Knocknanuss is a townland in the northwestern end of the parish of Castlemagner in the barony of Duhallow, Co. Cork. It was the site of the bloodiest battle of the whole course of the English civil war and was between the Munster-based supporters of Charles I (the “Royalists”) and supporters of Parliament (the “Parliamentarians”). The battle was fought on Saturday, November 24, 1647, between 2pm and 5pm.
The Parliamentarians reported that the Royalists had 1,800 Horse and 6,000 Foot, totalling 7,800 in all. However, this was disputed by Cromwell and other hard-headed Parliamentarians. A Royalist force of not more than 1,000 Horse and 4,500 Foot is, perhaps, more realistic. It was commanded by Theobald Viscount Taaffe of Corran, an inexperienced 26 years old Catholic nobleman from Ballymote, County Sligo, who happened to hold the Royalist Lord Presidency of Munster. Sir Alasdair McColla Ciotach McDonnell , Montrose’s famed commander, was his Leiutenant General. Sir Alasdair, known in the South of Ireland as ’McAlasdrum’, had command of the right wing. His division consisted of some 750 Highland ‘Redshanks’ and about 1,690 Munster (Irish) Foot. Many of his troops had served in the French or Spanish armies, and many others were hereditary gallowglasses such as the McDonnells of Clare and the McSheehys of Rathkeale. The division engaged in 3 regiments, each of 1,000 swords led by a Scots colonel, with Sir Alasdair McDonnell leading from the front.
The Parliamentarian army was commanded by Murrogh O’Brien Lord Inchequin, the Parliament’s Lord Presidency of Munster. Inchequin led a force of 900 Horse and 4,000 Foot in the field. The Horse were deployed on the wings and in reserve. The Foot were deployed in 3 divisions, the centre division was Brigade strength opposed to McDonnell’s regiments, with a Militia Foot Regiment and a regiment of Horse on their left to close the ‘killing ground’. Early in the battle, McDonnell’s regiments broke Inchequin’s left wing and a rout followed. Inchequin, leading his own troop of Horse, was with his right division that broke Taaffe’s left wing of and put them to rout. Taaffe had already quit the field with 2000 Foot and about 500 Horse. The cowardice or treachery of Taaffe negated McDonnell’s right wing success. Sir Alasdair, having given up his sword to Quarter, was killed or murdered under confused and much-disputed circumstances. Inchequin won the day but lost 2,000 men including several senior English officers in the 3 hours of battle. The Royalists were said to have lost 4,000, but a figure of about 2,500 may be more realistic. The main reason for the high casualties was the religious bitterness and fighting ferocity of the opposing forces.
The full account of the Battle of Knocknanuss is available by clicking below;