IRISH BATTLES BY PROVINCE

See also:

Chronology of Ireland

Chronology of the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion

Map index to Irish history

Index to Irish history sites

Irish local history

Clans & Families of Ireland & Scotland / Irish History in Maps / Norman Conquest of Ireland / irish myth concordance / detailed history of Ireland / early Irish history / BATTLES OF THE BRITISH ISLES / BATTLE & STRATEGY GAMES / search the web with DOGPILE / irish ms sources /Annals A. D. 1373 to A. D. 1500 - in English/ / irish names / the troubles / the Viking age in Ireland / overviews of early and mediaeval Irish history / Ireland chronology 1848 to present/ the 1848 Young Ireland "rebellion"/ the green flag

PROVINCE

NEAREST TOWN

YEAR

BATTLE

DETAILS

All Ireland

 

1798

United Irishmen rebellion

 

All Ireland

 

1921

Irish Civil War

 

Connaught

Cnoc Meadha, or Knockma, the great hill, so conspicuous in the landscape, is about five miles to the west of Tuaim, in the barony of Clare and county of Galway

0_1869 bc

Second Battle of Moytura.

The Tuatha Dé Danaan fought and defeated the Fomorians; the Nuada was killed, and Lugh Lámhfada became king.

Connaught

Cnoc Meadha, or Knockma, the great hill, so conspicuous in the landscape, is about five miles to the west of Tuaim, in the barony of Clare and county of Galway

0_1896bc

First battle of Moytura

The Tuatha Dé Danaan (the Tribes of the Goddess Dana) came from the northwest, bringing with them, among other treasures, the Lia Fáil. They had developed and practised their magic arts in the North of Europe.

Connaught

Collooney, Sligo

1798

battle of Carricknagat

General Humbert of France led his forces to the aid of the Irish insurrectionists against the English forces, Teeling was an Irishman serving in the French army and was Humbert's Chief Aide-de-Camp. The English forces had stopped the advancement of Humbert's troops by placing a cannon as a blockade. Teeling saved the day by galloping away from the French forces, up the hill and shooting the cannon's marksman thus capturing the cannon. The English fled back to Sligo leaving 60 dead and 100 to be taken as prisoners. The French later surrendered at Ballinamuck in County Longford and the French soldiers were allowed back to France but the Irish serving with them were arrested, facing death by hanging.

Connaught

Cong in Mayo

0_AM3303

Mount Belgadan

Between the Firbolgs & Tuatha de Dananna, At the west end of Magh Nia. They fought the Fir Bolgs near and defeated them. Their king, Nuada, lost an arm in the battle.

Connaught

Moyne in Mayo

1281

Moyne

Norman settlers defeat the Barretts

Connaught

Shannon valley

0937

Loughree

Sihtricsson, king of Dublin, destroys the fleet of the Limerick Vikings

Connaught

Shannon valley, Loughrea

1691

Aughrim

William defeats James and the French, by pinning their entrenchments with a frontal assault, and then outflanking with cavalry.

Connaught

Sligo Carney Village

0561

Cooldrumman

instigator was one of the greatest early Irish saints St Colmcille (or Columba). Colmcille had borrowed a famous Psalter from St Finian, and without his permission made a copy of it. Finian brought the complaint to the High King, who made perhaps the earliest copyright order. ‘To every cow, its calf and every book its copy’. Colmcille and his followers were not convinced by the ruling and took up arms. The armies clashed at Cooldrumman and over 3,000 men were reputed to have been slain.

Leinster

 

1161

Castleknock

 

Leinster

 

1316

Castledermot

Invasion of Ireland by the Bruces

Leinster

Arklow

1798

Arklow

insurrection running battle

Leinster

Arklow

1798

New ross

June 5: June 5: Insurgents routed at New Ross, Co Wexford, after heavy fighting; massacre of over 100 Protestants by insurgents at nearby Scullabogue.

Leinster

Arklow

1798

Arklow

June 9: Wexford insurgents, advancing towards Dublin, repulsed at Arklow.

Leinster

Boyne valley

0847

Boyne

Irish rout Vikings, killing 700

Leinster

Boyne valley

1690

Boyne river

Protestant victory over the Catholic King James

Leinster

Carlow nr Kildare

09xx

Ballaghmoon (Bealagh Mughna)

Cormac of Munster defeated by Flinn

Leinster

Dublin

11xx

Dublin castle

 

Leinster

Dublin

0919

Lagore

High King and 12 subkings fail to drive out DublinVikings

Leinster

Dublin

0979

Tara

Malachy, king of the North, defeats the Dublin Danes

Leinster

Dublin

1014

Clontarf

Dublin vikings defeated north of the city by Brian Boru

Leinster

Dublin

1171

 

Normans breakout from Dublin against the last Irish High King

Leinster

Dublin

1649

Rathmines

Confederate Irish-v- Parliamentary

Leinster

Dublin 

1916

The Easter Rising

Put down by the Brits with artillery

Leinster

Garristown, Co. Meath)

0284

Battle of Gabhra

 

End of the Fianna.
Oisín's son and Fionn's grandson, Oscar, and Cairbre Liffechair killed each other.

Leinster

Kildare

0718

Almhain (Bog of Allen)

Leinstermen defeat the Northerners

Leinster

Kildare

1798

Curragh

May 29: 350 insurgents killed at Curragh, Co Kildare, by troops under Sir James Duff.

Leinster

Kilkenny

1169

Gowran

 

Leinster

Kilkenny

1462

Pilltown

Earl of Desmond defeats Earl of Ormonde

Leinster

Tara

1798

Tara

Insurgents defeated

Leinster

Waterford

1170

Dundonnell

 

Leinster

Westmeath

0_AMxxxx

Ford of Comar

Lohar

Leinster

Wexford

1798

Vinegar hill

 

Leinster

Wexford

1798

Oulart hill

May 27: Battle of Oulart Hill, Co Wexford; detachment of North Cork militia and local yeomanry almost annihilated.

Leinster

Wexford

1798

Three rocks

May 30: Battle of the Three Rocks, Wexford town captured by rebels.

 Leinster?

 

0_1699bc

Taillten

The sons of Milidh beat the last Kings of the Tuatha de Danaan

The Milesians (followers of Mil) came from Spain and defeated the Tuatha Dé Danaan at Tailltin.

 Leinster?

 

059x

Battle of Dún Bolg

The result of Cumascach, son of High King Aedh Ainmire, being killed by Brandubh, king of Leinster.

 Leinster?

 

0457

Ath Dara

 

Leinster?

 

1154

Moin Mor

Northerners defeat Munstermen

Leinster?

 

1318

Dysert O'Dea

Open battle between Normans and Irish

 Leinster?

 

1798

Battle of the Harrow

 

 Leinster?

 

1798

 Bunclody.

June 1 - Battle of Bunclody.

 Leinster?

 

1798

 Tubberneering

June 4: Battle of Tubberneering.

Leinster?

Dunlavin

098x

Glen-Mama (Glen of the Gap)

Brian Boru and Mallachy defeat the Danes

Leinster?

Tullamore

0000

Geisill

An arranged battle between the Milesian brothers in 0_AM 3500

Midhe

3 miles from Dunshaughlin, on the roads from Dublin to Navan and from Drogheda to Summerhill.

0846

Skreen

Vikings defeated by McLoughlin

Munster

Desmond

1262

Mangeston Mountain

English v Irish

Munster

Kerry

0_1699bc

Slieve mis

(Thursday, 30 April)

The Milesians (followers of Mil) came from Spain and attacked the Tuatha Dé Danaan. Their first battle was here and Scota, daughter of Pharaoh ben Mileach, died. She was buried between Slieve Mis and the sea. One of Ireland's early names, Scotia, comes from her.

Munster

Kinsale

1601

Kinsale

Hugh O'Neill-v-Mountjoy ..Irish tercios in open battle

Munster

Macroom nr Cork

0978

Belach-Lechta

Brian beat Molloy to become undisputed King of Munster

Munster

Tipperary

0968

Sulcoit

The Dalcassians defeated the Limerick Danes

Munster

Tipperary

1174

Thurles

Roderic O'Connors revolt v the English

Ulster

 

1969+

'the Troubles'

 

Ulster

 

1315

Connor

Invasion of Ireland by the Bruces

Ulster

(Moira, Co. Down)

0637

Magh-Rath

This was a historically important battle over the kingship of Ireland, in which the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada lost its Irish territories. Congal Cloen ("Squint-eyed" from a bee-sting), king of the Ulaid, and his Scottish allies fought against High King Domnall, son of Aedh Ainmire, but was slain. One result was of the battle was the Auraicept na n-Éces. (See also 3330 BC.)

Ulster

Antrim

1260

Downpatrick

The Viceroy defeats the O'Neills and O'Connors - the Irish forces were weak compared to the Anglo-Normans and were quickly defeated. The Irish fought in fine linen and fell like wheat in front of the invaders who fought in a mass of iron and in organized groups on horseback. Their new High King was killed and their hopes, while not dashed, waned considerably.

Ulster

Antrim

1559

Slieve-an-Aura

Macdonalds defeat the McQuinllans

Ulster

Antrim

1565

Glentaisie

O'Neills defeat Macdonald Lords of the Isles

Ulster

Antrim

1565

Knockboy Pass

Shane O'Neill defeats Macdonald Lords of the Isles at the entrance to the Antrim Glens

Ulster

Antrim

1567

Farsetmore

O'Donnells defeat O'Neills nr head of Loch Swilly

Ulster

Antrim

1586

Ardnary

The Macdonald Lords of the Isles are defeated by the Ulstermen

Ulster

Armagh

0_AMxxxx

Navan Fort

Navan Fort was probably Emain Macha, the capital of the Ulaid, mentioned in early Irish literature.

Ulster

Armagh

1598

Yellow Ford

The English ambushed and destroyed at the Callan River while marching north from Armagh.

Ulster

Ballynahinch, Co Down.

1798

Ballynahinch, Co Down.

June 13: United Irishmen led by Henry Monro defeated at Ballynahinch, Co Down. (Monro executed at Lisburn, 15 June.)

Ulster

Carrickfergus

1315

Connor

The Bruces won and then marched south

Ulster

Dundalk

1315

Dundalk

The Bruces landed and stormed the town

Ulster

Dundalk

1318

Fochart

Invasion of Ireland by the Bruces

Ulster

Enniskillen

1594

Ford of the Biscuits

O'Neills defeat the English and capture their supply train

Ulster

Lisburn

1646

Benburb

O'Neill defeats the Scots under Monroe

Ulster

Tullymore

1795

The Diamond

Protestants v Catholics

Ulster

Tyrone

1281

Desertcreaght

Owens v O'Connells

Ulster?

 

1504

Knockdoe

Classic Gallowglass battle and first mention of a 'gunne'

Ulster?

 

1567

Farsetmore

Shane O'Neill-v-O'Donnell ...Elizabethan period

Ulster?

 

1595

Clontibret,

Hugh O'Neill-v-Bagenal ..classic Irish ambush

Ulster?

 

1600

Moyry Pass

Hugh O'Neill-v-Mountjoy ..Irish ambush and running battle

Ulster?

 

1646

Benburb

Owen Roe O'Neill-v-Monroe ..pike&shot in set piece battle