Battle of Farsetmore

Battle of Farsetmore

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Farsetmore
partof=the Clan war between O'Neills and O'Donnells


caption=
result=O'Donnell victory
date=8 May, 1567
place= near Letterkenny, Ulster, northwestern Ireland
combatant1=O'Neills of Tyrone
combatant2=O'Donnells of Tyrconnell
commander1=Shane O'Neill
commander2=Hugh O'Donnell
strength1=c.2000
strength2=c.2000
casualties1=600-1300 killed
casualties2=low

The Battle of Farsetmore was fought near Letterkenny in Donegal, north-western Ireland, on the 8th May 1567, between the ONeill and ODonnell clans. Shane O'Neill, chief of the ONeills of Tyrone, was defeated and the ODonnells freed themselves from ONeill overlordship.

Background

Shane ONeill had, in the previous 20 years, eliminated his rivals within the ONeills and asserted his authority over neighbouring clans (or "septs") the MacDonnells in Antrim and ODonnells in Donegal. In 1566, the English Lord Deputy of Ireland, Henry Sidney, gave military support to the ODonnells against ONeill, who was regarded as a destabilising and anti-English power in the north of Ireland. ONeill forced out these English troops, but the new ODonnell chieftain, Hugh ODonnell, took the opportunity to assert his independence and raided ONeills lands at Strabane. In response, ONeill mustered his armed forces and marched into ODonnell territory.

The battle

ONeill crossed into Tir Connell (ODonnell territory) by crossing the River Swilly about a mile north of Letterkenny. ODonnell attacked him at a place called Farsetmore. Both sides are estimated at about 2000 men and were composed of similar troops, Cavalry, composed of nobles, gallowglass mercenaries and clan levies.

ODonnells horsemen harassed ONeill as his men were fording the river. Then, the two sides fought hand to hand combat. The ODonnell horse got the better of ONeills cavalry, precipitating a general retreat on behalf of ONeills force. The ODonnells pursued them back over the river Swillycausing many of them to drown.

ONeill lost between 600 and 1300 men killed. Looking for fresh troops, he turned to the MacDonnells of Antrim for an alliance. However, they had him murdered and sent his head to the English authorities in Dublin.

ources

*G.A. Hayes McCoy, Irish Battles, Belfast 1989.


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