Ireland History

On December 21st the entire Irish army marched up and settled themselves to blockade the English. The besiegers were now in their turn besieged, and were cut off from the interior of the country, whence their supplies of fresh food had been drawn. Under these circumstances, it could not be long till men and horses- began to suffer from starvation and disease.

The Irish had, therefore, only to remain quiet and allow the army of their enemies to melt away of its own accord. This was the course which O’Neill advised, but, unfortunately, some of the younger and more impetuous spirits allowed themselves to be moved by the urgent message which D’Aquila had sent, begging for a speedy attack, which he promised to support by a sally from the town. When a Council of War was held, the majority of the chiefs, including O’Donnell, voted for immediate action. It was decided to attempt a surprise attack on the English during the night of December 23rd.

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.