Battle of Tara Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Hill of Tara
Part of the Irish Rebellion
The cross at the site of the battle.
Date 26 May 1798 Location Hill of Tara, County Meath Result Government/British victory, Ending of rebellion in Meath.
Belligerents
Irish Government Britain	United Irishmen
Commanders and leaders
Captain Blanche	Unknown
Strength
700	4,000
Casualties and losses
30 killed	400 killed

The Battle of Tara Hill was a big fight that happened on the evening of May 26, 1798. It was part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, where Irish rebels fought against British forces. This battle took place on the famous Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. It ended with a clear win for the British and stopped the rebellion in that area.

Why Did the Battle of Tara Hill Happen?

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 began with a special signal in County Meath. Rebels took over a mail coach (a horse-drawn carriage that carried mail) near Turvey Hill. After this, roadblocks were set up on the Navan road.

Many rebels, who were part of the Society of United Irishmen, started gathering at the Hill of Tara. Tara was chosen because it was a good spot to control roads leading to Dublin, the capital city. It was also very important to Irish history as the old home of Ireland's high kings.

Between 4,000 and 7,000 rebels came together at the hill. From May 23rd, when the rebellion started, until the battle on May 26th, there were small fights as rebels traveled to Tara.

What Happened During the Battle?

British forces, including soldiers called fencibles, local volunteer soldiers called yeomanry, and militia (citizen soldiers), gathered at the bottom of the hill. They picked up more yeomanry soldiers along the way. The rebels had set up a large camp on the hill.

The rebels were at a big disadvantage because they did not have any cannons or cavalry (soldiers on horseback). The British forces used disciplined volley fire, where many soldiers shot their guns at the same time. They also used cavalry to attack the rebels from the sides.

A powerful 6-pounder cannon fired grapeshot, which was like many small bullets, causing a lot of damage. This pushed the rebels back to the graveyard walls at the top of the hill. As dusk fell, the rebels made their final stand inside the graveyard. A last attack by British grenadier soldiers (who threw small bombs) finished the fight.

The British forces had very few losses. However, many rebels were killed or wounded. Some estimates say several hundred to several thousand rebels died. Many bodies were taken away during the night of May 26th. The next day, 350 dead rebels were still counted on the battlefield. People who saw the burials remembered many more bodies being collected from the nearby countryside. These were rebels who had died from their wounds during the night.

The dead rebels were buried in a mass grave (a grave for many people). The ancient Lia Fail standing stone was moved to mark this burial site. This defeat at Tara Hill effectively ended the United Irishmen's rebellion in Meath.