The news of the Spaniards’ arrival had been speedily conveyed to the Ulster chieftains. Their disappointment at the smallness of the succour so long waited for, and at the ill selection of a landing place, must have been extreme. They knew, however, that this was their last chance, and they prepared to march southwards in all haste. Hugh Ruadh called together the sub-chiefs who still adhered to him, and, when all were assembled with their forces at Ballymote, he started on his long journey, at the head of about three thousand men.

It was November, and the task before O’Donnell, of marching troops for a distance amounting to more than two-thirds of the length of Ireland at such a season, was no easy one. However, the clansmen were hardy, inured to brave all conditions of weather and to travel long distances on foot. They pushed on over the Curlew Hills into Roscommon, and proceeded through Co. Galway to Shannon Harbour, where they were ferried over the great river. They went on south, through the King’s Co, and on to the barony of Ikerrin in Tipperary. Here, at Drumsaileach, near Roscrea, they halted awhile to await O’Neill.

Mountjoy sent Carew to intercept O’Donnell. The President encamped on the plains of Cashel, so as to prevent the Irish army from marching south. From the east St. Lawrence was approaching at the head of a powerful force raised in the Pale. Hugh Ruadh must, it seemed, either retreat back to Ulster or turn westward ; but to the west the Slieve Felim Mountains, sodden with the autumn and winter rains, barred the way.

The situation of the Irish chief appeared desperate, but at this moment the hand of Providence, as it seemed, intervened to help him. There came a frost ” the like whereof hath been seldom seen in Ireland.” Hugh Ruadh broke up his camp, and pushed across the frozen swamps and mountain bog land, travelling in one day thirty-two Irish miles without rest (November 23rd), and reaching Croom in Co. Limerick that night. ” It was the greatest march with baggage that hath been heard of,” says Carew. Carew, baffled in his purpose, returned to Kinsale, and O’Donnell went westward, and then south to the territory of Muskerry, Co. Cork, picking up some allies on the way.

Of O’Neill’s march from the north we have little exact information. On the Bandon he joined O’Donnell. His forces were probably rather more numerous than those of Hugh Ruadh.

Early in December, a small additional force of Spaniards, about 200 strong, landed at Castlehaven. The neighbouring chiefs, O’Sullivan Beare, O’Connor Kerry, O’Driscoll, and others, joined the new comers, and admitted Spanish garrisons into their castles. Levison, the English Admiral, attacked the Spanish ships, and did some damage to them, but receiving a warm reception from the Spaniards and their Irish allies, he returned to Kinsale, having lost 500 men.