Battle of Callann
| Battle of Callann | |||||||
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 A memorial at the site of the battle. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
.png){kind=small} Kingdom of Desmond
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 Lordship of Ireland
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Fínghin Mac Carthaigh | John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ? | ? | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| ? | 15 knights, 8 barons and a large number of ordinary soldiers | ||||||
The Battle of Callann was fought in August 1261 between the Hiberno-Normans, under John FitzGerald, and the Gaelic forces of Fínghin Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond, ancestor of the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty. It took place in the townland of Callan or Collon near modern-day Kilgarvan, County Kerry. MacCarthaigh was victorious.
All of the following excerpts were taken from the University College of Cork's Corpus of Electronic Texts (CELT), which can be found online.
1261.5 Very destructive war was waged against the Galls this year by Fingen son of Domnall Mac Carthaig and his kinsmen.
1261.6 A great hosting was made by the Fitz Geralds into Desmond, to attack Mac Carthaig; but he attacked them and routed them and fitz Thomas, John by name, and his son killed there, as well as fifteen knights, besides eight noble barons and many young squires and countless soldiery. He killed Barrach Mor (Barry More) also. Afterwards Fingen Mac Carthaig was killed by the Galls and the kingship of Desmond was assumed by his brother, the Ex-cleric Mac Carthaig.
1261.4 John fitz (son of) Thomas and the Barrymore were killed by Finghin Mag Carrthaigh and by the Desmonians likewise and a large number of other Foreigners were killed. 1261.5 Finghin Mac Carrthaigh was killed by the Foreigners.
1261.5 A great war was waged, and many injuries were inflicted, by Fineen Mac Carthy, son of Donnell Mac Carthy, and his brothers, on the English.
1261.6 A great army was marched by the Clann-Gerald Geraldines into Desmond, to attack Mac Carthy, i.e. Fineen. Mac Carthy attacked and defeated them; and in this contest were slain eight barons and five knights, besides others of the English nobles, as also John son of Thomas and Barry More. Countless numbers of the English common soldiers were also killed in the aforesaid battle.
1261.7 Fineen Mac Carthy was afterwards killed by the English, and the lordship of Desmond was assumed by his brother, the Aithcleireach Mac Carthy.
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