Ireland History

Above : Philip I

The slow-moving Spanish monarch had, however, moved at last. Philip Ill’s ships were on the sea, their sails set for Ireland. Even as arranged by the King, the fleet was but a small one, scarcely half what the Irish leaders had asked and hoped for. But before ever they left port, sickness had thinned the numbers of the soldiers, and when at sea they had encountered such rough weather that several of the vessels, including those carrying most of the artillery, were obliged to return to Spain to refit. Altogether, little more than 3,000 Spaniards reached Kinsale at the end of September, 1601. This force was totally inadequate for important military operations. That their general, Don Juan D’Aquila, seems, judging from his subsequent conduct, to have possessed neither courage nor ability was an added misfortune for the Irish.

Posted on April 26th, 2008 under Irish Failure. Tags: carew, D'Aquila, Earl of Thomond, Hughs, kinsale, mountjoy, Philip, spain, Spaniards. Comments: None

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Above : Picture Of Sir Arthur Chichester, Replace MountjoyÂ

The nine years’ war which he had waged against the power of England had won for Hugh O’Neill a great reputation, not only throughout the British Isles, but also on the Continent of Europe. Henry IV of France, no mean judge of military ability, counted him as ranking third amongst the famous soldiers of his age. Even in defeat, he was certainly the most important man in Ireland, and this Mountjoy realised. ” On my Lord Tyrone all the tranquillity of this Kingdom doth depend,” he declared.

Posted on April 25th, 2008 under The Flight of the Earls. Tags: . Henry IV of France, chichester, Gunpowder Plot, independence, irish, Lord Tyrone, mountjoy, olicy. Comments: None