A victory for Diarmait Ó Briain's forces in the contest for the Uí Briain chieftaincy, preceding the decisive Battle of Dysert O'Dea.
Key Facts
- Date
- 15 August 1317
- Location
- Near Corcomroe Abbey, north County Clare
- Forces per side (approx.)
- 9,000 men each men
- Victor
- Diarmait Ó Briain's forces
- Context
- Struggle for Uí Briain chieftaincy; Anglo-Norman wars
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A prolonged struggle for control of the Uí Briain chieftaincy set rival factions against one another. Donnchadh Ó Briain allied with Mathghamhain Ó Briain and the Anglo-Norman lord Richard de Clare, while Muircheartach Ó Briain's faction opposed them. These dynastic and colonial tensions, part of the broader Anglo-Norman involvement in Irish affairs, made armed confrontation inevitable.
On 15 August 1317, near Corcomroe Abbey in north County Clare, forces loyal to Muircheartach Ó Briain under Diarmait Ó Briain met Donnchadh Ó Briain's army in a pitched battle. Each side fielded approximately 9,000 men. Diarmait Ó Briain's forces prevailed, defeating the faction aligned with Mathghamhain Ó Briain and Richard de Clare.
The victory for Diarmait Ó Briain's faction strengthened their position in the contest for the Uí Briain chieftaincy. The battle served as a direct precursor to the Battle of Dysert O'Dea, where further conflict between Irish and Anglo-Norman forces would shape the future of the region and weaken English influence in Thomond for decades.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Diarmait Ó Briain.
Side B
1 belligerent
Donnchadh Ó Briain, Richard de Clare.