Above: Map of Leinster In Leinster, meanwhile, another insurrection had broken out under the leadership of James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass. Baltinglass had some personal grievances: he had been fined for attending Mass, and he alleged, besides, that he could not admit the title of the Queen to be regarded as Head of the church. Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne, the powerful Wicklow chief, joined him, and they lurked amongst the mountains, waiting for a favourable opportunity to attack the English forces. This ... Read More

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 ... Read More