ABSTRACT
The marquess of Ormond’s revitalised royalist army failed to take Dublin early in 1649, being defeated at the battle of Baggot-rath by Michael Jones. Cromwell, with 20,000 men, entered the capital on 15 August with the set purpose of punishing the Irish confederates and of restoring Ireland to order. He struck first at Drogheda where, after storming the defences, he allowed a general massacre to take place, leading to 3,000 or more deaths including those of royalist fugitives from England. Essentially, he was at first fighting against royalist forces, a combination of Ormond’s, O’Neill’s and Inchiquin’s troops, but the royalists’ best general, Owen Roe O’Neill, died in November 1649, and there was no general capable of standing against Cromwell and his powerful army. From Drogheda, Cromwell went on to storm and massacre at Wexford on 11 October, whilst other forces began to reduce Ulster and Munster. Cromwell’s march led him to Ross, Carrick, Clonmel and Kilkenny, all of which surrendered to him after attack and considerable bloodshed. Only at Clonmel was Cromwell given a temporary repulse, by Hugh O’Neill, nephew of Owen Roe, on 9 May 1650. By this time, loyal troops from Ulster were operating in southern Ireland, and on 26 May Cromwell left for England.
