O'Doherty's death at Kilmacrennan ended his rebellion and removed the last major Gaelic resistance in Ulster, accelerating the Flight of the Earls' aftermath.
Key Facts
- Date
- 5 July 1608
- Conflict
- O'Doherty's Rebellion
- Outcome
- Crown victory; O'Doherty killed by musket shot to head
- Bounty on O'Doherty
- £500
- Crown commander
- Richard Wingfield
- Final rebel retreat
- Tory Island, successfully besieged
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Sir Cahir O'Doherty, a traditional Crown supporter, was driven to rebellion by mistreatment at the hands of local officials. He seized the garrison town of Derry and killed his enemy George Paulet, then raised local forces and possibly sought to negotiate a settlement as previous rebel leaders had done.
Viceroy Arthur Chichester dispatched Crown reinforcements under Richard Wingfield, comprising professional Royal Irish Army soldiers and allied Gaelic warriors. These forces engaged O'Doherty's rebels near Kilmacrennan, where O'Doherty was killed by a musket shot to the head, causing his troops' morale to collapse and the rebel force to flee.
O'Doherty's death rapidly ended the rebellion. The remaining rebel forces retreated to Tory Island, where they were besieged and overcome. A reward was paid to infantry soldier John Trendor by the Dublin government, and the collapse of the uprising removed the last significant Gaelic armed resistance in Ulster.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Richard Wingfield.
Side B
1 belligerent
Cahir O'Doherty.