The Battle of Dungan's Hill (1647) A Decisive Blow to Irish Confederate Ambitions

On August 8, 1647, English Parliamentary forces under Colonel Michael Jones decisively defeated the Irish Confederate Leinster army led by General Thomas Preston at Dungan's Hill in County Meath. The battle was a turning point in the Irish Confederate Wars, effectively crippling the Confederate military presence in eastern Ireland and paving the way for the Cromwellian conquest.

Strategic Context

• Wars of the Three Kingdoms: A series of interconnected conflicts in England, Scotland, and Ireland between Royalists, Parliamentarians, and various nationalist factions

• Irish Confederate Wars: Irish Catholics formed the Confederate Ireland government in 1642, seeking autonomy and religious freedom

• Pre-Battle Movements:

• Preston's army was attempting to march on Dublin, then held by Parliamentarians

• Jones had just taken command of Dublin and moved swiftly to intercept Preston's forces near Trim

Forces and Deployment

• Preston's army was poorly deployed: cavalry trapped in narrow lanes, infantry scattered in tall wheat fields

• Jones exploited these weaknesses with a surprise cavalry charge

The Battle

• Began around 10 a.m. near Summerhill, County Meath

• Parliamentarian cavalry trapped and routed the Irish horsemen

• Irish infantry, trained in Spanish-style tercios, were overwhelmed in confusion

• The "Redshanks" made several brave charges but were eventually forced to flee into nearby bogs

• Over 3,000 Irish soldiers were killed, many while retreating

Aftermath and Legacy

• Military Impact: The destruction of the Leinster army ended Confederate hopes of capturing Dublin

• Political Consequences: The defeat weakened Confederate Ireland's position and contributed to its collapse

• Cromwellian Conquest: The Parliamentarian victory set the stage for Oliver Cromwell's brutal campaign in Ireland beginning in 1649

Though overshadowed by larger battles, Dungan's Hill was one of the bloodiest engagements on Irish soil in the 17th century. It exposed the strategic and tactical shortcomings of the Confederate leadership and demonstrated the effectiveness of Parliament's New Model Army.