Battle of Kilrush

Part of the Irish Confederate Wars

Date	15 April 1642
Location	Kilrush, County Kildare
Result	English Victory

Belligerents

Irish Confederate Catholics militia

English troops

Commanders and leaders

the Viscount Mountgarret

James Butler, Earl of Ormonde

Casualties and losses

up to 500

low

Irish Confederate Wars or Eleven Years War

Timeline
1641–1642
Julianstown – Portadown – 1st Drogheda – Kilrush
1642–1649
Glenmaquin – Liscarroll – 1st Limerick – 1st Galway – New Ross – Duncannon – Benburb – Dungan's Hill – Cashel – Knocknanuss – Rathmines
1649–1653
2nd Drogheda – Wexford –Waterford – Arklow – Lisnagarvey – Clonmel – Macroom – Tecroghan – Scarrifholis – 2nd Limerick – Charlemont – Meelick Island – Knocknaclashy – 2nd Galway

The Battle of Kilrush was a minor engagement at the start of the Eleven years war.

It was fought in April 1642 between a Royalist army under the Earl of Ormonde, and Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret, who led newly-formed units of Irish troops raised during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Ormonde led a punitive raid into rebel held territory, burning the lands of landowners who had joined the rebellion. His troops marched from Dublin to Portlaoise, re-supplying the English garrison there before returning to Dublin. On their return march, the government troops were blocked by Mountgarret’s rebel militias at Kilrush, between Kilcullen and Moone in eastern County Kildare.

Ormonde and Mountgarret were cousins, both being members of the Butler dynasty.

The Dublin Penny Journal of the 1800s said that:

“The land in the neighbourhood of Inch Castle lies remarkably flat, with the exception of two ridges that run nearly parallel northward from the castle, with a marsh lying between. It was in these heights the armies of Ormond and Mountgarrett, in 1642, marched in sight of each other, the evening previous to the battle of Kilrush; that of Ormond on the high grounds of Ardscull, Fontstown, and Kilrush, whilst the rebel army under Mountgarrett, and attended by the Lords Dunboyne and Ikerrin, Roger O’More, Hugh O’Byrne, and other leaders of Leinster, proceeded in the same direction along the heights of Birtown, Ballyndrum, Glasshealy, and Narraghmore. Mountgarrett, having the advantage in numbers, and anxious for battle, out-marched Ormond’s forces, and posted himself on Bull Hill and Kilrush, completely intercepting Ormond’s further progress to Dublin; a general engagement became unavoidable. The left wing of the Irish was broken by the first charge; the right, animated by their leaders, maintained the contest for some time, but eventually fell back on a neighbouring eminence, since called Battlemount; here they broke, fled, and were pursued with great slaughter, across the grounds they had marched over the day before. This victory was considered of such consequence that Ormond was presented by the Irish Government with a jewel, value £50.”^[1]

A contemporary account of the battle was given in the pamphlet: "Captaine Yarner's Relation of the Battaile fought at Kilrush upon the 15th day of Aprill, by my Lord of Ormond, who with 2500 Foot and 500 Horse, overthrew the Lord Mountgarret's Army, consisting of 8000 Foot and 400 Horse, all well armed, and the choyce of eight Counties. Together with a Relation of the proceedings of our Army, from the second to the later end of Aprill, 1642."^[2]

Battle of Kilrush

Notes