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The Battle Of Kinsale In 1601

Home > irish History > 17th Century > Battle at Kinsale

The Battle at Kinsale is one of Ireland’s most famous battles to have taken place throughout the country’s history. This historic tale of deep loyalty and dedication to a small country began when two patriotic forces, in the names of Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh O’Donnell, united to drive the British invaders out of their land in 1601.

Both men were eventually to become head of their individual clans and both shared the same passion for ridding Ireland of British invaders. O’ Neill, surprisingly enough, was raised by a Protestant family and actually served as a soldier in the British Army for some time, however he had a secret dislike to British occupation in Ireland. O’Donnell was much younger than O’Neill and had a very different experience of the British being in Ireland as he was imprisoned by the English at the age of fifteen and escaped four years later. His experience with the English during his imprisonment was to initiate a deep rooted bitterness towards them.

O’Neill and O’Donnell together built and trained an Army, and it wasn’t before long they found a powerful ally in the King of Spain, Phillip III. King Phillip was more than keen to help the Irish for two main reasons. Firstly, he wanted revenge for the famous defeat of his Spanish Armada in 1588 and secondly, Phillip seen Ireland as a terrific foundation from which he could invade England. With this in mind, Phillip agreed to the request of O’Neill and O’Donnell to send a large army in helping them defeat the British. However, the determined pair were making a name for themselves in Ulster (the North of Ireland) after defeating the English in various ambushes and surprise attacks, which rattled the cages of the enemy.

King Phillip eventually sent his army of 4,800 men to Kinsale, Ireland to help O’Neill and O’Donnell who were located in Donegal, close to Ulster. However, the Spanish Army were surrounded by the English army, which was led by Lord Mountjoy and Carew the President of Munster, and many historians agree that if the Spanish had have met with the Irish army in Donegal, then they would have been strong enough to defeat their enemy. To help their allies, who were now in the middle of being besieged in the town by the English Army. O’Neill and O’Donnell marched their army 250 miles to Kinsale; a march which many say is one of the greatest marches to date in Irish History. The actual Battle of Kinsale took place on the 24th December 1601, Christmas Eve. The events that occurred was to be described as ill-judged on O’Neill’s part, as the battle lasted only an hour, 1200 Irish soldiers were lost whereas the English only lost 20. It can only be said that the Irish Army were ill-equipped, badly trained for open-field fighting and were no match against the experienced and heavy ammunition of English Army.

Afterwards, O’Donnell fled to Spain where he lived comfortably until he died a few months later, said to have been poisoned by a spy of Carew’s named Blake. O’Neill was to return to Ulster, where Lord Mountjoy treated him respectively well; however, most of his lands and authority were non-existent. O’Neill was to later, in 1607, go to Spain with a number of family members and supporters, most of whom were lesser chieftains and this was to become famously known as the Flight of the Earls.

It is safe to say, that although they were defeated, O’Neill and O’Donnell showed a great unity and loyalty for their country, a country which had seen many invasions and battles even then in 1601, and not only did they set an example for future patriots who were to continue to fight their neighbours across the water, but they showed the sheer strength, determination and love that the people inhabited for their small Island in the British Isles.

Other events of 17th Century Ireland

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