Battle of Clontibret

Part of the Nine Years' War

Date	25–27 March 1595
Location	between Armagh and Monaghan
Result	Irish victory

Belligerents

Irish alliance

English Army

Commanders and leaders

Hugh, 2nd Earl of Tyrone

Sir Henry Bagenal

Strength

4,000

1,750

Casualties and losses

low

300–700 killed, more wounded

Not to be confused with the 1986 Clontibret invasion by Ulster loyalists.

The Battle of Clontibret was fought in County Monaghan in March 1595 during the Nine Years War between the Crown forces of England's Queen Elizabeth I and the Irish army of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone. The battle ended in victory for Lord Tyrone, and was the first severe setback suffered by the English during the war.

The Nine Years War began with a conflict over English efforts to maintain a string of garrisons along the southern border of Tyrone's territory in Ulster. The Irish leader promptly besieged the English garrison at Monaghan Castle, and Sir Henry Bagenal, commander of the English forces, marched out to its relief on 25 May (4 June New Style) from Dundalk via Newry. His army was made up of 1,750 troops, including some veterans and certain companies newly arrived from the Spanish campaign in Brittany, but there were many new recruits in the ranks. Bagenal's men were predominantly infantry, armed with muskets and pikes; there was also a small number of horsemen raised in the Pale.

The Battle of Clontibret was essentially a two-day running fight, as Bagenal's column was ambushed on its way to and from the castle at Monaghan town. The Irish fought sharply along the roads about Crossdall, around 4 miles (6.5 km) from Monaghan, firing on the English column with calivers (light muskets) from the surrounding woodland. With the loss of 12 dead and 30 wounded the English reached the castle, which was re-supplied and reinforced with one company. Bagenal had misgivings about his supply of powder and lead, much of which had been used on the way, and could afford little for the garrison before he started back.

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