Siege of Donegal

Siege of Donegal
Part of Tyrone's Rebellion
Donegal Abbey.
Date 1601 Location Donegal, County Donegal, Ireland Result Crown victory
Belligerents
Ireland + Gaelic Allies	Tyrone's rebels
Commanders and leaders
Niall Garve O'Donnell Conn O'Donnell	Hugh Roe O'Donnell

The Siege of Donegal took place in 1601 during Tyrone's Rebellion when a force led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell laid siege to the settlement of Donegal.^[1] The garrison of the town were a mixture of Irish Army troops and Gaelic forces loyal to the Crown led by Niall Garve O'Donnell. Heavy fighting took place during the month-long siege in which Donegal Abbey was wrecked by an accidental gunpowder explosion. Having suffered several repulses Hugh Roe O'Donnell abandoned the siege and moved his army southwards to Munster to take part in the Battle of Kinsale. In his absence Crown forces were able to use Donegal as a base to capture the strategic town of Ballyshannon.

Conn O'Donnell was killed during the siege, while fighting for the Crown.

References

Bibliography

• McGurk, John. Sir Henry Docwra, 1564-1631: Derry's Second Founder. Four Courts Press, 2006.