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128:, west of Dublin city. His forces fell on the mercenary camp at the Dargle, and defeated them with heavy loss of life. The casualties on the O'Byrne side were so high - one estimate puts the death toll on their side at 4000 - that the area became known as Bloody Bank, and was so-called until the nineteenth century. The outcome of the battle did much to enhance the security of Dublin and
79:(located at present-day North Earl Street in Dublin city centre). Ironically this reputation seems to have increased his public standing, as it was clearly felt that whatever his faults he was the man best suited to lead the people of Dublin (who could be quite aggressive in their dealings with their neighbours) in a crisis.
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Drake, who had some military experience, seems to have been given sole power to deal with the emergency (at the time there was a notable lack of experienced military commanders at national level). He acted quickly and decisively: he assembled a large and well-armed force of Dublin citizenry, which he
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in County
Wicklow, about twelve miles south of Dublin city. There they remained for some days: apparently, they were uncertain how to proceed, or they may have been waiting for reinforcements. This fatal hesitation gave the Walsh family, who owned nearby
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who slaughtered hundreds of innocents at the Dargle. The balance of the evidence however is that Drake, though he could be impetuous and violent at times, acted on that occasion in accordance with his duty to keep Dublin safe from attack.
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of Holy
Trinity Church for the souls of himself, his parents, his wife Isabella, and her first husband John Buckland. He was a generous benefactor of Holy Trinity, and granted the monks there his lands at Simmonscourt. He is buried in
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in 1385, and he may have been the John Drake who held the same office in 1422 (although some sources say that he had retired into private life by then). Matilda (or Maud) Drake, who married the eminent judge Sir
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Drake's popularity was greatly enhanced by his victory at Bloody Bank, and he served three terms as Mayor in all, finally stepping down in 1412. A thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate his achievements was held at
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of Dublin in 1482–83. Despite his prominent position, he had something of a reputation for lawlessness and violent behaviour: in particular, in 1392 he was accused of taking part in a violent assault on the
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is sometimes said to have belonged to another branch of the same family, although this has been disputed. John was a close relative, possibly a son, of
Richard Drake of Drakerath, who was
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Although he was a hero to the people of Dublin, Drake was regarded in quite a different light by the O'Byrnes, who maintained that the "battle" at Bloody Bank was actually an unprovoked
22:(died c. 1433) was one of the most celebrated medieval Mayors of Dublin. He was acclaimed by his fellow Dubliners as a hero for his decisive victory over the O'Byrne clan of
132:(comprising the four counties adjoining Dublin). At the same time, it greatly weakened the power of the O'Byrnes, who were forced to acknowledge the authority of the
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for the first time in 1401. In the summer of the following year the O'Byrnes, who periodically raided Dublin, moved a large force of
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River Dargle, Wicklow, scene of Drake's victory at the Battle of Bloody Bank in 1402
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342:"Dublin's Great Civic Sword, Mayor John Drake and his victory near Bray in 1402"
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As Mayor he was obliged to borrow money, and in 1402 he acknowledged that he owed
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in 1402. Drake was the first Mayor of Dublin to carry the city's ceremonial
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composed by an O'Byrne descendant referred bitterly to Drake as the
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region of south Dublin, and also held lands at
Simmonscourt, now
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O'Byrne, Dr Emmett "O'Byrne promised to be loyal to the King"
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Calendar of Irish
Chancery letters c.1244-1509 20 November 1402
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He was a member of the prominent Drake family of
Drakerath,
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Dublin
Historical Record Vol.60 Spring 2007 pp. 44–53
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led in person, assisted by the fighting monks of the
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The
History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin
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122:Order of St. John of Jerusalem
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330:London John Murray 1926
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16:Mayor of Dublin, Ireland
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83:Battle of Bloody Bank
57:Christopher Bernevall
52:High Sheriff of Meath
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30:Background
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258:O'Byrne
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130:the Pale
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201:mass
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40:Ash
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