Ireland in the 17th Century

Steel sculpture of Red Hugh O'Donnell

Artist Maurice Harron's steel sculpture of Red Hugh O'Donnell on horseback. The sculpture is located in the Curlew Mountains of Co Roscommon. On this site Red Hugh defeated an English army under Sir Conyers Clifford in 1599, the last clear victory by an Irish army over the English. Following this, Elizabeth I, in rage, gathered together three armies to send to Munster, resulting in the final defeat of Red Hugh and his ally Hugh O'Neill at Kinsale, 1601

Maurice Harron

Steel sculpture of Red Hugh O'Donnell
Maurice Harron

Steel sculpture of Red Hugh O'Donnell

Artist Maurice Harron's steel sculpture of Red Hugh O'Donnell on horseback. The sculpture is located in the Curlew Mountains of Co Roscommon. On this site Red Hugh defeated an English army under Sir Conyers Clifford in 1599, the last clear victory by an Irish army over the English. Following this, Elizabeth I, in rage, gathered together three armies to send to Munster, resulting in the final defeat of Red Hugh and his ally Hugh O'Neill at Kinsale, 1601

Maurice Harron

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Two strong chiefs from the O’Neill and O’Donnell clans resisted the English armies that were sent from England to control Ulster. From 1594 to 1603, Ulster chiefs and their followers began a war against Queen Elizabeth. This war became known as ‘The Nine Years War’.

The chiefs won many battles during the war, and Hugh O’Neill hoped to get further help from Elizabeth’s rival, Philip of Spain. In 1598, Hugh O’Neill defeated the English army at a famous battle called the Battle of the Yellow Ford. This rebellion in Ulster spread to Munster. Elizabeth was worried about the danger of Spanish armies coming to Ireland to fight against England. Gaelic chiefs had made many appeals to the Catholic King Philip of Spain for help in driving the English out of Ireland.

Route of Red Hugh O'Donnell's march to Kinsale, 1601

Hand-drawn map outlining the route taken by Red Hugh O'Donnell and his army en route to Kinsale. He travelled from his castle of Donegal to Ballymote, Co Sligo, then through the Burke, O'Connor, and O'Byrne territories of the south before taking up battle position against the English forces at the battle of Kinsale, Co Cork, 1601.

Mulroy College, Milford, Co Donegal, and Milford Community Library

Route of Red Hugh O'Donnell's march to Kinsale, 1601
Mulroy College, Milford, Co Donegal, and Milford Community Library

Route of Red Hugh O'Donnell's march to Kinsale, 1601

Hand-drawn map outlining the route taken by Red Hugh O'Donnell and his army en route to Kinsale. He travelled from his castle of Donegal to Ballymote, Co Sligo, then through the Burke, O'Connor, and O'Byrne territories of the south before taking up battle position against the English forces at the battle of Kinsale, Co Cork, 1601.

Mulroy College, Milford, Co Donegal, and Milford Community Library

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Spanish help finally arrived in the Autumn of 1601, however the ships of the Spanish soldiers arrived in Kinsale, Co. Cork instead of in Ulster. This forced the northern Gaelic chiefs to march all the way from Ulster to Cork to join the Spanish army. In 1601, the Spanish and Irish forces were defeated at Kinsale by Lord Mountjoy, the Lord Deputy in Ireland.

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone

Hugh O'Neill was a great chieftan who led the Irish resistance during the Nine Years War 1594-1603 and also at the Battle of Kinsale 1601. He is remembered for leaving Ireland along with many other chieftans, in what is called 'The Flight of the Earls' in 1607. This brought an end to the Gaelic chiefs in Ireland.

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone

Hugh O'Neill was a great chieftan who led the Irish resistance during the Nine Years War 1594-1603 and also at the Battle of Kinsale 1601. He is remembered for leaving Ireland along with many other chieftans, in what is called 'The Flight of the Earls' in 1607. This brought an end to the Gaelic chiefs in Ireland.

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Hugh O’Neill, the most powerful Gaelic chief, signed a treaty at Mellifont in 1603 which brought an end to the Nine Years War. The treaty was called the Treaty of Mellifont. The Ulster chiefs had to promise to live according to English rather than Irish law. They were told that if they did this they could keep their lands. Queen Elizabeth was now dead and a new ruling family called the Stuarts took power in England.