Battle of Aura

Battle of Aura
Part of the Irish clan wars
Date At some date between 11–29 April 1583 Location Slieve-na-Aura, near Loughguile Northern Ireland. D1327 Coordinates: 55°5′N 6°13′W / 55.083°N 6.217°W / 55.083; -6.217 Result MacDonnell victory
Belligerents
MacDonnells of Antrim	McQuillans of the Route O'Neills of Clandeboy
Commanders and leaders
Sorley Boy MacDonnell	Rory 'Oge' MacQuillan † Hugh O'Neill †
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Aura (Battle of Slieve-na-Aura), was fought in the middle of the sixteenth century between the MacDonnells, led by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, against the McQuillans and O'Neills, in which the MacQuillans and O'Neills were defeated. Translated, Slieve-an-Aura means Hill of Battle – the modern spelling is Slieveanorra.

Edward McQuillan mounted an attack against the camp of Sorley Boy near Bonamargy on 4 July 1559, however his attack was repulsed with heavy losses, including his brother Roderick McQuillan, his second in charge. The MacQuillans retreated and Sorley Boy pursued them to their camp on the banks of Glenshesk River which he attacked on 5/6 July and both forces suffered heavy losses, including MacQuillan's other brother Charles McQuillan. The McQuillans retreated further and set up camp near Slieve-na-Aura. Hugh MacFelim O'Neill, Prince of the O'Neills of Clandeboy, arrived at the camp of the McQuillans with reinforcements.

During the night of 13 July 1559, the MacDonnells cut and spread rushes over the boggy terrain, to make a path across the swampy land. In the morning, a party was sent to the camp of the O'Neills. The O'Neill chief then ordered his cavalry to pursue the MacDonnells who fled towards their own camp by way of their path. The pursuing cavalry were soon bogged down in the wet terrain and attempted a retreat, but were cut off by Sorley Boy, Hugh MacIlveal and his men. Hugh McFelim O'Neill is said to have offered MacIlveal "all the young horses, and all the fair damselss of Claneboy," as his ransom, in which MacIlveal replied, "If all the horses in Ireland were Sorley Boys, I would rather go on foot," before killing Hugh McFelim O'Neill.

The chiefs of Clan MacAuley and Clan MacPhoil and their forces, who were to fight on the side of the McQuillans and O'Neills, arrived during the middle of battle and became spectators. Sorley Boy MacDonnell then rode out to the chiefs of the MacAuleys and MacPhoils and persuaded them to join his ranks, to which they agreed. Their combined force then drove the McQuillans and the O'Neills to the banks of the river Aura, where they were finally defeated. Edward McQuillan also fell during the battle.

The dead were left all over Glenshesk. After the battle the MacDonnells withdrew to the mountain of Trostan, which overlooks Cushendall, and Sorley Boy MacDonnell was entertained by MacAuley, Lord of the Glens. A cairn was then erected to commemorate the place of festivities. Near the summit of the 1530 foot Slieve-na-Aura two cairns were said to have marked the burying place of O'Neill and his men.

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