First Battle of Athenry

Source: Talking History, Galway Independent, 3 August, 2016 

Author: William Henry

When ancient conflicts are mention in regard to Athenry many people think of 1316 and the infamous and brutal battle that took place there between the Irish led by Felim O’Connor and the Normans under Richard de Bermingham. However, there was an earlier bloody encounter at Athenry between the natives and the Normans. Looking back there was almost constant warfare between both sides during the thirteenth century and it was inevitable that 1t would come to a bloody climax. According to the seventeenth century historian Roderic O’Flaherty the first battle of Athenry was fought on 15 August 1249. This was, and still is, a very important date in the Catholic religious calendar as it is the Feast of the Assumption. This feast day honours the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven. It seems that the Irish were led by Turlough and Hugh O’Connor. They were said to be the grandsons of the King of Connacht, Cathal Crovderg O’Connor. They made their way to Athenry with the intention of plundering and burning the town. However, once Jordan de Exeter, the Sheriff of Connacht became aware of their plans, he marched with his Norman army to Athenry. He reached the town a short time before the Irish and occupied it. He then set about preparing for the coming battle.

De Exeter was an experienced soldier and is believed to have taken part in the conquest of Connacht with Richard de Burgo over fifteen years earlier. His name was derived from the town of Exeter in Devon. He was granted land in Connacht by de Burgo because of his support during the campaign. He married Basilia de Bermingham, the daughter of Meiler de Bermingham, Lord of Athenry. They had two known sons, Meiler and Jordan Oge.

When the Irish arrived outside the town, de Exeter requested a truce in honour of the Feast of the Assumption. It seems that Turlough O’Connor accepted the truce, but was over ruled by some of the other Irish chiefs. After hearing that the offer of a truce had been rejected by O’Connor and whose army was now preparing for an assault against the town, de Exeter marched his forces outside the defences to meet them. The Irish were lined up in battle formation outside the town. The Normans were heavily armed and clad in strong iron mail as they faced the Irish forces now massing opposite them. De Exeter, who was at the head of the cavalry, began to rally his men forward. They moved slowly at first, their horses nervous and excited as the charge gathered momentum.

It was said that many of the young Irish men were seized with fear and dismay upon seeing the battle array organised by de Exeter. Leading the cavalry charge against the Irish at Athenry was the most famous exploit in a long military career of Jordan de Exeter. The Irish soon felt the full and powerful force of the heavy Norman cavalry charging across the field of battle. They cut into the Irish clansmen with large doubled edged swords and caused havoc among the ranks. It was a disaster for the Irish with huge losses and they were soon forced to retreat. Some of them were also cut down as they fled the battlefield. Among the leading Gaelic princes killed were Aed O’Connor; Di-armait Ruad son of Cormac O Mailsechlainn; two of the O’Kelly chiefs; Brian of the Wood; Carrach son of Niall O’Connor; Baethgalach Mac Aedacain; Mathgamain O’Connor; two sons of Lochlainn O’Connor; Domnall Mac Diarmata; Findanach Mac Branain; Cu Muman Mac Casurlaig and many others young men of note. The following is a description of this deathly event translated from the Annals of Clonmacnois and preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. It was published by Roderic O’ Flaherty in West or H-lar Connaught in 1684 and this is the direct quotation as recorded by the scribes:

‘A.D. 1249. The Irish nobility of Connaught went to Athenrie to prey and spoile the towne, on the day of our Lady the blessed Virgin Mary, in the middest of harvest. There was a great armye, with Terlaugh mac Hugh. The sheriff of Connoght with many Englishmen were in the said towne before them. The sheriff and Englishmen desired them, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose day then was, to forebeare with them that day, which the said Irish nobility refused to give any respect, either in honour of the Blessed Virgin or holly roode. They assaulted the town against the will of the said Terlaugh, which Jordan de Exetra the sheriffe and Englishmen seeing, they rushed forthe to meet the said Irishmen, where the Virgin Mary wrought miraculouslye against the said nobility. When the Irish nobility saw the Englishmen, and horsemen well appoynted with harnish, armes and shirts of mail, make towards them, they were daunted and affrighted at theire sight, and presently discomfitted. Hugh mac Hugh O’Connor was killed in that presence Dermott Roe mac Cormach O’ Melaghlen, the two sonnes of O’Kellie, Bryen and Dery mac Manus, Carick an Tivall mac Neale O’Connor, the two sons of Loghlyn O’Connor, Daniel mac Cormack mac Dermoda, Finanagh mac Brannan, Cowmowan mac Cassurley, with many more, killed in that place.’

While the Normans felt that they were better armed, they also considered their victory was through divine intervention because the Irish didn’t respect the sanctity of Our Lady or the Crucifixion. The crushing defeat of the native Irish inspired the inhabitants of the town with new hope and confidence and Athenry attracted even more settlers and accordingly they grew in numbers and in strength. It has been said that this battle on the Feast of the Assumption was also the first historical reference to the town. There is a holy well located just a little more than a half mile to the south-east of the town of Athenry. It is known as Lady’s Well and it is a place of great pilgrimage every year and some believe it has associations with this particular battle. The following year, 1250, de Exeter was granted an annual fee of twenty-five marks by King Henry Ill as a reward for his services. In 1258, De Exeter was killed after pursuing a pirate fleet from the Hebrides. They had attacked a ship off the west coast of Ireland and de Exeter was trying to enforce the king’s authority.

There was also much unrest in Scotland at that time and this culminated in the defeat of the English at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314Some sources indicate that many Irish clansmen took up positions on the field of Bannockburn with Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. This victory gave Gaelic Ireland much satisfaction and hope and encouraged by this success, Edward Bruce arrived in Ireland in May 1315. The Scots destroyed everything belonging to the English and defeated them in several battles. Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl of Ulster, being the most powerful Norman in Ireland was extremely concerned about the situation. He raised a large army and marched against Bruce. While it was a formidable army, they were defeated by the Scots, who were supported by their Irish allies. It was later said that the ‘Flowers of Ulster’ were slain at this battle. The Earl fled the battlefield and sought refuge in Connacht. The Bruce campaign carried on with terrible cruelty and reckless waste of life and property. The Earl made his way to Galway to meet William Liath de Burgo. They immediately began to raise an army, chiefly from their own supporters in Connacht. They set out for Ulster and in the march through Irish districts they carried on their campaign perhaps more savagely than Bruce during his exploits in Ulster. The Normans were joined by Felim O’Connor, the Gaelic King of Connacht. He marched with them because they had supported him during his campaign for the kingship of Connacht in 1310. However, O’Connor was forced to return to Connacht after learning that his kingdom had come under attack by rival Irish forces while he was absent. The Red Earl and his forces continued their march northwards. On 10 September 1315, they faced Bruce and his Irish allies at the Battle of Connor in County Antrim. It was a sharp encounter during which the earl’s army was completely defeated. This was a shock to the English as they lost many nobles. William Liath de Burgo was wounded; he was captured after the battle along with other Norman nobles. Five days later, he was sent to Scotland in chains as a prisoner of war.