the Confederate right on the slopes of Knocknanuss hill and engaged the Confederates here with his cannon. Taaffe strengthened his right flank, at the expense of his left. Inchiquin then withdrew his troops on his right while deploying the left in cover along a road to deal with any Confederate attack. The Confederates, seeing the Parliamentarians seemingly withdrawing, launched a cavalry charge followed by the infantry on the moving columns of men. Inchiquin’s infantry deployed quickly and a volley of musketry threw back the Confederate cavalry who fled the field riding down their own infantry in the process. The Parliamentary cavalry charged and routed the Confederate left. The centre of Taaffe’s line also broke and fled.

Over on Knocknanuss hill, it was initially a different story. Here, the cavalry from both sides had clashed and again the Confederates fled the field. The Parliamentary infantry, deployed in cover, lost the run of themselves and advanced into the open. The Confederate troops here were Ulster men under command of a Scotsman, Alastair McDonnell. McDonnell’s infantry gave the Parliamentarians a volley of musketry and then charged with their swords, breaking through Inchiquin’s line and capturing his baggage wagons and artillery. And then they stopped to loot the wagons, gorging themselves on food and wine. McDonnell, at a loss as to what to do next, and seemingly unaware that the rest of the Confederate army had fled went looking for Taaffe for orders. He was captured near Taaffe’s abandoned HQ but subsequently turned up amongst the dead. The circumstances of his death are open to speculation but he was apparently murdered while a prisoner.

Inchiquin consolidated his victory over the Confederate left and centre and then fell upon McDonnell’s men who had been drinking among the Parliamentary wagons for an hour. The disorganised and leaderless looters were quickly overcome with the loss of almost 2,000 killed. Darkness put an end to the pursuit of the beaten Confederates, although mopping up continued over the next few days.

Knocknanuss was the largest battle ever fought in Munster. About 4,000 men died, with Inchiquin’s officers being badly mauled. Parliament lost a Major General and 3 Colonels but the battle ended Confederate control in Munster.

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The Fall of Carrick on Suir

Co. Tipperary

19th November 1649

A few days before the capture of the town, Col Michael Jones had marched for Kilkenny. Ormond marchng for New Ross started to dither and withdrew back behind the River Nore and destroyed the bridge at Thomastown. With his route blocked Jones turned back for NewRoss but sent a detachment of cavalry under Col. Reynolds to take the town of Carrick on Suir. Carrick was an important location because sited there was the first bridge over the River Suir, an obstacle protecting the county and the port city of Waterford.

Col Reynolds captured Carrick without the loss of a single man on November 19th. Launching a feint on the main gate, his men entered the town through another gate which had been left unmanned. The Royalists claimed they had been betrayed. Whatever the cause, the Parliamentarians now controlled access to Waterford.

Cromwell who had fallen ill shortly after the fall of Wexford and now recovered from his illness, led his army out of New Ross on November 21st and two days later crossed the Suir at Carrick and turned east back along the south bank of the river towards Waterford.

Once in Co. Waterford he linked up with Lord Broghill who commanded the troops sent to Cork a month previously. Broghill was actually a Waterford man (from Lismore) and the elder brother of Robert Boyle of Boyle’s Law fame. Broghill hadn’t been taking it easy and had captured Cork, Kinsale, Youghal and Dungarvan, mainly through the defection of Protestant officers.

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Confederate Attack on Carrick on Suir

Co. Tipperary

24th November 1649

On November 23rd 1649, while Cromwell was crossing into Waterford, the Earl of Ormond marched south from Kilkenny. Opinion amongst his commanders was divided as to what was their best course of action. The Ulstermen wanted to recapture Carrick on Suir, while the Royalists wanted to reinforce Waterford. Ormond compromised and sent a force under Inchiquin and Lord Castlehaven to attack Carrick while he marched along the north bank of the Suir to Waterford.

The attack on Carrick took place on November 24th 1649. Col Reynolds had been left with 700 men to garrison the town. The Irishmen, lacking siege artillery simply rushed the walls and lost 500 men in four hours of fighting before abandoning the attempt.

Waterford Holds Out

On the same day, Cromwell commenced the siege of Waterford.

He sent Col Michael Jones to take Passage fort, which controlled the access to Waterford from the sea on the west bank of the estuary. Passage surrendered immediately.

Cromwell’s naval forces were then able to land artillery on the Co. Waterford side of the river but they found that boggy ground prevented their being moved overland. Cromwell attempted to negotiate the surrender of the city but when Ormond’s reinforcements arrived at the end of November, and with sickness rife in his army, he raised the siege on December 2nd and went into winter quarters in Dungarvan.

Over the winter months dysentery and malaria killed over 1,000 of his men including Col Jones.

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The Battle of Lisburn

Co. Antrim

28th November 1641

moirabaptist.org/History/historical%20images/rawdongeorge300.JPG

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George Rawdon one of the English commanders at Lisburn[/center]

Sometimes referred to as the Battle of Lisnagarvey, an earlier name for the town of Lisburn.

The Ulster rebels concentrated on 27th November at Brookhill about 3 miles from Lisburn with the intention of marching on Carrickfergus and besieging the castle there. In their rear was a small garrison of loyalist troops at Lisnagarvey. The rebels outnumbered the garrison so they were confident of quickly overrunning the town.

In Lisnagarvey meanwhile the troops were stood to on the town square through the night. Come dawn a reconnaissance patrol was sent out to locate the rebels, who were found at mass (November 28th was a Sunday).

Once detected, the rebels advanced quickly on the town, splitting into three groups to surround it. The main body of rebels fired in to the town with musketry and two artillery pieces while another group entered the town and advanced down Castle Street before being beaten back. The firing continued until early afternoon when another attempt was made on the town, this too being beaten back.

At this stage the town was ablaze and after dark at about 6 pm a final assault was made on the town. The fighting lasted for several hours and consisted of many small melees in the streets and lanes. During the evening reinforcement arrived from Belfast under command of the Earl of Donegall and the rebels withdrew leaving a considerable number of dead behind. The garrison lost about 30 killed.

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The Battle of Julianstown

Co. Meath

29th November 1641

The Battle of Julianstown was fought near Drogheda on 29th November 1641. The same rebel commanders who had sent men to fight at Lisnegarvey despatched a force to take Drogheda. A hastily assembled force of English settlers and loyalists commanded by Sir Patrick Wemyss met this force at Julianstown Bridge. As soon as they were attacked Wemyss men fled and a general rout ensued in which some 600 men died. The rebels under Rory O'More subsequently failed to take Drogheda.

The victory at Julianstown had the effect of spreading the rebellion and forcing Ormonde to call for reinforcements from England that the hard pressed royalists there could ill-afford to send.

I came across the resume below online

Resume of Sir Patrick Wemyss

Patrick Wemyss (Wemys, Weames, Weemes, Waymes) was a close associate of the Earl of Ormond from the 1620’s. He was a cousin of Elizabeth Preston, Lady Ormond and indeed it is believed that it was Sir Patrick who introduced the couple. He came to Ireland in about 1629 and Walter Ormond granted him lands at Danesfort ad Bennettsbridge. They had land deals in the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary and Carlow. He was made a freeman of Waterford in 1633 and sheriff of Kilkenny from 1631 to 1635. Through his marriage to Mary Wheeler who was a daughter of Jonah Wheeler, the Bishop of Ossory; and through her he established many powerful local connections.

In 1639 he went to Scotland acting as messenger Between Ormond and Charles. As a member of Ormond’s army he fought at Julianstown, Mellifont and Drogheda in 1641/2. He also fought at Kilrush in 1642 when it is reputed that his horse was shot from under him. In 1643 he acted as messenger to bring Ormond the Kings letter authorising him to negotiate a cessation with the Confederates. In December 1644 and January 1645 he was involved with Henry Moore’s mother and others in a plot to capture Drogheda and hand it to the Scots. He was imprisoned for his actions and Ormond broke with him. From his prison he wrote to the King and Francis Hamilton. He claimed he had the support of Charles for his actions. In his letters to Col.Wemys and to Major Crawford he stressed his Scottish origins. He was exchanged for Sir Henry Tichbourne in late 1645. In 1646 he was based in Ulster and in the following year he was Colonel of a regiment of horse. It was during this period that he was knighted. In 1654 he was a commissioner to raise assessments for Ireland and he was also an alderman of Kilkenny He was M.P for Kilkenny in 1661 the year in which he died.

Note: Patrick’s father’s name is unknown. Sir W. Frazer the author of Memorials of the Family of Wemyss of Wemyss has references to many Patricks, but none could be identified with him or any that married Elizabeth Preston who is recorded as Patrick’s mother.

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The Battle of Kells

Co. Meath

6th/7th December 1315

Fought on 6th or 7th December 1315 as part of Edward Bruce’s Campaign in Ireland.

You’ll recall that Bruce had landed in Ulster back in May. By October the English government in Dublin was getting worried. A parliament was called which did a lot of talking but little else. Meanwhile Edward had marched south presumably with the intention of taking Dublin though he never did.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was one Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. He assembled an army and marched towards Kells, Co. Meath where he confronted Bruce’s forces. The details have been lost in the mist of time but Bruce had about 6,000 men and carried the day. Mortimer legged it across the Irish Sea with the bad news while the survivors of his army holed up in Trim under one Walter Cusack. Dublin was made ready for an attack but Bruce contented himself with settling into a comfy castle for Christmas and raiding, looting and pillaging the surrounding area.

Roger ended up on the scaffold at Tyburn fifteen years later for revolting against the King, taking his Queen for his mistress and allegedly murdering His Majesty. His descendants would make it big however and one Edward Mortimer would be King Edward IV one day.

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The Battle of Castlehaven

Co. Cork

6th December 1601

Castlehaven Harbour today[/center]

In September 1601 the Spanish sent an expedition to Ireland under the command of Don Juan del Aquila in support of O’Neill’s rebellion. This expedition landed at Kinsale. However on the voyage some of Don Juan’s ships, eight in all, were separated from the fleet in a storm. The weather had been so bad that it took four weeks to sail to Kinsale and as a contingency plan it had been agreed that any ship that went astray should make its way to Kinsale or to Castlehaven on the west coast of Cork. The main force landed at Kinsale on September 21st, with four of the lost ships limping in over the following days. The rest of ships, the galleon San Felipe, under the command of Don Pedro de Zubiaur, and three hookers sailed for home. Aboard were 674 soldiers and, crucially, most of the ammunition and matches for Don Juan’s arquebuses. De Zubiaur sailed from Corunna in late November with ten ships and once more headed for Kinsale. Again the weather split his fleet and he finally decided to land at Castlehaven on 1st December 1601. As it happens this prevented him from being captured by the English fleet blockading Kinsale. Aboard Zubiaur's six ships were 620 infantry under the command of Captain Alonso de Ocampo as well as supplies and artillery.

The following day word of the Spanish landing at Castlehaven reached Mountjoy at Kinsale. He immediately sent scouts to check out the report which was conformed on the 4th. Not wanting a Spanish force at his back, Mountjoy sent Sir Richard Levison, commander of the naval forces at Kinsale, with four warships, Warspite, Defiance, Swiftsure, and Marline, as well as a merchantman and a carvel. was also ordered to “seeke the Spanish fleete at Castlehaven, to take them if he could, or otherwise to distresse them as much as he might.” On the 5th Levison had his vessels towed out of Kinsale harbour, as the wind was blowing inland, and they sailed for Castlehaven. At 10 o’clock the next morning, December 6th, Levison’s ships arrived off Castlehaven and attacked the Spanish. The battle lasted some six hours with one Spanish ship being sunk and Zubiaur being forced to beach the San Felipe. The remaining four Spanish vessels were also driven ashore.

As the English fleet entered the harbour, Spanish artillery placed on the shore opened fire. Levison tried to withdraw but the wind was blowing from the southeast and they were unable to get out of the harbour. The English then started to land in small boats to seize the Spanish cannon. At that crucial moment the Irish under Donal O’Sullivan Beare arrived to turn the tide in what had until then been a foreign battle. The English embarked onto their ships and a two day firefight ensued, the Spanish trading shots with the English ships. Levison later reported, that he “..was forced to ride four and twentie hours within the play of those five Peeces of Ordnance, and received in that time about three hundred shot, through Hulke, Mast and Tackle being by no industry able to avoid it…All the shot were made particularly at his ship, except some few at a Pinnace of the Queen, wherein Captain Flemming was Commander..”

During the night of December 7th, the wind finally began to blow from the south-west and Levison was able to tow his vessels out of the harbour and sail back to Kinsale. The English fleet suffered 150 casualties in the battle, and the Irish and Spanish about 200. The battle, a sideshow of the more crucial battle of Kinsale later in the month, was undoubtedly a win for the English. The Spanish, while remaining in possession of their land positions, lost all their ships. An important effect of the battle was to cause many Irish chieftains who had been dithering to take the Spanish side.

Don Pedro de Zubiaur survived the Battle of Castlehaven but died in Dover in 1605 of wounds received in a battle with the Dutch in the Channel.

Photo Credit; www.reenpierholidayhome.com

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The Battle of Lisnagarvey

Co. Down

6th December 1649

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We’re back in Lisnagarvey eight years after Rawdon beat off the Irish rebels. Things have changed considerably in the intervening years with the rebels forming an uneasy alliance with Irish Royalists and forcing Parliament to send an expedition under Cromwell to take control of the country. Cromwell you may recall took Drogheda in September and then turned south to take the southern Leinster and Munster ports. Meanwhile he sent Colonel Robert Venables with 5,000 men to take eastern Ulster. Venables went on a mini-Blitzkrieg taking the towns of Dundalk, Carlingford, Belfast and Newry with little opposition. Meanwhile Charles Coote who had been holding Derry for Parliament marched to join up with Venables in Belfast, taking Coleraine on the way. Venables next move was to take Carrickfergus.

Marching north to confront the Parliamentarians in early December were the Royalist forces of Lord Clandeboye and General Monro’s Scots. The two forces met at Lisnagarvey on the 6th December. The fighting initially took place between the vanguards of the two armies. When Venables’ main force appeared, the Royalists fled and were shattered during a long pursuit. Of the 5,000 Royalists 1500 became casualties on the day. Clandeboye was taken prisoner and Monro fled to Enniskillen. Carrickfergus surrendered on 13th December and Enniskillen fell in early 1650. The battle essentially ended Royalist resistance while the Ulster-Irish forces had marched south to fight in Munster, leaving the north of the country in Parliament’s hands.

Photo Credit; pv-tv.tv/slovakia/historia-umelej-musky-2/

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The Battle of Passage

Co. Waterford

13th Dec 1649

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When last we met Oliver Cromwell he was making heavy work of the Siege of Waterford. In fact he abandoned the siege for the winter and went into quarters in Dungarvan, the march there being “as terrible a day as ever I marched in, in all my life” as he later said. Before he left however he had managed to capture a small fort at Passage East, where he left a small garrison. Waterford could no longer be kept supplied by sea while this fort wa in Parliament’s hands. The Confederates decided that Passage must be retaken. The man who came up with the plan was Colonel Wogan, who had successfully held Duncannon earlier in the autumn, just across the estuary from Pasage.

The plan was for General O’Farrell and his Ustermen to march from Waterford and join Wogan’s men, who would cross the estuary from Ballyhack by boat. On the afternoon of 12th December the combined forces attacked Passage Fort, attempting to climb the walls with scaling ladders in the expectation that they would overrun the place quickly. The walls however were defended by 100 musketeers who drove the attackers back with losses. Three more assaults failed, and it was decided to call off the attack for the night.

Next morning Wogan brought over two guns and a mortar from Duncannon. They were in position and just about to start firing when a large force of English cavalry and dragoons appeared. They had ridden all night from Cappoquin and they immediately charged down Passage Hill, smashing into the Irish troops from the rear. The Ulster pikemen held off the cavalry for a time but eventually pressed back to the river, they broke. Some were killed on the spot,some died trying to swim the river and many were taken prisoner, including Colonel Wogan.

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The Battle of Kilrush

Co. Kildare

15th April 1642

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The Battle of Kilrush was part of the Confederate Wars and was fought at an early stage in the conflict when Irish royalists were fighting Irish rebels. To add to the civil war theme the rival commanders were related, the royalist James Butler, Earl of Ormonde against Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret. Other Butlers present were the Barons of Dunboyne and Ikerrin who fought with Mountgarret.

Ormonde had led a force from Dublin at the start of April to re-supply and reinforce royalist garrisons in Leinster, moving through Naas, Athy, Portlaoise, Birr and Carlow and back to Athy by April 13th. Mountgarret meanwhile led a force of Leinster rebels to block Ormonde’s route back to Dublin and force him to give battle. Mountgarret positioned his troops, numbering 8,000 foot and 400 horse, on high ground near the village of Calverstown, on a spot called Bull Hill. In 1642 the ground in front of his position was a swamp. Across the swamp on the evening of the 14th April Ormonde led his men, 2,500 infantry and 500 cavalry, onto high ground in the townland of Kilrush.

From here the next morning his first charge put the rebel left wing to flight. Mountgarret’s right wing held for some time in the face of repeated royalist attacks but were eventually forced to withdraw south, making a stand on a neighbouring hill which now bears the name Battlemount. Eventually Mountgarret’s force broke and fled from here with great slaughter during the pursuit. The rebels reportedly lost 700 killed in the battle for the loss of 20 on the royalist side. The numbers seem disproportionate but the royalist victory was considered so telling that Ormonde was granted a reward of £50 by Parliament.