Battle of Cloughleagh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Cloghleagh
Part of the Irish Confederate Wars
Cloghleagh Castle
Date 4 June 1643 Location Cloghleagh, near Fermoy, County Cork Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
Royalists	Irish Confederates
Commanders and leaders
Sir Charles Vavasour	Earl of Castlehaven Viscount Muskerry
Strength
c. 1700	c. 250
Casualties and losses
c. 600 dead	Low

The Battle of Cloghleagh was an important fight during the Irish Confederate Wars. It happened on June 4, 1643, near Fermoy in County Cork, Ireland. This battle was also called the Battle of Funcheon Ford or Manning Water. It was fought between the Royalists, who supported the King, and the Irish Confederates. The Irish Confederates won this battle.

Why the Battle Happened

The Irish Confederate Wars were a series of conflicts in Ireland from 1641 to 1653. These wars were part of a bigger struggle called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In Ireland, the main groups fighting were the Royalists and the Irish Confederates.

The Royalists supported King Charles I of England. The Irish Confederates were mostly Irish Catholics. They wanted more rights and to protect their religion and lands.

Royalist Army Moves

In May 1643, the Royalist forces in Munster were running low on food. Their leader, Murrough O'Brien, Baron Inchiquin, decided to send his soldiers out. They needed to find supplies by taking them from different areas.

One part of his army, led by Sir Charles Vavasour, marched into County Waterford. This group had about 1,200 musketeers (soldiers with guns) and 200 horsemen. They captured castles and took cattle as they went.

Attack on Cloghleagh Castle

By June 3, Vavasour's army was back in County Cork. They attacked Cloghleagh Castle, which was also known as Kilworth Castle. The castle had been taken back by the Condon family in 1642.

Vavasour's army fought hard and took the castle. The people inside, including 20 men, 11 women, and 7 children, were captured. Sir Charles Vavasour himself had left the castle during the fight to attend a dinner.

Royalist Retreat Plan

On the morning of June 4, a Royalist scouting group saw enemy soldiers. Captain Hill, who led the scouts, barely escaped. He returned to Cloghleagh with Confederate cavalry chasing him.

Sir Charles Vavasour quickly came back to the castle. After talking with his officers, he decided that a larger enemy force was coming. They needed to retreat south. Their plan was to cross the River Funshion and then the River Blackwater at Fermoy.

Confederate Army Moves

The Irish Confederates wanted to stop the Royalist armies in Munster. James Tuchet, the Earl of Castlehaven, was ordered to lead his army south from Kilkenny.

He gathered about 80 horsemen and joined them with his own 40 horsemen. He also met up with his friend Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry. They then met with General Barry and 700 foot soldiers.

Finding the Enemy

At Cashel, the Confederates learned that Vavasour's Royalist army was at Cloghleagh. They heard Vavasour had about 1,600 or 1,700 soldiers.

Castlehaven immediately marched his army towards Cloghleagh. By nightfall, they were only about three miles away from the Royalists. On the morning of June 4, Castlehaven's brother-in-law, Richard Butler, sent word that he had found the enemy. Castlehaven quickly moved his horsemen forward.

The Battle of Cloghleagh

The battle happened as the Royalists were trying to retreat. There are a few different stories about exactly what happened.

Castlehaven's Account

According to the Earl of Castlehaven, the Royalist army had managed to get their cannons across the Blackwater River. Their foot soldiers were lined up on a large flat area.

Castlehaven said his army used a large valley to approach without being seen. He quickly attacked the Royalist horsemen. These horsemen then crashed into their own foot soldiers, causing confusion. Castlehaven believed this quick attack led to their victory with very few losses. Sir Charles Vavasour and other officers were captured. The Confederates took their cannons and supplies. Most of the Royalist horsemen escaped.

Other Accounts of the Battle

Another account says that as the Royalists crossed the Manning Water and reached the top of a hill, the enemy horsemen were right behind them. There was a narrow lane leading to the ford (a shallow place to cross a river).

Most of the Royalist soldiers were marching in this lane. The Confederates attacked from the rear. They pushed the Royalist horsemen, who were only about 120 strong, into the lane. This caused the entire Royalist foot army to break apart. Their cannons had not yet crossed the Blackwater River. All their flags were taken, and their cannons were captured. Sir Charles Vavasour and many other officers were taken prisoner. Around 300 to 600 Royalist soldiers were killed.

A third account says that Sir Charles Vavasour's army was attacked by the Earl of Castlehaven and Lord Muskerry. The Confederates had 250 horsemen. They charged the English horsemen on a plain between Fermoy and Kilworth. Sir Charles's army had many volunteers who were only there for plunder. Also, he had fewer horsemen than the Confederates. Because of this, his horsemen fled at the very first attack. They ran into their own foot soldiers, which caused the whole Royalist army to be defeated. About 600 Royalist soldiers were killed. Sir Charles and other officers were captured. Their cannons, baggage, and 700 weapons were taken. Most of the Royalist horsemen escaped.

After the Battle

The Battle of Cloghleagh was a clear victory for the Irish Confederates. It showed their growing strength in the region. The Royalists suffered heavy losses, especially among their foot soldiers. This battle was an important event in the ongoing Irish Confederate Wars.