Glenmalure in
the Wcklow Mountains contained the stronghold of the Gabhail Raghnal
branch of the O'Byrne clan at Balinacor.
It was the site of the Battle of Glenmalure
in 1580, when an English force unsuccessfully tried to take Balinacor,
home of the rebel chieftain Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne.
It was the worst defeat by an English army
in Ireland up to that time, they were completely routed with losses
of between 500–1,000 officers and men, including Sir Peter
Carew.
A boulder near the Military Road crossroads
is carved with an inscription commemorating Fiach MacHugh on one
side and Michael Dwyer on the other side.
Glenmaluere can be reached by the Military
Road from Laragh which joins the valley at Glenmalure
Ireland in the 16th century was only partly under the control of
the British.
The clan structure was still very strong and still capable of taking
on and inflicting costly defeats on British forces.
In 1580, Arthur Grey, Baron Grey de Wilton was appointed Lord Deputy
of Ireland.
The British were preoccupied at this time with of the growing threat
posed by Spain, a threat that would eventually lead to the Spanish
Armada.
Queen Elizabeth feared the Spanish might use Ireland as a springboard
to launch an attack with the help of Irish rebels. Grey was instructed
to make Ireland more secure for the British to prevent any collaboration
with Spain.
To do this, Grey knew he would have to send troops to across the
country and out of the relatively safe area around Dublin, the area
known as the Pale.
Grey wanted to prevent attacks by the O’Byrnes
Fiach and his O’Byrne clan had fought in several battles
against the British when Grey arrived.
Grey wanted to take control of the O’Byrne stronghold areas
in the Wicklow Mountains and beyond.
This would enable British troops to march south to quell problem
areas without fear of being attacked from behind by the O’Byrnes.
Fiach supported the Baltinglass Revolt
Viscount Baltinglass was at this time involved in a rebellion against
the Crown with the support of Fiach and the O’Byrnes.
In 1580, Grey decided to lead his troops into the Wicklow Mountains
to deal with Fiach once and for all. Some of his army veterans were
unhappy about having to fight in such dangerous terrain but Grey
pressed on.
The British troops were highly conspicuous in their red and blue
coats.
The Irish were able to pick them off with sniper gunfire before
engaging them in hand to hand combat.
Grey’s troops were routed. Fiach and the O’Byrnes had
secured a famous victory.
The Battle of Glenmalure was probably the finest hour of Fiach
MacHugh O’Byrne, the hero of Follow Me Up to Carlow by Irish
songwriter P J McCall. |
