Charles MacCarthy More facts for kids

Charles MacCarthy More was an Irish soldier who lived in the 1600s. He was known for fighting in a big conflict called the Williamite War in Ireland. This war was about who would be the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland. MacCarthy More was a supporter of King James II, who were called Jacobites.

A Soldier's Important Role

In August 1689, a large army led by Marshal Schomberg landed in Ireland. They were fighting for King William III. The Jacobite commander in that area, Thomas Maxwell, decided to move most of his soldiers away. He wanted to protect the main army.

Maxwell chose MacCarthy More to stay behind and defend Carrickfergus. MacCarthy More had his own soldiers and some from another regiment. His job was to slow down Schomberg's army. This would give the main Irish Army time to get ready to defend Dublin.

Defending Carrickfergus Castle

MacCarthy More and his soldiers bravely defended Carrickfergus during a week-long Siege of Carrickfergus. A siege is when an army surrounds a place and tries to capture it. Even though they were outnumbered, they held out for as long as they could.

After a week, the soldiers defending Carrickfergus surrendered. They were allowed to march out with "honours of war." This meant they could keep their weapons and flags. They marched to Newry, which was still controlled by the Jacobites.

Later Years and Service

The next year, in 1690, MacCarthy More became the Governor of Youghal. This town is in County Cork. Being a governor meant he was in charge of the town's defense and administration. In 1691, he was also active around the area of Skibbereen.