What is recorded here

Knocknanuss Hill is where Lord Inchiquin broke Lord Taaffe and Sir Alexander Mac Donnell on 13th Nov. 1647, making it the biggest battle ever fought in Munster. The low hill has surrendered its trenches to pasture, but the dead still surface in Assolas, Ballyheen Middle and Drominagore, their bones once gathered at Buttevant friary. What remains is a field that remembers weight, motion and loss long after the weapons disappeared.

The battle of Knocknanuss, on 13th Nov. 1647, was biggest ever fought in Munster and 'one of the most interesting and decisive engagements ever fought in Ireland' (O'Brien 1971, 141). An Irish Confederate army, led by Lord Taaffe and Sir Alexander Mac Donnell (see 14697), was defeated by a Parliamentarian army led by Lord Inchiquin (ibid., 140-9). Site of battle was low hill of Knocknanuss and area immediately to N (see plan ibid., 140). Grove White (1905-25, vol. 3, 352) noted 'remains of entrenchments' at SSW side of hill; entire area of battle now farmland, no trace of 'entrenchments' noted in area indicated by Grove White. The1937 OS 6-inch map shows 'Camp Field' c. 1.2km to N; Inchiquin said to have camped here after the battle; this area in pasture with no evident trace of encampment. Burial grounds in Assolas (14063), Ballyheen Middle (14067) and Drominagore (14093), said to be burial sites for those killed in battle; collection of human remains formerly in Buttevant friary (14382) were believed to have come from Knocknanuss. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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