BattlefieldsBattle of Curlew Pass
Tudor

Battle of Curlew Pass

1599
Leitrim, Ireland
Also known as: Battle of the Curlew Mountains
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Leitrim, Ireland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English Crown (Sir Conyers Clifford)
Forces
Clifford English c.1,500.
VS
Victor
Red Hugh O'Donnell (Connacht Irish)
Forces
O'Donnell c.500–800
Outcome
English force routed; Clifford killed
The Battle

History & Significance

Sir Conyers Clifford led an English army through the Curlew Mountains in Connacht to relieve Collooney Castle. O'Donnell ambushed him in the mountain pass, killed Clifford and most of his force. The victory spread the Nine Years War into Connacht and gave O'Donnell control over the province. A masterpiece of Irish guerrilla warfare in difficult terrain.

Casualties & Losses

Clifford and several hundred English killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Leitrim

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Leitrim