Athenry – The Aftermath of Battle

Author: William Henry

Source: Galway Independent, 17 August, 2016

Looking back at the battle of Athenry in 1316, 1t seems surprising that Felim O’Connor made the fatal mistake of confronting the Normans in open battle. These people were military experts when it came to this type of warfare and were equipped with the latest in weaponry at that time. Shortly after the battle the remains of Felim O’Connor were taken to Roscommon Abbey for burial. On his tomb are carved Gallow-glass sentries, possibly representing these mercenary soldiers who fought in the battle. In the edited version of the Annals of the Four Masters it was stated that had O’Connor been victorious at Athenry – Ireland might well have been as independent as any other nation in Europe. However, that was not to be and it would take some 600 years before the crown was challenged again at Athenry (1916). As if to add insult to injury, de Bermingham confiscated over 2,000 cattle belonging to the O’Connor clan after the battle. When news of the victory reached the King Edward II of England, he was delighted. In recognition he awarded the title Baron of Athenry to Richard de Bermingham and his decedents.

The defeat of the Irish at Athenry seriously affected the Bruce campaign in Ireland. In the spring of 1817 Robert Bruce joined his brother Edward in Ulster. He arrived with another army from Scotland and their combined forces were estimated at some 20,000 men. Bruce marched on Dublin, but the Normans took extreme measures to ensure that city would not fall to the Scots. They began burning the suburbs to deprive the Scots of any cover or shelter they required for a prolonged siege. Bruce realised that to lay siege to Dublin would prove too costly in men and time and changed his mind. He decided instead to march on Limerick and force its surrender. However, Limerick was also well prepared and proved too well defended. The Scots were running extremely low on supplies and returned to Ulster. It was a dreadful march and many of their men perished along the way from cold and disease. They were continually scourged by hunger, most of which they had caused themselves earlier because of their scorched earth policy. Robert Bruce returned to Scotland during the autumn of 1318. The war continued for a short time under Edward until finally on 14 October 1318 he was killed at the battle of Faughart near Dundalk. Sir John Maupas was the Norman knight responsible for killing Bruce. Maupas was then savagely cut down by the Scots, but it was too late, they lost the battle. The Normans displayed a vicious callousness towards the Scots when they cut up the body of Bruce and hung portions of it in the principal towns in Ulster. They had his head ‘salted’ and sent to Edward II as a gift.

The insane destruction of property and crops during this war sank the country into a state of utter disorder and famine from which it took many years to recover. The war was finally over and victory was sweet for the Normans. At Athenry it gave them greater security; and sovereignty over the entire province of Connaught. Over the following two centuries the town thrived and increased in population and wealth. The presence of William Liath de Burgo on the field of battle that day was vital to the Norman victory. It also signalled the beginning of a fruitful period for Galway which was indicated by nineteenth century historian James Hardiman:

‘This single defeat of the Irish, which effectually established the dominion of the English settlers in Connaught, was followed by a short interval of peace, the happiest effects of which were experienced by the town of Galway. The victorious De Burgos, who had now no enemy able to contend against them, ruled the entire province from the Shannon to the sea; they made Galway the chief point wherein all power centered, and in which the principal heads of the family resided; in consequence of which, its trade, buildings and inhabitants, continued rapidly to increase.’

Richard de Berming-ham died in 1322 and was buried in Athenry Abbey along with his ancestors. William Liath de Burgo died on 12 February 1324. Some sources state the he was buried in the Franciscan Abbey in Galway. The evidence for this is from a grave stone that was located there and which recorded the following inscription:

‘In grateful memory of the most illustrious Lord, William de Burgo chief of his nation and founder of this monastery, who died 1324’.

This inscription was supposedly carved in 1645 at the request of Fr. Valentine Browne, who was Guardian of the monastery at the time. However, there is another more reliable source which was translated from Latin that stated he was buried in Athenry. The following translation was completed for Sir James Ware, an early historian, and the information was taken from the Register of the Dominican Abbey in Athenry and was preserved in the British Museum:

‘Grey William de Burgo and Finola his wife, daughter of O’Brian ruadh, were great friends of this Convent; and gave the Brethren more than 100 marks towards the fabric of the front of the Church, and for glass; and they gave them the tithes of all their farms; and they their burial to the Brethren, although, before this burial of the Richardlines was accustomed to be made in the monastery of the Cannons Regular of Athassel. This lord enlarged our choir by the space of 20 feet; and they are buried in the presbytery in the rank of Deacon.’

Various annals have recorded that among the many Irish dead were eight leading Irish kings. Some twenty-eight petty kings, princes and chieftains were also killed. The Annals of Connnacht stated, “The Gaels were defeated and Feidlim O Conchobair, who was king of Connacht and entitled to become King of Ireland without opposition, was killed there’.

The following are some of the names recorded as being killed at Athenry. Please note the spellings are taken directly from the ancient annals:

Kings:

Felim O’Connor – King of Connacht.

Tadhg O’Kelly – King of Ui Maine (28 others entitled to the Kingship).

Niall Sinnach – King of Feara-Taffia.

Art O’Heghra (O’Hara) – King of Leyney.

Aed O Con Chenainn – King of Ui Diarmata.

O Maeleachlainn – King of Meath.

Princes and Chieftains:

Eoin MacAedacain.

Donnell O’Boyle.

Magnus O’Connor (Son of Donal).

Thomas O’Connellan.

Domnall O’Con Chenainn (son of Aed O Con Chenainn).

Muirchertach O’Con Chenainn (son of Aed O’Con Chenainn).

Thomas O’Connolan.

Donnell MacHugh MacConchenan

Dermott MacDermott – Muirchertach MacDermott (son of Dermott)

Mortage MacDermott (Son of Taichlech) – Donnell MacDer-

mott (brother of Mortage).

Conor O’Develen (Devlin) – Gillernew O’Develen (Devlin).

Gillananaev O’Dolan.

Gilla na Naem O Dobailein – Standard-bearer (son of Dail

Docair).

Tomaltach MacDonnchaid – (son of Gilla Crist) – Murchad MacDonnchaid.

Muirchertach MacDonnchaid – Maelsechlainn MacDonnchaid (brothers).

Melaghlin O’Dowd – Conor Oge O’Dowd – Mortagh O’Dowd (son of Conor).

John MacEiegan (Egan).

William O’Farrall – Thomas O’Farrall – John O’Farrall.

Donnchad O’Mailmuaid (and his followers).

Mullronye Oge MacMagnussa – Maelsechlainn MacMag-nussa.

John O’Madden.

Murrogh O’Mahon.

Sean O’Matadain (son of Murchad O’Matadain) – Murchad

O’Matadain.

John MacMurogh O’Mahon.

MacMathgamna and a hundred of his men (son of Murchad).

Murrogh Murtagh – Connor Murtagh.

Five of the Clan Donnagh.