Battles & Campaigns · 1646
Battle of Benburb
Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK
What happened
Monro's men marched about 24 km to meet O'Neill and were tired when the fighting began. Their artillery did little damage and their cavalry charge failed against O'Neill's pikes and muskets. O'Neill's infantry pushed them back into a bend of the river, and Monro's army broke.
Why it matters
It ended Scottish hopes of conquering Ireland and imposing their religious settlement there. It is remembered as a rare 17th-century Irish military victory.
What came next
O'Neill did not pursue, and took his army south to influence Confederate politics.
Did you know?
The Irish pikes were longer than the Scottish ones, so they could strike from out of reach.
Timeline
- 5 Jun 1646Battle of Benburb.
- 1646O'Neill marches south.
- 1890A Dublin street is renamed after the battle.