Oliver Cromwell Invades Ireland
With a New Model Army Oliver Cromwell was a force not to mess with. They were battle-hardened, disciplined and efficient. They were English Calvinists who were…
History
The Irish Rebellion Of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 came about because of the resentment felt by the Catholic Irish, both Gael and Old English, in regards to the…
Raphoe Castle (Bishop’s Palace)
Located on a hill overlooking the town of Raphoe is Bishop’s Palace that was built in 1636 by John Leslie, Bishop of Raphoe (the fighting…
The Plantation Of Derry
Derry is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the whole of Ireland and dates back to sometime in the 6th Century A.D. With an…
The Flight Of The Earls in 1607
The 14th September 1607 was to become an important date in Irish history and one which continues to baffle even the most experienced and knowledgeable…
Hugh O’Neill 2nd Earl of Tyrone 1550-1616
Born in 1550 Hugh O’Neill (Aodh Mór Ó Neill) was the second son of Mathew Ceallaigh the illegitimate son of Conn Bacach O’Neill who had…
The Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is located at the Trinity College in Dublin and it is open for public visits, most times. The Book of Kells…
The Plantation Of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was part of the English conquest of Ireland, a method used to pacify and civilise the province. Although plantations in Ireland…
The Long March Of O’Sullivan Beare
The long march of O’Sullivan Beare was a daring mission to flee invading English forces to seek refugee from Irish clans in the north of…
The Battle Of Kinsale In 1601
The Battle of Kinsale is one of Ireland’s most famous battles and begun in September 1601 when a large Spanish fleet landed at the harbour of…
17th Century Ireland
The beginning of the 17th century in Ireland was marked by the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, one of Ireland’s most famous battles that saw…
Donegal Friary is founded
Donegal Friary is in Donegal town, on the water’s edge at the entrance of the harbor. The O’Donnell clan built the Friary in 1474 with…
High King Edward Bruce Of Ireland
Edward Bruce was the younger brother of Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots. In 1315, King Robert sent his brother to Ireland to create…
Robert Devereux arrives in Ireland
Following the defeat of the English at the battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598, many of the southern Gaelic clans began to come out…
Battle of the Yellow Ford 1598
The Yellow Ford ( Béal an Átha Bui) is on the river Callan and close to the river Blackwater about 2 miles from Armagh city….
Feagh MacHugh O’Byrne 1543-1597
Feagh MacHugh O’Bryne (Fiach Mac Aodh ÓBroin) was the son of the chief of the O’Byrnes of the Gabhail Raghnaill. His sept, a minor one,…
The 9 years War
The 9 Years War became an historical turning point for the Irish as it has seen the destruction of old Gaelic rule to be replaced…
Red Hugh O’Donnell 1571-1602
Red Hugh O’Donnell (Aodh Rua ÓDomhnaill) was the son and successor to Hugh MacManus O’Donnell, An ÓDomhnaill, Rí Thír Chonaill, that is, The O’Donnell King of Tyrconnell, a…
The Founding of Trinity College Dublin 1592
By 1590 English rule was, with the exception of Ulster, firmly secured throughout Ireland. The Catholic Gaels and Old English of Munster, Leinster, and Connacht…
The Battle for Ballymote Castle
Built in the early 14th century Ballymote castle stands in the market town of Ballymote in County Sligo, in the province of Connacht. The castle…
The Spanish Armada in Ireland: A Failed Invasion Attempt
In 1588, the Spanish Armada was sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England and overthrow Queen Elizabeth I. While the Armada’s defeat…
The Siege of Smerwick in 1580
Following the death of James FitzMaurice FitzGerald in August 1579, command of the rebel forces in Munster fell to John of Desmond, his brother. Not…
The Battle of Glenmalure in 1580
Following the excommunication in 1570 of the English monarch Elizabeth, the Protestant English in Ireland increased their confiscations of Catholic held lands. In the newly…
James FitzMaurice FitzGerald Returns
Following his failed rebellion in 1565, James FitzMaurice, had submitted to Elizabeth I’s authority and was pardoned, but he lost all his own holdings to…