Battle of Meelick Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Meelick Island
Part of the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland
Date 25 October 1650 Location Meelick Island, Ireland Result Parliamentarian victory
Belligerents
Irish Confederates	Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Marquess of Clanricarde	Colonel Daniel Axtell
Strength
4,000 foot 500 horse	3,000
Casualties and losses
1,000	Low

The Battle of Meelick Island happened on Meelick Island. This island is in the River Shannon in Ireland. The battle took place on October 25, 1650. It was a fight between the Irish Confederates and the English Parliamentarians. This battle was part of the Irish Confederate Wars. An English force, led by Colonel Daniel Axtell, attacked the Irish army. The Irish army was led by the Marquess of Clanricarde. The English soldiers won easily, defeating the Irish army.

Why the Battle Happened

The English Parliamentarian army captured a castle called Tecroghan. This allowed them to get closer to the area of Connacht in the summer of 1650. This made the Irish Confederates worried about an invasion. Clanricarde was the main Irish commander in Connacht. By August, he was seen as the new leader of Ireland.

Clanricarde was good at talking to people, but not as good at leading an army. He had kept peace in Connacht during the troubled 1640s. As the English armies got closer, Clanricarde gathered an army of 3,000 men. He wanted to help Lord Dillon's soldiers at Athlone. When the English general Ireton marched south, Clanricarde decided to attack. He crossed the River Shannon. His plan was to stop English supplies and communication.

Clanricarde's forces crossed the Shannon in early October. They quickly captured Ferbane Castle. Colonel Axtell, the English commander, had to retreat. Clanricarde's army then took some small English outposts. Clanricarde's army grew to over 4,000 foot soldiers and 500 horse soldiers. But then, more English soldiers joined Axtell. When Axtell moved towards the Irish army, Clanricarde decided to pull back. He chose to set up strong defenses on Meelick Island. This island is a Crannog, a type of old island fort, on the River Shannon.

The Fight on Meelick Island

The Irish soldiers were placed to watch over the river crossing. This was where the English would have to come to attack. Colonel Axtell launched his attack as it was getting dark on October 25. The fighting was very intense at first. Soldiers fought hand-to-hand. Soon, the English pushed the Irish away from the crossing.

Once the English got onto the island, the Irish army was completely defeated. Many Irish soldiers were killed in the battle. Some drowned in the Shannon River while trying to escape. The English captured Clanricarde's supplies. This included weapons, tents, and many horses. However, Clanricarde himself managed to get away. The English quickly took back the castle and other places the Irish had captured.

The defeat at Meelick Island was a big loss for the Irish army in Connacht. It was similar to other major defeats they had suffered. Clanricarde tried to build a new army in the months after. But it was very difficult after this big loss. After the battle, there were serious accusations about how some Irish soldiers were treated. Because of these accusations, Colonel Axtell faced a military investigation and was sent back to England.

See also

• Confederate Ireland
• Irish battles