Tyrone’s Rebellion: 1595

Tyrone was motivated by a combination of factors, including culture, personal ambition

and religion.

This rebellion was particularly problematic for Elizabeth because the Spanish would

attempt to exploit the situation to bolster their position in the Anglo-Spanish war.

Therefore, Elizabeth sought a truce.

However, assisted by clans such as the O’Donnells and Maguires, Tyrone’s rebellion

spread beyond Ulster.

The Spanish attempted to exploit the situation by including Irish contingent in the

Second Armada (1596). But this proved unsuccessful, but it was a clear signal of

Spanish intention, and caused uneasiness for Elizabeth and her Councillors.

An English force under the command of Sir Henry Bagenal was defeated at the Battle of

Yellow Ford in August 1598. From this, Tyrone was clearly in control of Ulster, and

the O’Donnells were in control on Connaught, the O’Mores controlled Leix-

Offaly and the Munster Plantation had been destroyed. Beyond the Pale was out of

English control!

It looked as though Tyrone was on the verge of setting up an independent and Catholic Ireland that would look to support from

Spain.

Elizabeth sent the Earl of Essex to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant (1599). This was an error

because the Earl of Essex was ready to disobey Elizabeth’s orders.

Essex had a large force, but instead of moving North to Ulster, he stayed in Leinster

and then Munster.

He was ordered North again by Elizabeth, but instead of confronting Tyrone, he made

a truce!

Essex then refused to come back to Court as the Queen ordered.

As soon as the truce expired, Tyrone moved south and camped near Kinsale on the coast, to the South West of Cork. He hoped to link up with a Spanish army. This was the high

point of his power.

The English made significant progress under their new Lord Lieutenants, Lord Mountjoy and Sir George Carew. Carew secured Cork and gradually recaptured most of Munster. Mountjoy, pushed Tyrone back to Ulster.

O’Neill’s forces were saved from destruction by the landing in Kinsale of 3,000 Spanish

troops (1601).

The English were triumphant over O’Donnell, forcing him to free with the Spanish.

Tyrone made a peace treaty with Mountjoy in 1603. Unbeknown to Tyrone, Elizabeth was dead at this point. Mountjoy offered

Tyrone generous terms so he could get back to James I, the new King of Irelands.