Battle of Curlew Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Curlew Pass |
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| Part of the Nine Years' War | |||||||
 The 'Gaelic Chieftain' statue overlooks the N4 bypass, but is 2 kilometers north east of the battlefield. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Irish Alliance |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sir Conyers Clifford † Sir Alexander Radcliffe † Captain Ralph Constable Sir Griffin Markham (WIA) Sir Arthur Savage Henry Cosby † |
Red Hugh O'Donnell Brian Óg O'Rourke (WIA) Conor MacDermott |
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| Strength | |||||||
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~1,700
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~2,500
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1200+ killed | Low | ||||||
The Battle of Curlew Pass was a major fight that happened on August 15, 1599. It was part of the Nine Years' War in Ireland. An English army, led by Sir Conyers Clifford, was ambushed by an Irish force led by Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill (also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell).
The battle took place in a mountain pass in the Curlew Mountains, near the town of Boyle, County Roscommon, in western Ireland. The English army was completely defeated and lost many soldiers. The Irish forces had very few losses. This battle was a big win for the Irish rebels.
The War in Ireland
Why the Battle Happened
In April 1599, a powerful English leader named the Earl of Essex arrived in Ireland. He brought over 17,000 soldiers to stop a rebellion. This rebellion was led by Hugh O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell. It had spread across most of Ireland.
The Earl of Essex wanted to weaken O'Donnell. So, he supported one of O'Donnell's enemies, Sir Donogh O'Connor. O'Connor wanted to take back his lands in County Sligo that O'Donnell had taken over.
Important Locations
Sligo Town was a very useful base for the English. It was close to Ballyshannon, which controlled an important river crossing. This crossing was a main way into O'Donnell's territory in Ulster. English military leaders had always wanted to control these key places.
O'Connor's relative, Tibbot na Long Burke, was put in charge of an English force sailing from Galway. O'Connor was supposed to meet them in Sligo. However, O'Donnell quickly surrounded O'Connor at Collooney Castle with over 2,000 men. He planned to starve them out. This put the Earl of Essex in a difficult spot.
English Plans and Irish Preparations
Essex had to help O'Connor, as he was one of the few Irish leaders who supported the English Crown. Essex ordered Sir Conyers Clifford, an experienced commander based in Athlone, to rescue the castle. Clifford had 1,500 English foot soldiers and 200 horse soldiers. The English hoped this mission would also distract Tyrone, the main rebel leader.
Red Hugh O'Donnell left 300 men at Collooney Castle. He sent another 600 to Sligo Town to stop English reinforcements from landing. Then, he marched to Dunavaragh with 1,500 of his own men. He was joined by Brian Óg, the King of West Breifne, who had 400 soldiers. Conor MacDermott also brought his forces.
The Irish carefully set up an ambush in the Curlew Mountains. They cut down trees and placed them across the road to slow the English. When O'Donnell heard the English were passing through Boyle, he placed his men. Musketeers (soldiers with guns), archers, and javelin throwers hid in the woods. They were ready to attack the English. The main group of Irish foot soldiers, armed with pikes and axes, hid behind a mountain ridge.
The Battle Begins
The English March
On August 15, Clifford's army marched from Athlone through Roscommon, Tulsk, and Boyle. It was a hot day. By 4 PM, they reached the Curlew Mountains. They had to cross these mountains to get to Sligo. Clifford's soldiers were tired and hungry.
Clifford had been told incorrectly that the pass was empty. He decided to push on, promising his troops food later. This meant his men missed their planned rest in Boyle. Meanwhile, the Irish were well-fed and ready.
First Attacks
As soon as the English reached O'Donnell's first roadblocks, they came under attack. This was between Boyle and Ballinafad. A few Irish soldiers defended the barricade briefly, then rode to tell Red Hugh O'Donnell that the English were coming.
After hearing the news, Conor MacDermott and his 600 soldiers quickly moved into the mountains. They took hidden spots on both sides of the bog road near the Bohar-Buidhe Woods.
The English moved past the first barricade and started up the hill. They suffered more losses as O'Donnell's fighters used quick attacks.
The road was difficult, with large stones and muddy bog areas. It was lined with woods on one side. The deeper the English went, the more intense the Irish fire became. Some English soldiers started to panic and run away. A fierce gunfight lasted about 90 minutes.
Turning Point
At first, the English advanced, and some Irish thought they should retreat. But MacDermott saw how many English soldiers were falling. He ordered his pipers to keep playing battle songs. He believed he could defeat Clifford's entire army.
The English soldiers began to hesitate. Their advance stopped as Irish muskets and arrows rained down on them. The English musketeers ran low on gunpowder and bullets. They had to retreat, leaving their other foot soldiers under heavy Irish fire.
Sir Alexander Radcliffe, an English commander, was shot in the face and leg. He told Henry Cosby to lead an attack. But Cosby seemed unwilling. Radcliffe told him, "I see, Cosby, that I must leave thee to thy baseness, but will tell thee ere I go that it were better to die in the hands of thy countrymen than at my return to perish by my sword."
Cosby's half-hearted charge turned back and retreated. This made the English soldiers even more discouraged.
Irish Charge and English Defeat
Then, Brian Óg and his 160 heavy Gallowglasses (Irish warriors) joined the fight. This caused panic among the English: "Like hounds slipped from the leash, O'Rourke's Brenny men went upon the Queen's vanguard... MacDermott's gunmen and archers gave way to the right hand and to the left, opening out like folding doors as the Brenny men, with a shout at such an instant changed fortitude to alarm, and alarm to panic terror, went upon the foe."
Alexander Radcliffe could no longer control his troops. They turned and ran, crashing into the main English column, which also broke and fled. Radcliffe led a charge with his remaining pikemen but was shot and killed. With the English army in chaos, the main Irish foot soldiers, who had been hidden, moved in for hand-to-hand combat.
Clifford tried to get his men back in order. He was shot through the chest and died. Even with his death, the English rearguard (the soldiers at the back) managed to keep some order and kept fighting as others ran away.
English Cavalry Action
The English were completely defeated. However, Sir Griffin Markham, who led the English horse soldiers, helped prevent a total disaster. He charged uphill, "amongst rocks and bogs where never horse was seen to charge before." This temporarily pushed the Irish back, forcing MacDermott's musketeers and archers into the trees.
As Markham's forces chased MacDermott's fighters, Brian Óg led his own charge. He came out of the forest with his gallowglasses and slowly moved towards the English cavalry. The English tried to charge back, but MacDermott's men, now on the sides of the bog, fired heavily on the English horsemen. The gallowglasses, supported by other Irish fighters, defeated Markham's forces, making them retreat back into the mountains.
During this fight, Brian Óg was injured in the hand and leg. Markham was shot, breaking his right arm.
Markham's cavalry charge allowed many English foot soldiers to escape. However, Clifford's men were chased all the way to Boyle by 400 of MacDermott's musketeers and 160 of Brian Óg's gallowglasses. The fleeing English found safety in Boyle Abbey. About half of the English army was killed in the battle. The Irish had very few losses because they fired from hidden spots and then attacked a confused enemy.
Aftermath of the Battle
Clifford's Fate
Brian Óg O'Rourke, who led the Irish soldiers on the ground, ordered Clifford's head to be cut off. It was sent to O'Donnell, who had stayed nearby but not joined the fight. Clifford's head was then taken to Collooney Castle to scare the defenders. His body was taken by MacDermott to a monastery, hoping to trade it for his own prisoners. Finally, Clifford's body was given a proper burial in the monastery. It was said that Clifford had recently dreamed of being captured by O'Donnell and carried by monks into their building.
Impact on the War
O'Connor Sligo surrendered Collooney Castle soon after the battle and reluctantly joined the rebels. After this big Irish victory, more and more Irish soldiers left the Earl of Essex's army. Essex ordered that his remaining troops were only fit to guard walls.
The Battle of Curlew Pass was a classic Irish ambush. It was similar to the battle of Glenmalure in 1580 and the battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598. The Annals of the Four Masters (an old Irish history book) said the victory was due to divine help, not just weapons. But Clifford had been too confident, a trait Essex had warned him about. It was clear that English commanders were learning the hard way about how effective the Irish rebel forces had become.
The Rt Hon. Robert Cecil, a main secretary to the Queen, called this defeat one of the worst the English had ever suffered in Ireland. He blamed it partly on the Earl of Essex. The battle left O'Donnell and Tyrone safe from attacks from the west. It also made a land attack through Armagh very unlikely. This was important for Essex when he marched north later that year and made a truce with Tyrone.
Later Events
In August 1602, the Curlew Pass was again the site of an Irish victory. A panicked English force was defeated and lost many soldiers. This time, the rebels were led by Rory O'Donnell (with O'Connor Sligo). They commanded 400 musketeers.
There is a statue called "The Gaelic Chieftain" by Maurice Harron, unveiled in 1999. It overlooks the N4 road, but it is about 2 kilometers northeast of the actual battle site.
Images for kids
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Gaelic Chieftain overlooking Curlew Pass on National 4 road
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400 years commemoration Gaelic Chieftain Plaque
