Capture of Bandon facts for kids

The Capture of Bandon happened in 1689. It was when the town of Bandon in County Cork, Ireland was taken by force. The town's Protestant residents were rebelling. An Irish Army led by Justin McCarthy captured it. This event was an early part of the Williamite War in Ireland.

This victory for the Jacobites (supporters of King James II) helped stop a bigger Protestant uprising. This uprising might have happened in the Munster area of Ireland. A similar uprising did happen in Ulster that same year. The famous slogan ""No Surrender!"" might have been first used in Bandon. Later, it became well-known during the Siege of Derry.

Why the Capture of Bandon Happened

In 1685, James II, a Catholic king, became ruler. This changed how Ireland was governed. Before, the government usually favored Protestants. But King James's representative, Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, quickly changed things.

Under Tyrconnell, many Protestants were removed from the army and government jobs. Catholics took their places. In Bandon, the town's leaders, called burgesses, were replaced by Catholics.

Growing Unrest Among Protestants

Tyrconnell's actions made many Protestants across Ireland unhappy. They felt hostile towards the King and his Irish government. Bandon was a historic Protestant town. It had been settled by Protestants during the Plantation of Munster in the Elizabethan era. So, it was a natural place for people to oppose King James's rule.

In 1688, similar opposition in England led to the Glorious Revolution. In this event, William III successfully invaded England with a Dutch army. Many Protestants then believed William was their rightful King. However, most Catholics and some Protestants stayed loyal to James. As the country became more unsettled, many Protestants from County Cork came to Bandon for safety.

The Uprising in Bandon

The government worried about a possible rebellion in Bandon. So, they sent a group of Irish Army soldiers led by Captain Daniel O'Neill to take control of the town. Reports say they entered Bandon on a Sunday morning. Most of the townspeople were at church services.

The next day, February 24, was sometimes called "Black Monday". On this day, the townspeople rose up and attacked the soldiers. Different reports say between three and eight soldiers were killed. The rest were forced out of the town. The Protestants then used the weapons they had captured. They tried to prepare Bandon to defend itself from an attack.

McCarthy's Response and the Surrender

Tyrconnell in Dublin had heard about the growing rebellion in the county. He had already sent six companies of infantry (foot soldiers). These were led by Justin McCarthy. McCarthy was an experienced Irish Catholic soldier.

Instead of attacking Bandon right away, McCarthy first captured nearby Cork. Cork was another important Protestant center in the south. He also stopped other potential rebels there. Then, he moved towards Bandon with his soldiers, plus some cavalry (horse soldiers) and artillery (cannons).

The defenders of Bandon had put up a banner saying "No Surrender". But they decided to negotiate a surrender. They received good terms for giving up. Usually, rebels would face death as punishment. However, the town was only fined £1,000. Its defensive walls were also ordered to be torn down.

Why the Terms Were Light

The mild terms given to Bandon were part of King James's plan. He wanted to show Protestants that he meant them no harm. This decision made some strict Catholics angry. These included McCarthy's nephew, Lord Clancarty. They wanted the rebels to be punished much more harshly.

What Happened After Bandon's Capture

The fighting at Bandon was one of many defeats for local Protestant troops. These defeats happened across Munster, like at Castlemartyr. They also happened across Ireland. The Protestant Army of the North from Ulster suffered big defeats. These included the Break of Dromore and the Battle of Cladyford.

The advance of the mostly Catholic Jacobite Army was finally stopped. This happened because Protestants successfully defended Defence of Enniskillen and Derry. Later, many more soldiers arrived with Marshal Schomberg and King William. This turned the tide of the war. Dublin was captured after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

In the same year, Protestant forces took Bandon back. This happened after Marlborough successfully led the Siege of Cork. The walls of Bandon were not rebuilt. By then, defensive walls were becoming less useful in warfare.