Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Irish battles

This page aims to give a list of and links to pages of battles in Irish history.

Pre-Historic Era

See: pre-historic Irish battles.

Early Medieval Battles

457 - Ath Dara
464 - First Battle of Dumha Aichir
468 - Bri Ele
470 - First Battle of Dumha Aichir
476 - First Battle of Granard
478 - Ocha
480 - Second Battle of Granard
489 - Cell Osnadha
489 - Tailtin
492 - Sleamhain, in Meath
493 - Catha Corp Naomh Padraigh
494 - Ceann Ailbhe
496 - Druim Lochmaighe
497 - Inde Mor, in Crioch Ua nGabhla
499 - Seaghais
500 - Lochmagh
501 - Freamhain, in Meath
506 - Luachair
561 - Cul Dremne
563 - Moin Dairi Lothar
600 - Loch Semhedidhe
701 - Corann
800 - Ardrahan
903 - Bealach Mughna
994 - Sack of Domhnach Padraig
994 - Sack of Aenach Thete

Late Medieval Battles

1014 - battle of Clontarf; Brian Boru and Irish allies defeats King of Leinster, Vikings of Dublin and Norse Allies.
1086 - the Breach of Crinach
1087 - Conachail, in Corann
1087 - Rath Edair
1088 - Corcach
1090 - Magh Lena, in Meath.
1094 - Bealach Gort an Iubhair
1094 - Fidhnacha
1095 - Ard Achad
1098 - Fearsat-Suilighe
1099 - Craebh Tulla
1101 - Grianan
1103 - Magh Cobha
1132 - sack of Dun Beal Gallimhe
1149 - sack of Dun Beal Gallimhe
1171 - Sack of Dublin; Strongbow takes Dublin
1174 - Battle of Thurles
1224 - Sack of Ard Abla, in Tethba
1225 - Sack of Loch Nen
1225 - Sack of Ardrahan
1230 - Dun Gallime
1230 - Findcairn
1247 - Sack of Dun Gallime
1249 - First Battle of Athenry
1257 - Creadran-Cille; Normans driven out of Lower Connacht.
1257 - Sack of Sligo
1260 - battle of Down
1270 - Ath an Chip

Irish Bruce Wars 1315-1318

1315 - battle of Carrickfergus
1315 - battle of the Moiry Pass
1315 - 1st battle of/sack of Dundalk, 29th June
1315 - battle of Connor, 1/9 September
1315 - 2nd battle of Dundalk, November
1315 - battle of Kells, 6/7 December
1316 - Second Battle of Athenry
1318 - Battle of Dysert O'Dea
1318 - Battle of Faughart

1328 - battle of Thomond. Battle of Devlin (Delbhna Bethra); the MacGeoghegan kills three thousand English.
1330 - Battle of Fiodh an Atha; Ualgarg O'Rourke, King of Breifne defeated by the English inhabitants of Fiodh an Atha (Finnea). Ath-Disirt-Nuadan. Berna-an-Mhil; Tomaltagh Mac Dermot and Mac William were defeated by the Brown Earl and Tomaltach McDonagh.
1336 - Castlemore-Costello besieged and demolished by the King of Connacht.
1340 - battle of the O Cellaig's.
1341 - battle of the Clan Maurice, defeated by the Mayo Bourkes.
1342 - battle of Beal-atha-Slisen; King of Connacht defeats the King of Moylurg.
1343 - battle of Hy-Many; MacFeorais and Clanricarde soundly defeat the Ui Maine. Achadhmona; battle between the O'Donnells, in Tirhugh.
1345 - battle of Lough Neagh; naval battle between Hugh O'Neill and the Clann Hugh Buidhe.
1346 - Calry-Lough-Gill; O Rourke soundly defeated by the O Connors. Brian Mag Mathgamna defeats and kills 300 English somewhere in Thomond.
1348 - Ballymote besieged and burned by MacDermot, O Connor defeated.
1349 - O Melaghlin of Meath defeated in battle by the English.
1355 - The English of West Connaught defeated Mac William Burke, and killed many of his people. Clanricarde defeats the Mayo Bourkes and the Siol Anmchadha.
1356 - Baile-Locha-Deacair
1358 - Hugh O Neill defeats the Fer Managh and Orial. O More defeats the English of Dublin in battle.
1359 - Ballyshannon.
1366 - Srath-Fear-Luirg.
1368 - Oriel.
1369 - Blencupa.
1369 - Lough Erne. English of Munster and Desmond soundly defeated by O Brian, possibly at Limerick.
1373 - Annaly.
1374 - Niall O Neill defeats the English.
1375 - Downpatrick; Niall O Neill defeats the English.
1377 - Clann-Cuilein; Clanricarde and his allies defeated. Roscommon; Ruaidri O Conchobhair defeats the Mayo Burkes and the Ui Maine.
1379 - Dreach; O Neill Mor defeats Maguire.
1380 - Atha-leathann; Clanricarde defeated by Bourke of Mayo. A very great defeat was given by Magennis (Art) to the English and the people of Oriol.
1381 - Athlone.
1383 - Trian Chongail; Hugh O Neill and Robin savage kill each other in a cavalry charge.
1384 - Carrickfergus burned by Niall O'Neill, who thereupon acquired great power over the English.
1385 - Hy-Many. Tochar Cruachain-Bri-Ele; O Conchobhair, King of Ui Falighe, soundly defeats the English of Meath.
1389 - Caislen an Uabhair.
1391 - Bealach-an-Chrionaigh.
1392 - Ceann-Maghair.
1394 - Ros-mic-Triuin; King of Lenister attacks and defeats the English.
1395 - Cruachain; the King of Ui Failghe defeats an English expedition. O Donnell defeats and captures the sons of Henry O Neill.
1396 - Creag; O Conchobhair Roe defeats O Conchobhair Donn. O Tuathail of Lenister inflicts a severe defeat on the Anglo-Irish. Sligo - O Donnell and O Connor besiege and burn the town.
1397 - Machaire Chonnacht. Bun-Brenoige.
1398 - Eachdruim Mac n-Aodha. The O Tooles and O Byrnes defeat the Anglo-Irish, killing the Earl of March. Magh-Tuiredh - O Conchobair Roe and allies defeated by McDonagh.
1399 - Tragh-Bhaile; the Anglo-Irish defeat the sons of Henry O Neill.
1400 - Dunamon.
1406 - Cluain Immorrais; King of Ui Falighe defeats the English of Meath.
1444 - Duibhthrian; Sligo burned by the O Donnells, Maguires and O Connors.
1446 - Cuil Ua bh-Fionntain
1449 - Muintir-Maelmora
1452 - Cloch-an-bhodaigh; Coirrshliabh na Seaghsa
1453 - Ardglass (naval battle)
1454 - Inis
1455 - Athlone: The castle of Athlone was taken from the English, having been betrayed by a woman who was in it.
1456 - Cuil Mic an Treoin (Friday 18th May)
1457 - Druim da Ethiar
1460 - Corca Bhaiscinn (naval battle)
1461 - Ceann Maghair
1462 - Waterford taken by the Butlers in a war with the FitzGeralds.
1464 - Sliabh Lugha
1465 - Carn Fraoich
1466 - Offaly; Anglo-Irish army defeated by O Connor
1467 - CrosMoighe-Croin
1468 - Beann-uamha; Scormor, in Clann Chathail mic Murray
1469 - Baile-an-Duibh; The Defeat of Glanog
1473 - Doire-Bhaile-na-Cairrge
1475 - Baile-Locha-Luatha
1476 - Beal Feirste (Belfast)
1478 - Sligo, and the siege of Carrig Lough Ce
1482 - Ath-na-gCeannaigheadh
1483 - Traghbhaile of Dundalk
1484 - Moin-Ladhraighe
1486 - Tirawley
1488 - two sieges of Carraig Lough Ce
1489 - Belfast castle demolished by O Donnell; Ballytober Bride sacked by O Connor Roe
1490 - Maigh Croghan
1493 - Glasdromainn; Beanna Boirche;
1494 - O Donnell besieges Sligo for several months in the summer, but is unsuccessful
1495 - O Donnell besieges Sligo again; battle of Beal an Droichit; siege of Ballyshannon; battle of Termon-Daveog
1497 - Bealach-Buidhe; Beal Ath Daire.
1498 - Cros-Caibhdeanaigh. Dungannon.
1499 - Tulsk. First recorded death in Ireland from a bullet.
1504 - battle of Knockdoe - Fitzgeralds of Kildare defeat the Clanricarde Burkes.

Early Modern Era

1534 - Revolt of Silken Thomas in Kildare
1565 - Battle of Glentasie-Shane O'Neill defeats the MacDonnells of Clan Iain Mor.
1565 - battle of Affane - Fitzgeralds of Desmond defeated by Butlers of Ormonde
1567 - battle of Farsetmore - Shane O'Neill defeated by O'Donnell clan.
1570 - battle of Shrule

The Mac an Iarla Wars

1572 - First Sack of Athenry
1573 - Beal an Chip
1577 - Second Sack of Athenry
1577 - siege of Loughrea
1580 - sack of Loughrea
1579 - Lisdalon
1580 - Cill Tuathail

A series of rebellion by the Earl of Desmond dynasty against English rule. The wars were mostly fought using guerrilla tactics and there were many small engagements and relatively few pitched battles.

First Desmond Rebellion 1569-73

1569 -Siege of Kilkenny
1569 -First Battle of Killamock; Humphrey Gilbert against FitzMaurice. The second battle of Killamock was in 1798.
1571 -Sack of Kilmallock

Second Desmond Rebellion 1579-1583

1579 - Aenachbeg
1579 - Sack of Youghal
1579 - Sack of Kinsale
1580 - Battle of Glenmalure
1580 - Siege of Carrigafoyle Castle (Easter)
1580 - Siege of Smerwick
1582 - Allhallowtide

Spanish Armada

1588 - Spanish Armada in Ireland: crown mobilisation to capture survivors

Nine Years War (Ireland)

1595 - battle of Clontibret
1596 - Third Sack of Athenry
1596 - siege of Galway/sack of Bohermore
1597 - Casan-na-gCuradh
1597 - battle of Carrickfergus
1598 - battle of the Yellow Ford
1599 - Essex in Ireland: campaign of 1599 -

1600 - battle of Moyry Pass
1601 - battle of Kinsale
1602 - siege of Dunboy

Irish Confederate Wars/Wars of the Three Kingdoms

Williamite war in Ireland/War of the Three Kings

Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries

1760 - battle of Carrickfergus - Carrickfergus seized by the French.
1795 - battle of the Diamond - a sectarian faction fight in Armagh, that led to the founding of the Orange Order

1798 Rebellion

24th May - Ballymore-Eustace, Naas, Prosperous, Kilcullen
25th May - Carlow
26th May - Tara Hill
27th May - Oulart Hill
28th May - Enniscorthy
30th May - Three Rocks
1st June - Bunclody
4th June - Battle of Tuberneering
5th June - New Ross
7th June - Antrim
9th June - Arklow
13th June - Ballinahinch
19th June - Ovidstown
20th June - Foulksmills
21st June - Vinegar Hill
30th June - Ballyellis
27th August - Castlebar (The Races of Castlebar)
5th September - Collooney
7th September - Ballinamuck

Post Rebellion Insurgency (1798-1804)

Several fragments of the rebel armies of the Summer of 1798 survived to fight on both in the hope of the rebellion breaking out again and of French aid. The main guerrilla groupings were:

June - November 1798 - Joseph Holt
23rd July 1803 - Robert Emmet
1798 -1803 - Michael Dwyer
1798 - 1804 - James Corocoran

Tithe War (1831-36)

1831-1836 A period of rural insurgency over the payment of tithes to the Established Church.

Fenian Rising

1867 Fenian Rising An abortive attempt at a nationwide rebellion by the Irish Republican Brotherhood - skirmishes around the country.

Twentieth century

The 20th century saw a great deal of political violence in Ireland, but very little set-piece warfare and no pitched battles. This page aims to provide a link to the larger and more strategically significant military actions in this period.

1916 Easter Rising

Irish War of Independence

1919 - 1921 Chronology of the Irish War of Independence
1920 November 21 Bloody Sunday (1920) -day of violence in Dublin
1920 November 28 Kilmichael Ambush
1920 December 11 Sack of Cork -centre of Cork burned by British forces.
1921 March 19 Crossbarry Ambush
1921 May 25, IRA attack on the Custom House in Dublin
1921 June 2, Carrowkennedy Ambush

Irish Civil War

1922 Battle of Dublin
1922 July-August Irish Free State offensive 1922 -Irish Civil War - Free State offensive re-takes the major towns in Ireland's south and west.
1922 Battle of Kilmallock
1922-1923 Chronology of the Irish Civil War

IRA Border Campaign

1956-1962 Border Campaign (IRA) - an ineffective guerrilla campaign by the IRA against Northern Ireland, few deaths.

The "Troubles"

The "Troubles" refers to civil unrest and an armed campaign by irregular paramilitary forces against British state forces and civilian targets.

1969 "battle of the Bogside" - a period of extended civil unrest and rioting in Derry.
1969-1997 Provisional IRA campaign 1969-1997 - guerrilla campaign by the Provisional Irish Republican Army - responsible for about half of all deaths in the so-called "Troubles".
1969-1998 Chronology of the Northern Ireland Troubles

Irish Defense Forces on UN Duty

1960 Niemba Ambush - Irish platoon massacred in the Congo. Two survivors.
1961 Siege of Jadotville - 150 Irish UN troops withstand a four-day siege by upwards of four thousand Kataganians in the Congo.
1961 The Second Battle for the Tunnel - Irish 36th Battalion capture a vital communications link in Elisabethville, Congo. One officer, one soldier, killed in action.
1980 The Battle of At Tiri, South Lebanon. Between Irish UNIFIL troops and Israeli Defence Forces
2004 Gbapa, Nimba county, Liberia - Irish Army Ranger Wing rescue villagers from Government of Liberia (GOL) forces.