Page 196 - Demo

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Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
enced commanders and had become inured to the military tactics practised in Irish warfare. All were equipped with the best arms and armour known in their day.Foot and horse were sheathed in mail; the musketeers were equipped with heavy and light guns, swords, daggers, and helmets. The whole army gleamed with crested plumes and silken sashes. Brass cannon mounted on wheels were drawn by horse, and they carried a large supply of gunpowder and ball of lead and iron. An immense train of pack-horses and oxen followed, both to feed the army and revictual Portmore.”
An almost equal force under Black Hugh O’Donnell, Red Hugh O’Donnell, the Magu- ires, and MacDonnells of Antrim assembled to halt Bagenal’s advance. Bolstered by ship- ments of arms and ammunition from Spain, the confederate force took up a strong position at Béalan Atha Buidhe -‘The Mouth of the Yellow Ford,’ on the river Blackwater, about two miles north of Armagh, and on 14 August , the opposing forces met. In the battle which followed the confederates gained a signal victory and during the engagement almost three thousand men of Bagenal’s army were killed as against two hundred of the Irish. Further- more, twelve thousand gold pieces, thirty-four standards, and all the artillery and ammuni- tion of the vanquished army were taken. One account of the day stated “the splendid army of the Pale was, in fact, annihilated.” A few days after the battle the garrison of Portmore surrendered, followed quickly by Armagh. As one annalist recorded ‘This was the greatest overthrow the English ever suffered since they set foot in Ireland, and O’Neill was by the Irish celebrated as the deliverer of his country from thralldom.’
O’Donnell Abú
(Michael Joseph McCann, 1843)
Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding
Loudly the war cries arise on the gale
Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding
To join the thick squadrons on Saimiers green vale!
On every mountaineer! Stranger to flight or fear!
Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh!
Bonnaught and Gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass! Onward for Erin! O’Donnell abu!
Princely O’Neill to our aid is advancing
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