An Mhaidín Mhaith sá Chionn tSáile

=An Mhaidín Mhaith sá Chionn tSáile= 'Good Morning in Kinsale'

25th December 1601
The united armies of the Gaelic lords of Ulster, most notably Hugh (The Red) O'Donnell and Hugh O'Neill, march to Kinsale in Cork to meet their Spanish allies who have landed there to aid them in their rebellion against English interference in Ireland. While the Irish have much further to march than the English, a sudden storm delays the English arrival until a few hours after the Irish and Spanish Armies meet. This gives them just enough time to entrech around the town and deploy cannon from the Spanish ships. The first battle consisted of a English cavalry charge on the Irish-Spanish postions. The British General Mountjoy was not aware of the significent presence of Spanish cannon. Wave after wave of English cavalry was slaughtered before the attack was stopped. A slow infantry advance was also beaten back with musket fire and cannon. Hugh O'Donnell's part of the army then seperated from the main force and advanced. Severly weakened by several unsuccessful attacks Mountjoy fled, only to be captured hours later by Irish scouts. The Spanish General Aquila demanded his immediate execution but the Gaelic lords persuaded them that he would be more useful alive. Casualties were enormous on the English side, losing 6,300 men of 7,000. The remaing 700 deserted to find refuge in various English forts and settlements. The Irish-Spanish force only lost about 400 of 10,000 men.