Narraghmore; Battle of Red Gap Hill

On the morning of the 24th May, nine loyalists under John Jefferies, a yeoman sergeant, repulsed a rebel attack on Narraghmore courthouse led by Malachi Delaney and James Murphy - the attack lasted two hours. Afraid that their position was untenable, the loyalists proceeded to Jefferies home but were driven out when the rebels set the house on fire.

Three loyalists were killed and six (including Jefferies), were taken prisoner by the rebels who had rallied under Daniel Walsh. Lt. Eadie and the detachment from Ballitore routed a party of rebels in the woods near the town where five loyalists had been hanged. Later near Fontstown, troops under Major Montresor routed the rebels who retreated to Ballitore. Jefferies was lodged in Ballitore but escaped to Athy.

Pushing on towards Red Gap Hill, Montresor was joined by Captain Rudd and Lt. Eadie. They were attacked by around 3,000 rebels. Seven of the troops were killed and about 200 rebels.

In the early hours of the morning, Sunday 27th May, Colonel Campbell marched from Athy to Ballitore. En route he destroyed the mansion of Colonel Keating at Narraghmore. Keating, a liberal, was suspected to complicity with the United Irishmen.

John Jefferies was murdered in Athy in June. The rebel leader Daniel Walsh was later hanged by the military.