Second Battle of Athenry
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Athenry took place at Athenry
in Ireland
on 10 August 1316 during the Bruce campaign in Ireland.
in 1249, no account is given of the battle itself in any surviving account. Even the site of the battle itself is uncertain.
Rickard de Bermingham
and William Liath de Burgh
led an Anglo-Irish force to victory. John Clyn
states that
According to common report a sum of five .... thousand in all [were killed] the number decapitated was one thousand five hundred.
The battle was a devastating defeat for the Connacht Gaels, who were allied with the Scotsman
Edward Bruce
. Among those killed were kings Fedlim Ó Conchobair and Tadhg Ó Cellaigh
King of Uí Maine.
The Annals of Ulster
U1313 (sic 1316) A great hosting was undertaken by Feidhlimidh, together with the nobles of the Fifth of Connacht and with Donnchadh O'Briain, king of Munster and O'Mael-Sheclainn, king of Meath and Ualgharc O'Ruairc, king of Breifni (Ualgharc O'Ruairc took the kingship that year) and O'Ferghail, king of Muinter-hAnghaile and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Ui-Maine and Maghnus, son of Domnall Ua Concobuir, tanist of Connacht and Art O'hEaghra, king of Luighni and Brian O'Dubhda, king of Ui-Fiachrach.
They went, all those, to Ath-na-righ. The Foreigners of the West of Connacht all assembled against them: to wit, William de Burgh and the Baron Mac Feorais Birmingham, lord of Ath-na-righ and all the Foreigners of the greater part of the Half of Conn. Battle was engaged in by them and defeat inflicted on the Gaidhil there. Feidhlimidh O'Concobuir (son of Aedh, son of Eogan), king of Connacht, was slain there: the one person on whom the attention of the Men of all Ireland was most directed and who was best in generosity and prowess.
Tadhg Ua Cellaigh, king of Ui-Maine, was slain there and eight and twenty of the Clann-Cellaigh that had right to kingship of Ui-Maine were slain there. Art O'hEghra, king of Luighni was slain there. But for one thing, there was not slain in this time in Ireland the amount that was slain there of sons of kings and of chiefs and of many other persons in addition. Ruaidhri, son of Donnchadh, son of Eogan Ua Concobuir, was then made king by the Connachtmen.
), on the 25th January,
Fedhlim afterwards plundered the favorites of Ruaidhri O'Conchobhair, and then assumed himself the sovereignty of Connacht from Es-Ruaidh to Echtghe. And he seized the territory of the Uí-Briuin-Breifne, and took choicehostages from them, and made Ualgharg O'Ruairc kingover them; and he took the hostages of Clann-Cellaigh, and O'Madadhain, and Uí-Diarmada, and O'hEghra, and O'Dubhda.
And he afterwards went to expel the Foreigners of the West of Connacht; and Baile-Atha-lethain was burned by him, and Stephen de Exeter, and Miles Cogan, and William Prendergast, and John Staunton, were slain there, (viz., these were noble knights); and William Laighleis was slain there, and a countless multitude [along with them].
And the entire country was plundered and burned by him, from the castle of the Corran to Rodhba, both church and territory; and he returned home afterwards with gladness, and with great spoils. And they went forthwith to Milic-na-Sinda, to meet the people of Leth-Modha; and he burned and demolished the castle of Milic; and Muirchertach O'Briain, king of Tuadh-Mumha, went into his house there, the descendants of Brian Ruadh being opposed to each other. And he turned back to Ros-Comain, to demolish it. And when Fedhlim heard that William Burk had arrived in Connacht from Alba, he commanded a muster of his people to one place, to expel him. And this was the muster that came there, viz., all from Es-Ruaidh to Echtghe.
And Donnchadh O'Briain, king of Tuadh-Mumha, came in his following and muster; and O'Maelechlainn, king of Midhe; and O'Ruairc, king of Breifne; and O'Ferghail, king of Conmaicne; and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Uí-Maine, and many more of the sons of kings and chieftains of Erinn, came in his muster.
And they all went to Ath-na-righ, against William Burk, Mac Feorais, and the other Foreigners of Connacht; and a battle was fought between them at the door of the town, and the Gaeidhel were defeated there, and Feidlilimidh O'Conchobhair, king of Connacht, and undisputed heir presumptive to the sovereignty of Erinn, was slain there, and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Uí-Maine, and twenty-eight persons entitled to the sovereignty of Uí-Maine, fell there along with him; and Maghnus, son of Domhnall O'Conchobhair, tanist of Connacht; and Art O'hEghra, king of Luighne; and Maelechlainn Carrach O'Dubhda and Muirchertach, son of Conchobhar O'Dubhda; and Conchobhar Og O'Dubhda; and Diarmaid Mac Diarmada, who was fit to be king of Magh-Luirg; and Muirchertach, son of Taichlech Mac Diarmada; and Muirchertach, son of Diarmaid, son of Ferghal; and Maelechlainn Og Mac Maghnusa; and John, son of Murchadh O'Madadhain; and Domhnall, son of Aedh O'Concennainn, king of Uí-Diarmada, and his brother Muirchertach along with him; and Murchadh O'Madadhain; and Domhnall O'Baighill; and Donnchadh O'Maelmhuaidh, together with his people; and the son of Murchadh Mac Mathghamhna, and one hundred of his people along with him; and Niall Sinnach, king of Feara-Tethbha, with his people; and Ferghal, son of John Gallda O'Ferghail; and William, son of Aedh Og O'Ferghail; and Thomas, son of Amhlaibh O'Ferghail.
And five of the Clann-Donnchaidh were also slain there, viz. Tomaltach, son of Gilla-Christ Mac Donnchaidh, and Murchadh Mac Donnchaidh, and Conchobhar son of Tadhg, and Muirchertach and Maelsechlainn Mac Donnchaidh.
And John Mac Aedhagan, O'Conchobhair's brehon, and Gilla-na-naemh, son of Dal-redochair O'Dobhailen, the standard bearer, and Thomas O'Conallan, were slain there around their lord. And not alone this; but it is not easy to tell all that were then slain of Momonians and Meathians, and of the men of Erinn likewise, ut dixit the poet:
On the day of St. Laurence the martyr these deeds were committed; and Fedhlimidh was twenty-three years old when slain; and he had been five years in the sovereignty of Connacht when Ruaidhri, son of Cathal Ruadh, assumed it in opposition to him during the space of half a year; and he was another half year after Ruaidhri in the sovereignty until he was slain in this battle of Ath-na-righ.
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 10 August 1316 during the Bruce campaign in Ireland.
Overview
The collective number of both armies are unknown, and can only be estimated. Martyn believes the royal army to have been as much as or more than a thousand, while that of Athenry was probably several hundred less. The list of deceased participants on the Irish side alone indicates that exceptionally high numbers were involved.Outcome
Unlike the First Battle of AthenryFirst Battle of Athenry
The First Battle of Athenry was fought on the August 15, 1249 at Athenry, Galway, Ireland. Athenry had existed as a minor settlement prior to its foundation as a town by the de Bermingham family in 1241, and was thus still little more than a military base in hostile territory.The victor of the day...
in 1249, no account is given of the battle itself in any surviving account. Even the site of the battle itself is uncertain.
Rickard de Bermingham
Rickard de Bermingham
Rickard de Bermingham , aka Rickard Mac Fheorais, was Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry.-Family background:Rickard is reckoned third lord of Athenry and Dunmore, both in County Galway. He was a grandson of Meyler de Bermingham, the founder of Athenry...
and William Liath de Burgh
William Liath de Burgh
-Background:De Burgh was a son of William Og de Burgh, who was killed at the Battle of Áth-an-Chip or Athankip in 1270, and a nephew of Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster...
led an Anglo-Irish force to victory. John Clyn
John Clyn
John Clyn of the Friars Minor, Kilkenny, was a 14th century Irish monk and chronicler who lived at the time of the Black Death.-Background:...
states that
According to common report a sum of five .... thousand in all [were killed] the number decapitated was one thousand five hundred.
The battle was a devastating defeat for the Connacht Gaels, who were allied with the Scotsman
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce
Edward the Bruce , sometimes modernised Edward of Bruce, was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland, then pursued his own claim in Ireland. He was proclaimed High King of Ireland, but was eventually defeated and killed in...
. Among those killed were kings Fedlim Ó Conchobair and Tadhg Ó Cellaigh
Tadhg Ó Cellaigh
-Background:Tadhg was one of five sons of Domhnall mac Conchobar mac Tadhg Taillten Ó Cellaigh, listed as"Gilbert, King of Hy-Many, David, Tadhg Mor of the Battle of Ath na Righ, and Conchobhar, King of Hy-Many, and Aedh...
King of Uí Maine.
The Annals of UlsterAnnals of UlsterThe Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
U1313 (sic 1316) A great hosting was undertaken by Feidhlimidh, together with the nobles of the Fifth of Connacht and with Donnchadh O'Briain, king of Munster and O'Mael-Sheclainn, king of Meath and Ualgharc O'Ruairc, king of Breifni (Ualgharc O'Ruairc took the kingship that year) and O'Ferghail, king of Muinter-hAnghaile and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Ui-Maine and Maghnus, son of Domnall Ua Concobuir, tanist of Connacht and Art O'hEaghra, king of Luighni and Brian O'Dubhda, king of Ui-Fiachrach.They went, all those, to Ath-na-righ. The Foreigners of the West of Connacht all assembled against them: to wit, William de Burgh and the Baron Mac Feorais Birmingham, lord of Ath-na-righ and all the Foreigners of the greater part of the Half of Conn. Battle was engaged in by them and defeat inflicted on the Gaidhil there. Feidhlimidh O'Concobuir (son of Aedh, son of Eogan), king of Connacht, was slain there: the one person on whom the attention of the Men of all Ireland was most directed and who was best in generosity and prowess.
Tadhg Ua Cellaigh, king of Ui-Maine, was slain there and eight and twenty of the Clann-Cellaigh that had right to kingship of Ui-Maine were slain there. Art O'hEghra, king of Luighni was slain there. But for one thing, there was not slain in this time in Ireland the amount that was slain there of sons of kings and of chiefs and of many other persons in addition. Ruaidhri, son of Donnchadh, son of Eogan Ua Concobuir, was then made king by the Connachtmen.
The Annals of Loch Cé
After winning the battle of Tóchar-móna-Coinnedha (Templetogher, County GalwayCounty Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
), on the 25th January,
Fedhlim afterwards plundered the favorites of Ruaidhri O'Conchobhair, and then assumed himself the sovereignty of Connacht from Es-Ruaidh to Echtghe. And he seized the territory of the Uí-Briuin-Breifne, and took choicehostages from them, and made Ualgharg O'Ruairc kingover them; and he took the hostages of Clann-Cellaigh, and O'Madadhain, and Uí-Diarmada, and O'hEghra, and O'Dubhda.
And he afterwards went to expel the Foreigners of the West of Connacht; and Baile-Atha-lethain was burned by him, and Stephen de Exeter, and Miles Cogan, and William Prendergast, and John Staunton, were slain there, (viz., these were noble knights); and William Laighleis was slain there, and a countless multitude [along with them].
And the entire country was plundered and burned by him, from the castle of the Corran to Rodhba, both church and territory; and he returned home afterwards with gladness, and with great spoils. And they went forthwith to Milic-na-Sinda, to meet the people of Leth-Modha; and he burned and demolished the castle of Milic; and Muirchertach O'Briain, king of Tuadh-Mumha, went into his house there, the descendants of Brian Ruadh being opposed to each other. And he turned back to Ros-Comain, to demolish it. And when Fedhlim heard that William Burk had arrived in Connacht from Alba, he commanded a muster of his people to one place, to expel him. And this was the muster that came there, viz., all from Es-Ruaidh to Echtghe.
And Donnchadh O'Briain, king of Tuadh-Mumha, came in his following and muster; and O'Maelechlainn, king of Midhe; and O'Ruairc, king of Breifne; and O'Ferghail, king of Conmaicne; and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Uí-Maine, and many more of the sons of kings and chieftains of Erinn, came in his muster.
And they all went to Ath-na-righ, against William Burk, Mac Feorais, and the other Foreigners of Connacht; and a battle was fought between them at the door of the town, and the Gaeidhel were defeated there, and Feidlilimidh O'Conchobhair, king of Connacht, and undisputed heir presumptive to the sovereignty of Erinn, was slain there, and Tadhg O'Cellaigh, king of Uí-Maine, and twenty-eight persons entitled to the sovereignty of Uí-Maine, fell there along with him; and Maghnus, son of Domhnall O'Conchobhair, tanist of Connacht; and Art O'hEghra, king of Luighne; and Maelechlainn Carrach O'Dubhda and Muirchertach, son of Conchobhar O'Dubhda; and Conchobhar Og O'Dubhda; and Diarmaid Mac Diarmada, who was fit to be king of Magh-Luirg; and Muirchertach, son of Taichlech Mac Diarmada; and Muirchertach, son of Diarmaid, son of Ferghal; and Maelechlainn Og Mac Maghnusa; and John, son of Murchadh O'Madadhain; and Domhnall, son of Aedh O'Concennainn, king of Uí-Diarmada, and his brother Muirchertach along with him; and Murchadh O'Madadhain; and Domhnall O'Baighill; and Donnchadh O'Maelmhuaidh, together with his people; and the son of Murchadh Mac Mathghamhna, and one hundred of his people along with him; and Niall Sinnach, king of Feara-Tethbha, with his people; and Ferghal, son of John Gallda O'Ferghail; and William, son of Aedh Og O'Ferghail; and Thomas, son of Amhlaibh O'Ferghail.
And five of the Clann-Donnchaidh were also slain there, viz. Tomaltach, son of Gilla-Christ Mac Donnchaidh, and Murchadh Mac Donnchaidh, and Conchobhar son of Tadhg, and Muirchertach and Maelsechlainn Mac Donnchaidh.
And John Mac Aedhagan, O'Conchobhair's brehon, and Gilla-na-naemh, son of Dal-redochair O'Dobhailen, the standard bearer, and Thomas O'Conallan, were slain there around their lord. And not alone this; but it is not easy to tell all that were then slain of Momonians and Meathians, and of the men of Erinn likewise, ut dixit the poet:
- Many of the men of Erin all, around the great plain—
- Many sons of kings, whom I name not, were slain in the great defeat:
- Sorrowful to my heart is the conflict of the host of Midhe and Mumha.
On the day of St. Laurence the martyr these deeds were committed; and Fedhlimidh was twenty-three years old when slain; and he had been five years in the sovereignty of Connacht when Ruaidhri, son of Cathal Ruadh, assumed it in opposition to him during the space of half a year; and he was another half year after Ruaidhri in the sovereignty until he was slain in this battle of Ath-na-righ.
External links
- http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001B/index.html
- http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100010A/index.html