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

Desmond Rebellions

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

panish 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 -
**siege of Cahir Castle
**battle of Wicklow
**battle of Curlew Pass
*1600 - battle of Moyry Pass
*1601 - battle of Kinsale
*1602 - siege of Dunboy

Irish Confederate Wars/Wars of the Three Kingdoms

*1641 - battle of Julianstown
*1642 - battle of Liscarroll
*1642 - battle of Kilrush
*1642 - battle of Glenmaquinn
*1642 - Sack of the Claddagh
*1642 - siege of Limerick 1642
*1643 - battle of New Ross (1643)
*1643 - siege of Forthill
*1645 - siege of Duncannon
*1646 - battle of Benburb
*1647 - battle of Dungans Hill
*1647 - Sack of Cashel
*1647 - battle of Knocknanauss
*1649 - battle of Rathmines
*1649 - siege of Drogheda
*1649 - sack of Wexford
*1649 - siege of Waterford
*1649 - battle of Arklow (1649)
*1649 - battle of Lisnagarvey
*1649 - Siege of Derry (1649)
*1650 - Siege of Kilkenny
*1650 - siege of Clonmel
*1650 - battle of Tecroghan
*1650 - battle of Scarrifholis
*1650 - siege of Charlemont
*1650 - battle of Macroom
*1650 - battle of Meelick Island
*1651 - siege of Limerick (1650-51)
*1651 - battle of Knocknaclashy
*1652 - siege of Galway

Williamite war in Ireland/War of the Three Kings

*1689 - Break of Dromore
*1689 - siege of Derry
*1689 - battle of Newtownbutler
*1690 - capture of Sligo
*1690 - battle of the Boyne
*1690 - Siege of Limerick (1690)
*1690 - Siege of Cork
*1690 - Siege of Kinsale (1690)
*1691 - siege of Athlone
*1691 - capture of Athenry
*1691 - siege of Galway
*1691 - siege of Limerick (1691)
*1691 - battle of Aughrim

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=

"see also Battles of Irish rebellion 1798

*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.