The important strategic ” causeway ” which led from Trim to Athlone has been noticed in dealing with the early settlement. In the general decay of English power, this important line of communication with Connacht now disappears. This lead to the fall of the English regime.
The march of Bruce through the midlands must have contributed materially to the effects of the attacks upon it of the clans of Meath.
After the invasion these attacks were resumed by the chiefs of Meath* and O’Connor of Ui Failghe on the south, while from the north the O’Farrells cleared the settlers out of ” Anghaile.” Those who remained became independent of the English Crown, the influence of which was now driven east of the Boyne.

Mac Murrough, say the Annals, had been ” brought low ” by Richard’s formidable army.   But the Irish quickly recovered.     The O’Byrnes, although defeated  by the  Dublincitizens at Bray,captured Newcastle, which guarded the coast road, while the O’Moores also defeated the English.    

Above:Map of  County Wexford

Above: Picture of Sir John Talbot  

The  last years  of MacMurrough and O’Connor were spent in comparative peace, little disturbed even by the arrival of the able and vigorous Sir John Talbot as Lord Deputy.   In 1417, Art Mac Murrough died (it is suspecte from poison), and four years later his ally of Uf Failghe passed away.