List of sieges of Galway

The city of Galway Ireland was built as a naval base and military fort by Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair in 1124.

It was surrounded to the north by a number of small islands that, separated from the Dun by large streams and extremely boggy ground, made physical progress difficult and an attack futile.

If, however, the attacking force could still not make the east bank, there were only two other routes to the other side, neither favourable: one was to risk a crossing of Lough Corrib, which however can be treacherous at the best of times to an unskilled sailor; second, the unenviable sixty mile slog north to Cong.

Yet in the early days of its existence it offered a way into Lough Corrib and its surrounding landmass, from which an invader could strike deep into the heart of Delbhna Tir Dha Locha or Maigh Seola.

Therefore, the deaths of members of these three vassal clans, as well as his own possible presence at the battle, indicates the importance the High King attached to his "dún" on the Gallimhe.

It was a combined raid of plunder (taking the rich pickings of Maigh Seola) and military strategy (destroying the Dún).

Toirdhealbhach O Brían on the other hand was pre-occupied with extending his influence into Leinster (the kingdom whose rejection of tributes had led to his ancestor, Brian Boru's, death in 1014), as well as with putting down rebellion in his native Thomond and with ensuring his vassals of Munster, the MacCarthys, knew their place.

The death of Ua Flaithbheartaigh indicates that an attempt may have been made on Gallimhe, but O Brian would have to wait a full four years before he reached this objective.

Again, the mention of Magh Ua mBriuin - an alternative name for Maigh Seola - demonstrates the destruction of Gallimhe and its fleet was merely one tactic employed by O Brian.

It may even be that, contending for the lordship of Galway Bay - from which plundering raids could be made into Clan Fergal, Maigh Seola, Meadraige and Uí Fiachrach Aidhne - O Brian may have been letting Ua Lochlainn unleash himself against a prime adversary.

With the help of his Norman allies, Aedh was eventually able to suppress the rebellion, though "there was not a church or territory in Connacht at that time that had not been plundered and desolated."

One incident during the war had given Aedh cause for concern: his erstwhile allies, the Normans of Leinster and Munster, had invaded south Connacht "and slew all the people that they caught, and burned their dwellings and villages."

Aedh was furious at this because it was not by his command, and because the Normans "were themselves excited by envy and rapacity, as soon as they had heard what good things the Lord Justice and his English followers had obtained in Connacht at that time."

De Burgh brought with him Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair whom he intended to make king in place of Aedh.

At some point in the fighting Aedh seems to have lost, or ceded possession of, the Dún, because the Annals of Connacht states that "They were on the western bank of the Galway River and the Galls on the eastern."

Dissatisfied with the inconclusiveness of the conflict, de Burgh cut his losses and left in the direction of Cong "to pursue the cattle and folk which had fled into the mountains and recesses of the countryside and the sea-islands."

[1] On the morning of 7 August 1642, to the "considerable agitation and suspense [of the] town", a naval squadron of seventeen ships appeared in Galway Bay.

Led by Alexander, 11th Lord Forbes (died 1671), they had come to relieve the garrison of Forthill at the request of the English Parliament, and which had authorised him, as Lieutenant-General, to waste the coasts of Ireland.

[3] According to James Hardiman " ... Forbes, stimulated by Willoughby and Ashley" - captains of the besieged Forthill - "and governed by the advice of Hugh Peters, whom he brought with him as his chaplain ... was entirely deaf to every remonstrance of reason or discretion."

Forthill was once more under siege and on its own, Clanricarde's political stock had plummeted as he had been unable to prevent the sacking, and any waverers among the people of Galway were now solidly on the Irish Confederate side.

[4] The siege of Fort-Hill by the Confederates began immediately after the departure of Lord Forbes on 4 September 1642 and continued until the surrender of Captain Willoughby on 20 June 1643.

Galway was the last city held by Irish Catholic forces in Ireland and its fall signalled the end to most organised resistance to the Parliamentarian conquest of the country.

the Dutch Williamite General Godert de Ginkell in command of the English forces decided to capture the town of Galway before advancing on Limerick.