Battle of Áth an Chip

The Battle of Áth-an-Chip was a battle fought in 1270 between armies of the Kingdoms of Connacht and England near Carrick-on-Shannon in Ireland. The result was a decisive Irish victory.^[1]

Background

Fedlimid Ó Conchobair was King of Connacht in the middle of the Norman invasion of Ireland. He initially attempted to arrest the expansion of Norman settlements in Connacht he eventually capitulated to King Henry II. His son, Aedh mac Felim Ua Conchobair, did not favor the diplomatic approach. Even during his father's reign Aedh conducted raids on Norman settlements. In 1249 he ambushed Piers de Bermingham, who at the time held the wardship of the de Burgh lands. This ambush led to all out war and resulted in Fedlimid being deposed.^[2] He regained his throne in 1250, but was much weaker as a result.

Battle

Aedh became king after his father's death in 1265.^[2] He continued to raid settled lands in his kingdom. In 1269 Robert d'Ufford, the new justiciar in Ireland, began building a royal castle in Roscommon. D'Ufford sent his deputy across the River Shannon to join his ally, Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster. The combined forces met with Aedh to negotiate, but to no avail. The forces under de Burgh retreated and attempted to forde the Shannon at Áth-an-Chip. Aedh routed the army and destroyed the castle at Roscommon.

Aftermath

The Death of de Burgh in 1271 ended all effective resistance to Aedh's rule in Connacht. Aedh continued to raid as far east as Granard and even burnt Athlone, destroying the bridge there. The raiding came to an end with Aehd's sudden death on 3 May 1274.^[2] The Kingdom of Connacht became embroiled in Civil War with thirteen kings during the period between 1274 and 1315.^[2] This instability left Connacht venerable to Norman settlement.

References

↑ Mac Annaidh, S., ed. (2001). Illustrated Dictionary of Irish History. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.
1 2 3 4 Cosgrove, Art, ed. (2008). A new history of Ireland. (1. publ. in paperb. ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 9780199539703.

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