Battle of Bunratty 1310 — Bunratty West,bunratty East,clonmoney North

The source of this record is the minor name 'Battle of Bunratty 1310' which was first recorded by the OS on the 1:2500 survey (1893-7) of Sheet 51, Plan 16. Based on its inclusion on subsequent 6-inch mapping the site was listed in the non-statutory Sites and Monuments Record (issued 1992) and the statutory Record of Monuments and Places (issued 1996) as ‘Battlefield’ under the record number CL051-156----: this has been reassigned the record number CL061-018---- based on recent research. The origins of the battle may be traced to the on-going internecine warfare between competing Uí Bhrian kin-groups over the rights of succession and inheritance to the Thomond lordship. Following the death of the king of Thomond, Toirdhealbhach Ó Briain, in 1306 war broke out between rival branches of the Uí Bhrian and matters entered a new phase in 1311 when two factions sought supremacy: each had the support of Anglo-Norman magnates. Diarmait Cléirech of Clann Bhrian was supported by Richard de Clare who resided at Bunratty Castle (CL062-001004-) and Donnchadh of Clann Toirdhealbhaigh was supported by William de Burgh. The ‘battle’ took place on 20th May 1311 (not 1310 as recorded on the OS maps). The sources record that Clann Toirdelbach and the forces of de Burgh occupied the hill adjacent to Bunratty. Clann Bhrian and de Clare left the castle ‘as a great cloud big with fire, edged with scintillation, through the massive fortress-gates’ and rode out to engage with Donnchadh and de Burgh. This suggests that the battle took place on the southern slopes of the hill. There is no indication of the size of the armies involved though it is noted that Richard de Clare had ‘troops of horse and companies of foot, both Gael and Gall’ when he rode out from Bunratty Castle and it seems likely that there was a similar mix of forces on the side of Clann Toirdhealbhaigh and de Burgh: the latter was assisted by men from Connacht and also John, son of Walter de Lacy, from Meath is recorded as being present. A pitched battle ensued as the ‘lines charged’ at each other using swords and spears with their shields for shelter; ‘many a golden diadem [was] made to fly, many a comely visage to darken, many a shield was held up for shelter; swords were busy shearing, spears transpiercing’. All the sources agree that Donnchadh Ó Briain and William de Burgh were initially successful but de Burgh, following ‘the flying persons of the discomfited side’ was taken prisoner (O’Grady 1929, ii, 43-5). Most of the Irish annals agree that de Burgh was in pursuit of the fleeing forces when he was captured, but the victory nonetheless remained with Donnchadh and the Clann Toirdhealbhaigh Ó Brian. However, the Anglo-Irish annals contained in the Chartularies of St Mary’s Abbey are emphatic that de Clare was the victor (Gilbert 1884, ii, 339). (IBP Report 2010 – Bunratty) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 1 August 2017