The Battle of Athenry, 1316

information taken from the
Carnaun National School's website,
written by Finbarr O'Regan.

Ruaidhri O'Conor, the High King of Ireland lost
all power as Árd-Rí within a few years after the Norman invasion, but he
still remained master of Connacht. The invaders soon tried to gain a footing
in the west. De Cogan led a force across the Shannon in 1177, and John de
Courcy, who was then Viceroy, led another force in 1188. Both these attacks
were repulsed, and the Normans were glad to escape from the province with
their lives. However treacherous princes of the Síol Muireadhaigh guided
de Cogan and de Courcy on their way through Connacht. When Ruaidhri retired
into the monastery of Cong in 1186 there was fierce, strife for the right
to succeed him so he made an attempt to recover the kingship. He was unsuccessful,
and returned to the monastery, where he ended his days in 1198. The kingdom
of Connacht was then claimed by Cathal "Crobhdhearg" or Cathal of the "Wine
Red Hand who was Ruaidhri's half-brother, and by Cathal Carrach, Ruaidhri's
grandson. A long struggle took place, during which both parties brought
in Normans to help them. William de Burgo, known as "Concur" or Conqueror,
now gained great influence in Connacht. Cathal Crobhdhearg finally triumphed
over his rival and was recognised by all parties, English and Irish, as
rightful King of Connacht. The reign of Cathal Crobhdhearg was splendid
and prosperous. Many stories about him were handed down in later years.
One story tells how, as a child, rival members of Síol Muireadhaigh threatened
his life. Some monks hid him in their monasteries, and afterwards his mother
took him for safety to Leinster. He was brought up there as a labourer.
To cover his red hand he always wore a glove. One day, while Cathal was
reaping rye, a messenger from Connacht passed by the field. The labourers
asked him for the news, and he told them that the kingship of Connacht was
vacant and that the people would elect no other king but Cathal Crobhdhearg.
He said he was searching Ireland for Cathal, who would be known by his red
hand. Cathal paused in his task and stood for a while thinking silently.
His comrades remarked that Connacht workmen were always slow, and bade him
get on with the work. But Cathal suddenly tore off the glove and showed
the messenger his red hand. He threw his reaping hook on the ground, saying
"Slán leat, a chorráin, anois do'n chlaíomh (farewell, reaping-hook, now
for the sword"). Cathal was renowned as a great warrior. The Irish Annals
speak of him as "the best Gael for nobility and honour since the time of
Brian Bóru, the upholder of the people, the maintainer of peace, the pillar
of Christianity, the corrector of culprits and transgressors, the destroyer
of robbers and evildoers, the defender of the law." He was the last real
King of Connacht. After his death the condition of the province became very
unsettled owing to the quarrels of his sons. "Woeful was the misfortune
which God permitted to fall on the best province of Erin, for the young
warriors did not spare each other, but preyed and plundered to the utmost
of their power. Women an children, the feeble and the lowly poor, perished
by famine in this war." The Normans built their castles in many parts of
the province and supported one party against another. By an English grant
made in 1227 Connacht was awarded to Richard de Burgo, son of "Concur."
The Viceroy, Maurice Fitzgerald, gathered a great force of Anglo-Normans
from all parts of Ireland in 1235 and led, them across the Shannon to secure
the province for de Burgo. Normans, among whom we find the names De Angulo
(Costello), De Brun (Browne), Fleming, Cusack, Barrett and Walsh, occupied
large portions of Connacht. Some of the Norman settlements afterwards developed
into important towns notably Gaillimh (Galway) founded by De Burgo, Athenry
founded by his baron Meiler de Bermingham and Sligeach (Sligo) by Maurice
Fitzgerald. The O'Conors were henceforth Kings of Connaught only in name.
The lands, which they ruled over, were practically confined to North Roscommon.
By now the Normans controlled the Central Plain of Ireland with de Burgos
being Lord of Connaught and Earl of Ulster (east of the River Bann). Hugh
de Lacey and his barons Nugent, Dalton Preston Plunkett, Tuite, Tyrell,
Cusack and others governed Meath. A line of fortifications extended along
the south and east coasts from Kerry to Antrim. In many parts of the country
the Gaeil (Irish) only held territory in the mountains, bogs and dense woodlands,
often building their strongholds in Crannóga or lake dwellings. The Irish
however recovered with the failure of Maurice Fitzgerald to fully conquer
Ulster. Goffraidh O'Donnell destroyed his castle at Caol-Uisce in 1257 levelled
the town of Sligo and won a decisive battle at Credren in County Sligo.
This resulted in an effort to restore the High Kingship. However the </font>Irish
quarrelled over this. In the south the Irish recovery continued with McCarthy's
great victory at Callan (Kilgarvan) near Kenmare in County Kerry. Turlough
O'Brien of Thomond (North Munster) a master of guerrilla warfare had the
upper hand in Counties Limerick and Clare and in the midlands the old Irish
families began to regain some of their lands. The employment of Mercenaries
(Gallóglaí meaning foreign soldiers) from Scotland meant that an element
of professionalism entered the forces of the Irish who often left the campaign
to harvest the crops. Early in the fourteenth century the Kings of England
(Edward 1. and his son, Edward II.) tried very hard to subdue Scotland.
The Scottish people, although they were few in number, made a heroic and
successful fight for liberty. Led by King Robert Bruce, a great and brave
man, they defeated the English at the battle of Bannockburn (1314). These
events were followed, with deep interest in Ireland. Many of the Scottish
people were Gaeil. They spoke a language, which is so like Irish that Irish
poets could travel across the sea and win praise and rewards by reciting
their poems in Scotland. Encouraged by the Scottish triumph of King Robert
Bruce over the English at Bannockburn Dónall O'Neill of Tír Eoghain, with
other chieftains, offered the crown of Ireland to his brother Edward Bruce.
Edward accepted the offer, and landed near Larne in May 1315, with an army
of, 6,000 men. He defeated the Red Earl of Ulster (de Burgo) at Connor near
Ballymena. Marching through Meath in the following year, he overcame one
large force of the Anglo-Normans at Kells, and another, led by Butler and
Fitzgerald, at Ardschull in County Kildare. Attended by a great number of
Irish and Scots, he as crowned King of Ireland at Cnoc Mealdúin (Knockmelan),
near Dundalk, on May 1st. 1316. At the same time Felim O'Conor, an ambitious
young prince, made a determined effort to free himself from de Burgo's control
and to become King of all Connacht. The great families of Connaught - O'Conors,
O'Kellys, O'Hynes, O'Flahertys and O'Shaughneys, - the O'Rourkes of Breifne
and many from Thomond and Meath joined his standard. The Anglo-Normans gathered
in full strength, and the two armies met near Ath 'n Rí (Athenry) on August
10th, 1316. "The Gaeil charged all day with desperate courage, but they
were driven back by a line of steel, and mown down by the deadly English
archers. Their standard was captured. Sixty chieftains were slain, including
Felim and Tadhg O'Kelly from whom," say the Annals, " the Gaeil expected
more than from any man of his time." This battle destroyed the last hope
of restoring the kingdom of Connacht. In spite of Felim's defeat Edward
Bruce still held Ireland east of the Shannon. King Robert came over from
Scotland and marched on Dublin. As the city refused to surrender they marched
away. In those days, before artillery began to be used, it was very difficult
even for a large army to capture a fortified town. The towns, especially
Dublin, were the chief centres of English power. When the war had lasted
two years Ireland began to be worn out by the reckless waste of life, and
the destruction of cattle, crops and houses. To make matters worse, the
weather was very bad, and the harvest failed. Sickness broke out and many
people died of starvation. Robert Bruce, before returning to Scotland, warned
his brother to exercise caution and not to fight battles that would lead
to no result. Edward had not the wisdom to take this advice. When a large
army advanced against him from Dublin in October 1318, he could have avoided
it, but he preferred to fight. The Scots were defeated in a fierce battle
at Faughart, near Drogheda, and Edward Bruce, King of Ireland, was slain.
The Bruce invasion did not achieve its objective but it weakened the Anglo-Norman
"Lordship" and within a few years much of the midlands were in Irish control
again. However the Battle of Athenry ensured Norman supremacy in Connaught
and while the O'Conors regained some of their lands and castles and they
could no longer be reckoned among "The Great Chieftains".

Finbarr O'Regan