Siege of Kilkenny
Who Fought
History & Significance
The siege of Kilkenny took place from 22 to 28 March 1650, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Previously the capital of Confederate Ireland, the garrison surrendered to Commonwealth forces under Oliver Cromwell.
In August 1649, Commonwealth forces under Oliver Cromwell landed near Dublin to reclaim control from an alliance between Royalists and Irish Confederates. After arriving in Ireland, Cromwell's forces struck hard and fast north of Dublin capturing Drogheda, Belfast, and Carrickfergus. Concurrently, Cromwell attacked and captured the southeastern port cities of Wexford and New Ross before the onset of winter.
On 29 January 1650, taking advantage of a mild winter, Cromwell reinitiated his campaign in southern Ireland with the overall objective of capturing both the Confederate capital of Kilkenny and the fortified stronghold Clonmel. Cromwell began first by dividing his army into multiple columns to attack and capture the outlying Royalist garrisons in the provinces of Munster and Leinster. In the first phase of his campaign, many garrisons were abandoned by the Royalists as Cromwell's columns approached; other Royalists garrisons surrendered without a fight after accepting terms by Cromwell. A number of other garrisons surrendered after short periods of siege and attack. By early March, Cromwell's forces had begun to encircle Kilkenny.
Kilkenny was a fortified town which was divided into three self-contained walled districts: High Town was next to the Kilkenny Castle and bounded on the east by the River Nore; Irish Town was also bounded on the east by the River Nore and stood adjacent to the northern wall of High Town; St. John's was on the eastern bank of the River Nore and connected to High Town by St. John's Bridge. High Town has a number of streets that still stand today such as; High Street, Walkin Street, James Street and St. Kieran Street.
Prior to initiating a siege of Kilkenny, Cromwell had hoped to capture the city by means of a plot. An Irish officer serving as a part of the defence force for Kilkenny, Captain Tickle, had been bribed to betray the city by opening one of the gates to the Parliamentarians. When Cromwell's forces arrived at the appointed time and place to enter the city, however, the Parliamentarians found the intended entry point securely closed and defended. Correspondence proving Tickle's treachery had been discovered, resulting in his being hanged.
Shortly thereafter, as Cromwell prepared to besiege the city, the leader of the Royalist alliance, the Duke of Ormond and the Confederate Commissioners fled Kilkenny to the safety of King John's Castle 90 kilometers to the west in Limerick. The Earl of Castlehaven was given command of the modest Royalist force in southern Leinster province and Sir Walter Butler was placed in command of the Royalist forces in Kilkenny.
The ground they fought on
The site of Siege of Kilkenny lies on Inferior Oolite Group, bedrock that formed in the Bathonian. The rock here is limestone, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.
- Parliamentarians: Up to 200 killed or wounded
- Royalists; Confederates: Up to 100 killed, wounded or captured
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- Siege of Kilkenny · Wikipedia