May 25, 2022
OTD: Battle of Clontibret - 1595
The Battle of Clontibret, part of the Nine Years' War began on May 25, 1595. It would prove to be a two-day rolling engagement between the Irish forces of Hugh O'Neill (1550 - 1616) and the English troops of Henry Bagenal (1556 - 1598)
Bagenal and his army were lucky to have survived a confrontation with the Irish who proved to be far more disciplined than expected under the command of O'Neill. Exact casualties from the battle are unknown although it is thought that Bagenal lost 300 - 700 of his force of 1,750 men. Bagenal's luck would run out 3 years later at the Battle Of The Yellow Ford when he would pay with his life as a result of another English defeat.
OTD: James Plunkett (1920 - 2003)
James Plunkett, author of Strumpet City, one of the best books on Dublin, was born on 21 May 1920 in the Hibernian metropolis. Strumpet City details the lives of common Dublin folk and their hero, James Larkin. The novel is an excellent fiction…
Brexit and the Irish Border
In our latest Irish Stew Podcast episode, cohost Martin Nutty sat down with documentary filmmaker Alan Gilsenan and journalist John Walsh to explore their thought-provoking film, The Irish Question.
We think this episode makes for good list…
