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The scale of the battle was, however, confirmed in the 19th century when the Ulster
Railway which ran through Moira was being constructed. The remains of thousands of men and horses were discovered during the excavations. When one considers that the survivors probably numbered quite considerably
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Throughout the 630s, Domnall continued to wage war on his rivals in the Uí Néill clan. In 637, however, Congal once again rose to challenge the Ard Rí, and enlisted the help of the Dál Riata to do so. Congal returned from
Scotland, gathered his native Irish armies which were supported by a more
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had to endure the advances that the High King had made. They were not to be completely subjugated however. By contrast, the consequences were much more keenly felt for Dál Riata. The land defeat at Moira was coupled with a naval defeat on exactly the same day; at the Battle of the
665:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20608792?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=castle&searchText=enigan&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dcastle%2Benigan&refreqid=search%3A1d2bdcc97a8ebca90302eb77acbacc0b&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
366:(the mound of which can still be seen in the village). The area was also much more forested in the 1st millennium, with the existence of expansive woodland near the hamlet. The location may also have been outside Newry in an area that is today rich in historical monuments.
529:
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which means 'The
Scotsman's Grave'. In the latter area there was a large stone pillar in a nearby field, which marked the burial site of many of the Scottish princes who were killed in the battle. However, the stone was removed by a farmer in the late 19th century.
409:", at the end of which the defeated force fled towards the woods of Killultagh. The forces of Ulaid and Dál Riata were defeated, with Domnall of Dál Riata forced to flee north to his kingdom's holdings. Congal was killed in the course of the battle.
521:
308:, where the same clans could be found on either side, especially in Scotland. Rivalries and alliances between the petty kingdoms changed frequently. For example, Dál Riata, which fought with Congal in this battle, had seen
323:
in 627. His ambitions soon came into conflict with
Domnall II, who became High King of Ireland in 628. Ironically, Domnall II only rose to such a position because Congal had defeated and killed the previous High King,
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located near modern Moira. Domnall II had gathered his army at Tara and he marched north to meet the enemy forces. Congal marched south to meet him. The two armies comprising 100,000 men in total met at Moira.
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268:, and resulted in the death of Congal and the retreat of Domnall Brecc. However, the location of the battle is not settled and some commentators identify the location as being a few miles outside
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Ireland in the period was a patchwork of petty statelets, fused together and driven apart by tribal loyalties, often given to a state of war. Other realms from across the water in
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following his defeat of Suibne Menn. It may be therefore that
Domnall seized the position indirectly from his Ultonian rival. Regardless, the two had become enemies.
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the Ard Rí's fleet had succeeded in defeating Dál Riata's. As a result of both battles the High King's forces were able to occupy the Dál Riata lands in north
522:"637 The Battle of Moira is fought between the High King of Ireland and the Kings of Ulster and Dalriada. It is the largest battle in the history of Ireland"
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393:, as one of the five main roads running from Tara, the High King's Road, ran north and ended at Dunseverick, where there was a bridge that crossed the
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Little is known about the actual battle itself. Domnall I of Dál Riata brought a more varied force to the fight. His army included Scots,
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O'Donovan, John (ed. and tr.), "The banquet of Dun na n-Gedh and the battle of Magh Rath", Dublin: Irish
Archaeological Society, 1842.
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Domnall pressed this rivalry very quickly, and in 629 the two kings engaged each other at the Battle of Dún
Ceithirn in what is now
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350:. On this occasion Congal was defeated and fled to Scotland to seek support, and Domnall was left unchallenged as the High King.
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In 637, the settlement of Moira was substantially smaller than it is in present times. However, there was at the very least a
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became dominant in the north of
Ireland. Their descendants would claim overlordship of at least some of the land until the
253:. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the High King and his army, and Congal Cáech was killed in the fighting.
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and
Britons (Welshmen). There were about 50,000 men on either side. At least one side had a substantial cavalry force.
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Congal himself had first established his power base in Dál Riata, where he became King, before being recognised as
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in 628 to secure his authority as High King. Some primary sources state that Congal had initially become the
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Some of the townlands around modern Moira get their names from the battle, notably
Aughnafosker, which in
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Marstrander, Carl (ed. and tr.), “A new version of the battle of Mag Rath”, Ériu 5 (1911): 226–247.
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The battle was reputedly fought near the woods of Killultagh just outside the village of
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but expanded across to Scotland. Indeed, the tribal loyalties often spilled across the
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frequently became involved in the affairs of Ireland, notably the Scottish branch of
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and its local allies to undo the advances of Domnall had been thwarted, and the
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diverse Dál Riata army consisting of many British soldiers, particularly Scots.
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637 battle between High King of Ireland Domnall II and King of Ulai Congal Cáech
647:Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí, Early Medieval Ireland: 400–1200. Longman, London, 1995.
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544:"The Battle of Moira, by CLLR Dr Ian Adamson - Impala Publishers Blog Page"
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Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings. Batsford, London, 1973.
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663:"The Battle of Mag Rath-Its true site determined" by J . W Hanna 1856
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more, then the reputation of the scale of the battle becomes obvious.
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and Derrylecklagh near to the ancient rath known as the Crown Mound.
264:. It was allegedly the largest battle ever fought on the island of
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Ulaid, supported by Dál Riata as well as Scots, Saxons and Welshmen
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on their return from Scotland. He possibly planned on marching to
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there appears reason to believe that the fight lasted a week
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Duffy, Sean; Ailbhe MacShamhráin; James Moynes (2005).
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With the death of Congal in the battle the chance for
611:Early Sources of Scottish History 500–1286
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328:, (who was Domnall's distant cousin in the
627:Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1974.
300:, which had originally been from north of
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385:Congal and his army probably landed near
229:, was fought in the summer of 637 by the
82:Learn how and when to remove this message
595:, CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts, 2003
484:. New York, NY: Routledge. p. 370.
45:This article includes a list of general
580:from the original on 19 September 2020.
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456:means 'Field of Slaughter', as well as
449:almost a thousand years later in 1607.
441:As a direct result of the battle, the
335:Domnall at first launched a raid into
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276:in the vicinity of the townlands of
625:Studies in the History of Dalriada.
592:Annals of Ulster AD 431–1201
532:from the original on 25 June 2016.
152:Forces of the High King of Ireland
138:Decisive victory for the High King
51:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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481:Medieval Ireland: an encyclopedia
118:Disputed, but likely near modern
438:, unprotected as they now were.
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332:dynasty) in a previous battle.
685:Battles involving the Uí Néill
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312:killed by his brother at the
690:Battles involving Dál Riata
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177:, King of the Ulaid
237:, against his foster son
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245:, supported by his ally
526:www.stairnahéireann.com
66:more precise citations.
695:7th century in Ireland
160:Commanders and leaders
570:"The Battle of Moira"
316:(either 629 or 630).
260:in what would become
207:Casualties and losses
550:on 14 September 2017
231:High King of Ireland
225:, also known as the
170:High King of Ireland
574:www.moirahistory.uk
447:Flight of the Earls
403:Sir Samuel Ferguson
227:Battle of Magh Rath
189:, King of Dál Riata
18:Battle of Magh Rath
607:Anderson, Alan Orr
348:County Londonderry
314:Battle of Fid Eoin
310:one of their kings
292:and in particular
623:Bannerman, John,
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239:Congal Cáech
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175:Congal Caech
147:Belligerents
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423:Dál nAraidi
387:Dunseverick
326:Suibne Menn
302:Lough Neagh
274:County Down
262:County Down
124:County Down
64:introducing
674:Categories
554:12 October
465:References
284:Background
249:, King of
241:, King of
235:Domnall II
166:Domnall II
109:Summer 637
47:references
417:Aftermath
306:Irish Sea
298:Dál Riata
278:Sheeptown
251:Dál Riata
72:June 2011
599:23 March
578:Archived
530:Archived
358:Location
337:Leinster
330:Uí Néill
294:Scotland
194:Strength
114:Location
497:19 June
266:Ireland
212:Unknown
181:†
60:improve
651:
641:
631:
617:
488:
436:Antrim
370:Battle
341:Ard Rí
135:Result
49:, but
454:Irish
427:Ulaid
395:Lagan
376:Picts
364:motte
270:Newry
258:Moira
243:Ulaid
215:Heavy
122:, in
120:Moira
649:ISBN
639:ISBN
629:ISBN
615:ISBN
601:2008
556:2019
499:2011
486:ISBN
391:Tara
221:The
106:Date
700:637
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507:^
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20:)
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