During these months O’Neill had been holding his own well. He knew, however, that he could not long remain in isolation, but must make terms with one or other of the parties. Both the Royalists—for the former Confederationists may now be justly described by this name—and the Parliamentarians, knowing his value, were eager to treat with him. Eoghan, on reflection, preferred to trust anyone rather than the perfidious Ormond, and he entered into negotiations with General Monk. Cromwell, however, would have no dealings with Irish Papists, and the Parliament, at his instigation, ordered Monk to cease all communications.
A short time previous to this (August 20th, 1649), Ormond had made an attack on Dublin, which was still held for the Parliament by General Jones. The Royalistforces were badly managed, and Jones won a complete victory, capturing gret quantities of ammunition and stores. Ormond now renewed his efforts to come to terms with O’Neill, and Eoghan, because no other e source remained to him, signed a peace on conditions which included lriberty of public worship for the Catholics (October 1649), and prepared to march to support his new ally.
It was too late, however, the Irish general’s life work was done. At the time of the conclusion of the treaty he was already very ill. He rapidly became worse, and on November 6th, 1649, he died at Clough-oughter Castle (Co. Cavan).   The assertion was current in his own day and has been repeated in ours that he had been poisoned. No reliable evidence, however, exists to show that his death was other than natural. He was probably between 60 and 65 years of age ; possibly indeed older.

Less than three months before this, another great soldier had crossed the Channel and landed at Ringsend near Dublin. At last, after a conflict of over seven years, the cause of the Catholic Irish, which looked so hopeful in 1642, had come to final ruin. Cromwell was in Ireland, and Eoghan Ruadh was dead.