The Red Earl of Ulster was, as we have seen, the real leader of the Normans in Ireland at the time. To meet this attack on his own territory of Ulster, he summoned all his forces in Connacht, and both Normans and Irish—the latter led by Felim O’Connor, King of Connacht—assembled at Athlone.

Near Drogheda the Earl met another army coming from Dublin under Sir Edtnond Butler, the Lord Deputy. The haughty Earl ordered the King’s representative to guard Meath and Leinster, and led his own army against Bruce. The latter retreated to the north, and eventually retired west of the Bann, while De Burgh remained on the eastern bank. Felim O’Connor being compelled to withdraw his forces to combat a rival in Connacht, the Red Earl drew back from the river. But he was followed by Bruce, who utterly defeated him at Connor (near Ballymena) (10th September, 1315). Some remnants of his forces fled to Carrickfergus ; the rest found their way back to Connacht.