O'Connor
Irish History
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
Battle at Curlew Pass continued . . .
Sligo surrendered the castle shortly afterwards and reluctantly joined with the
rebels. After the victory, there was a noticeable increase in the rate of desertion by Irish troops from the ranks of Essex's army, and the earl ordered that the surviving troops be divided up as fit only to hold walls. The battle was a classic Gaelic Irish ambush, similar to the Battle of Glenmalure in 1580 and future battles such as the Battle of Yellow Ford in 1598. According to the annals of the Four Masters, the victory was put down to the intercession of the Blessed Mary, rather than to arms. But Clifford had been over-confident, a trait in him that Essex once warned against - and it is clear that English military commanders were choosing to learn the hard way about the increased effectiveness of the Irish forces.
The Queen's principal secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, rated this defeat ( and the simultaneous defeat of Harrington in Wicklow ) as the two heaviest blows ever suffered by the English in Ireland, and sought to lay the blame indirectly on Essex. It left O' Donnell and O' Neill free from any threat from the Connacht side, and rendered a land-based attack through Armagh highly improbable, a factor that weighed with Essex as he marched northward later in the year and entered a truce with O' Neill. In August 1602, the Curlew Pass was the scene of the last victory won by the Irish during the war, when a panicking English force was again routed and suffered significant losses; this time the Irish were led by Rory O' Donnell ( and with him, O' Connor Sligo ) who commanded 400 musketeers.
The Queen's principal secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, rated this defeat ( and the simultaneous defeat of Harrington in Wicklow ) as the two heaviest blows ever suffered by the English in Ireland, and sought to lay the blame indirectly on Essex. It left O' Donnell and O' Neill free from any threat from the Connacht side, and rendered a land-based attack through Armagh highly improbable, a factor that weighed with Essex as he marched northward later in the year and entered a truce with O' Neill. In August 1602, the Curlew Pass was the scene of the last victory won by the Irish during the war, when a panicking English force was again routed and suffered significant losses; this time the Irish were led by Rory O' Donnell ( and with him, O' Connor Sligo ) who commanded 400 musketeers.
The
war spread to Leinster; for young Eoiny O' More, son of Rory O' More, had returned to Leix, a boy
men thought " not yet of an age for war. " Faithful friends had brought him when a little child to Feach O' Byrne who had guarded him in his Wicklow fortress. But Feach could no longer protect him for Feach was dead, killed in an ambush, and his sons, Felim and Raymond, gallant young men fighting the enemy, could not take care of a boy considered too young for arms. So he was sent back to Leix. There he declared he was a man and would lead men. His father's clan gathered round him, rejoiced, and made him their chief. The English governor of Leix sent a force to seize him. They were beaten with the loss of 50 men. " A stirring youth who hath lately taken weapon, " wrote old Fitzwilliam to London, " the O' Mores look to him to be their captain. " Before he was of age Eoiny had won a name for skill and daring. He recognised O' Neill's authority; visited the north, and received his consent to strike a blow at the English forces in Munster. With 800 foot and a handful of horse the boy darted into the province. Ormond, in command of the queen's troops, was too late to oppose him. Eoiny and his men shot past. There was alarm; rapid musterings. The Lord President Thomas collected soldiers in haste and waited at Mallow to beat the audacious Leinster lad. The lad came up very readily. A herald rode to the gate and handed in a letter. Eoiny O' More challenged the Lord President to bring out his army and give battle. He wrote several " bold letters"
Norris took counsel; left a small garrison in Mallow and retreated to Cork followed by Eoiny whose light-armed men skirmished with his rear. That retreat rang through Munster. Men enrolled; leaders and captains were found; messages were sent to O' Neill. The boy's dart-like stroke had re-kindled the war in the province.
In the North a beautiful woman flits into the war scene - an English girl, a beauty of nineteen. Her anme was Mabel Bagenal. Her father, one Nicholas Bagenal, having killed a man of position in England, had sought refuge in Ireland. The earl's grandfather, Conn the Lane, had befriended him, and had obtained his pardon from Henry VIII. Bagenal got large grants of forfeited lands, became a foe of O' Neill's and died Marshal of Elizabeth's forces
in Ireland. In the summer of 1591, Hugh O' Neill, still in friendship with the queen and her Deputy, met the beauty, and they fell in love with each other. Her friends approved. The marriage was a great one for the girl. Up there in Tyrone she would be a countess and something more. But she had a brother, Sir Henry Bagenal, Marshal of Ireland, O' Neill's secret enemy. When the earl asked for her hand, not directly refusing, he raised difficulties about the " incivilities " of the earl's country. By " incivilities " he meant barbarism, the word so frrequently used by the English when the two civilisations met. He sent her to her sister, living near Dublin, who encouraged the lovers. Their betrothal took place, and O' Neill gave the girl a gold necklace of great value. A month later O' Neill went to dinner at the sister's house with a retinue of English friends. People dined at noon. In the long August afternoon when the feast was over, the guests wandered on the lawns and played at games. But the girl slipped out of the house to where a pillioned horse and a gentleman of O' Neill's suite were waiting. There was a swift ride to a friend's house. O' Neill followed. The Bishop of Meath, the " queen's " bishop married them, and the earl took his bride north, built a fine house for her, and " furnished " it out of London.
Bagenal was now his mortal enemy. The beautiful girl lived to see her husband throw off his English title and unfurl the banner with the Red Hand of O' Neill. A little change of fate - and she might have been a queen. She became a Catholic and died in 1596.
Two years later O' Neill and Bagenal met. Not alone. To that encounter each brought an army. Bagenal at the head of the queen's forces had been sent to crush a prince who aimed at an independent Ireland. So far O' Neill had been the victor in Ulster. So victorious had he been that several attempts at negotiations had been made by the English. He had refused to meet the queen's commissioners except at the head of his army. Once he had dictated terms: The Catholic Church was to be left undisturbed; no sheriff was to be admitted into Irish territories; and payment made to him of his wife's dowry which Bagenal had kept. While he was moving thus triumphantly through Ulster " every blow he dealt was re-echoed by Red Hugh in Connacht. "
It was 1598, the sixth year of the war; the month August. Bagenal was to relieve Portmore, held by a queen's garrison, now starving, and wipe " the rebels " out of existence. He had already made a successful stroke. He had got provisions into Armagh occupied by queen's troops, and had surprised O' Neill's camp. From the latter he had quickly dislodged, and fell back on Armagh. Before sunrise he marched out of the city to attack O' Neill. His English soldiers were veterans who had fought in France, or had been picked from Belgian garrisons. His Irish auxiliaries were mercenaries who had given proof of their valour. The son of the " queen's " O' Reilly was with them; a young man so extremely handsome, of slendid figure, called the " Fair. " This battle, the biggest of the war in the North, is called the Battle of the Yellow Ford.
Norris took counsel; left a small garrison in Mallow and retreated to Cork followed by Eoiny whose light-armed men skirmished with his rear. That retreat rang through Munster. Men enrolled; leaders and captains were found; messages were sent to O' Neill. The boy's dart-like stroke had re-kindled the war in the province.
In the North a beautiful woman flits into the war scene - an English girl, a beauty of nineteen. Her anme was Mabel Bagenal. Her father, one Nicholas Bagenal, having killed a man of position in England, had sought refuge in Ireland. The earl's grandfather, Conn the Lane, had befriended him, and had obtained his pardon from Henry VIII. Bagenal got large grants of forfeited lands, became a foe of O' Neill's and died Marshal of Elizabeth's forces
in Ireland. In the summer of 1591, Hugh O' Neill, still in friendship with the queen and her Deputy, met the beauty, and they fell in love with each other. Her friends approved. The marriage was a great one for the girl. Up there in Tyrone she would be a countess and something more. But she had a brother, Sir Henry Bagenal, Marshal of Ireland, O' Neill's secret enemy. When the earl asked for her hand, not directly refusing, he raised difficulties about the " incivilities " of the earl's country. By " incivilities " he meant barbarism, the word so frrequently used by the English when the two civilisations met. He sent her to her sister, living near Dublin, who encouraged the lovers. Their betrothal took place, and O' Neill gave the girl a gold necklace of great value. A month later O' Neill went to dinner at the sister's house with a retinue of English friends. People dined at noon. In the long August afternoon when the feast was over, the guests wandered on the lawns and played at games. But the girl slipped out of the house to where a pillioned horse and a gentleman of O' Neill's suite were waiting. There was a swift ride to a friend's house. O' Neill followed. The Bishop of Meath, the " queen's " bishop married them, and the earl took his bride north, built a fine house for her, and " furnished " it out of London.
Bagenal was now his mortal enemy. The beautiful girl lived to see her husband throw off his English title and unfurl the banner with the Red Hand of O' Neill. A little change of fate - and she might have been a queen. She became a Catholic and died in 1596.
Two years later O' Neill and Bagenal met. Not alone. To that encounter each brought an army. Bagenal at the head of the queen's forces had been sent to crush a prince who aimed at an independent Ireland. So far O' Neill had been the victor in Ulster. So victorious had he been that several attempts at negotiations had been made by the English. He had refused to meet the queen's commissioners except at the head of his army. Once he had dictated terms: The Catholic Church was to be left undisturbed; no sheriff was to be admitted into Irish territories; and payment made to him of his wife's dowry which Bagenal had kept. While he was moving thus triumphantly through Ulster " every blow he dealt was re-echoed by Red Hugh in Connacht. "
It was 1598, the sixth year of the war; the month August. Bagenal was to relieve Portmore, held by a queen's garrison, now starving, and wipe " the rebels " out of existence. He had already made a successful stroke. He had got provisions into Armagh occupied by queen's troops, and had surprised O' Neill's camp. From the latter he had quickly dislodged, and fell back on Armagh. Before sunrise he marched out of the city to attack O' Neill. His English soldiers were veterans who had fought in France, or had been picked from Belgian garrisons. His Irish auxiliaries were mercenaries who had given proof of their valour. The son of the " queen's " O' Reilly was with them; a young man so extremely handsome, of slendid figure, called the " Fair. " This battle, the biggest of the war in the North, is called the Battle of the Yellow Ford.
the battle of the Yellow ford
The
Battle of the Yellow Ford ( Irish: Beal an Atha Buidhe ) was fought in western County Armagh,
Ulster, near the River Blackwater, on the 14th August 1598. The crown forces were marching from Armagh town to relieve a beseiged fort on the Blackwater when they fell into an ambush and were routed with heavy losses.
Bagenal went out, his horse and foot sheathed in mail, heavily armed. It was an army gleaming with crested plumes, silken sashes, military ornaments. Brass cannon it had, mounted on wheels, drawn bt horses. These made the army formidable.
In the Irish camp a council of war was held. The stars had not waned when the leaders met. Before the tent a guard was drawn; around it were gathered high-born faces " the youth of the nobility of Ulster " and " young Connachtmen " of by no means ignoble birth. " The lines of the camp, covering the field, stretched far in the din dawn; men standing to their horses; close knit ranks of gall-oglach; light armed foot; all waiting for the command ; to accept battle or retire. For patrols had brough O' Neill information of the heavy muskets carried by Bagenal soldiers; of the veterans trained on the continent; of the disciplined Irish mercenaries; of the brass cannon. Ws it right to risk a battle? Red Hugh was with him. He had marched up from Connacht with 3,000 men, one thousand Connacians, two thousand Ultonians. And there was Angus MacDonnell, Red Hugh's cousin, son of the famous Sorley Boy whom Shane the Proud had once taken prisoner. And Hugh Maguire, lord of Fermanagh, first calvary officer in Ireland. As O' Neill hesitated a man stood up. He was a high official, Feareasa O' Clery, hereditary historian of Tir-Connaill. He held a vellum in his hand, centuries old. Why did the great O'Neill doubt, the descendant of many kings, he asked; why the noble O' Donnell, his prince, son too, of kings; why the Maguire, the high-born and generous; why MacDonnell of the Isles; why the captains, sons of heroes, gathered at that council ? Listen to the words of Berchan, one of the four prophets of Ireland. And the men listened. To Berchan, nine centuries before had given a vision flung far in time. He had caught the sounds of a battle as he walked by the Yellow Ford; strange thunderings; battle-shouts of men; the clash of arms; the charge of horse. And on him had come the spirit of prophecy; whereupon he wrote down that there far in the future the men of Erin would meet and defeat their foes.
This decided O' Neill. The prophecy was read to the men; none doubted its fulfilment that day. O' Neill made them a speech - one sentence golden: " Victory lies not in senseless armour, nor in the vain din of cannon, but in living and courageous souls. " He waited battle on the ground on which the army stood. Across the plain that lay before the camp a deep trench had been dug and an embankment four feet high made. Bogs lay on each side of the plain, and a muddy yelloe stream flowed into the trench. Beyond the plain was a scattered wood of hawthorn and junipers
Bagenal went out, his horse and foot sheathed in mail, heavily armed. It was an army gleaming with crested plumes, silken sashes, military ornaments. Brass cannon it had, mounted on wheels, drawn bt horses. These made the army formidable.
In the Irish camp a council of war was held. The stars had not waned when the leaders met. Before the tent a guard was drawn; around it were gathered high-born faces " the youth of the nobility of Ulster " and " young Connachtmen " of by no means ignoble birth. " The lines of the camp, covering the field, stretched far in the din dawn; men standing to their horses; close knit ranks of gall-oglach; light armed foot; all waiting for the command ; to accept battle or retire. For patrols had brough O' Neill information of the heavy muskets carried by Bagenal soldiers; of the veterans trained on the continent; of the disciplined Irish mercenaries; of the brass cannon. Ws it right to risk a battle? Red Hugh was with him. He had marched up from Connacht with 3,000 men, one thousand Connacians, two thousand Ultonians. And there was Angus MacDonnell, Red Hugh's cousin, son of the famous Sorley Boy whom Shane the Proud had once taken prisoner. And Hugh Maguire, lord of Fermanagh, first calvary officer in Ireland. As O' Neill hesitated a man stood up. He was a high official, Feareasa O' Clery, hereditary historian of Tir-Connaill. He held a vellum in his hand, centuries old. Why did the great O'Neill doubt, the descendant of many kings, he asked; why the noble O' Donnell, his prince, son too, of kings; why the Maguire, the high-born and generous; why MacDonnell of the Isles; why the captains, sons of heroes, gathered at that council ? Listen to the words of Berchan, one of the four prophets of Ireland. And the men listened. To Berchan, nine centuries before had given a vision flung far in time. He had caught the sounds of a battle as he walked by the Yellow Ford; strange thunderings; battle-shouts of men; the clash of arms; the charge of horse. And on him had come the spirit of prophecy; whereupon he wrote down that there far in the future the men of Erin would meet and defeat their foes.
This decided O' Neill. The prophecy was read to the men; none doubted its fulfilment that day. O' Neill made them a speech - one sentence golden: " Victory lies not in senseless armour, nor in the vain din of cannon, but in living and courageous souls. " He waited battle on the ground on which the army stood. Across the plain that lay before the camp a deep trench had been dug and an embankment four feet high made. Bogs lay on each side of the plain, and a muddy yelloe stream flowed into the trench. Beyond the plain was a scattered wood of hawthorn and junipers
