The Siege of Maynooth and the Fall of the Earls of Kildare

In 1534 Silken Thomas, son and heir to the Earldom of Kildare, rebelled against the English crown. Despite having a large force and much support he was unable to capitalise on this, failing to capture Dublin. At the end of the year Lord Skeffington arrived with a large army. In March, while Silken Thomas was in the west, Skeffington besieged the large castle of Maynooth, seat of the Earls of Kildare. While this may have been a formidable castle in the medieval period, it was unable to stand against the English artillery and treachery and fell in 10 days. A few months later Silken Thomas surrendered having been promised his life and lands. Henry VIII refused to honour these terms and had Silken Thomas and his uncles executed a little over a year later. Although the Earldom of Kildare would be restored eventually, it would never again gain the power and influence it had at the beginning of the 16th century. The fall of Maynooth also marked the fall of the Earls of Kildare
References
Doherty, J.E. A Chronology of Irish History Since 1500
Ellis, Steven. Ireland in the Age of the Tudors 1447-1603.
Lyons, Mary Anne. "FitzGerald, Thomas (‘Silken Thomas’)" Dictionary of Irish Biography www.dib.ie/bio...
Lyos, Mary Anne. "FitzGerald, Gerald (Gearóid Óg, Garrett McAlison)" www.dib.ie/bio...
Never Felt Better (Blog) "Ireland’s Wars: The Siege Of Maynooth." neverfeltbette...
#Maynooth #Kildare #Fitzgerald #henryviii #irishhistory #tudor #militaryhistory #siege #Ireland

[@DavidTimlin-c8e]

There’s so much of our country that I have never seen, and I can’t wait to start exploring more of it.

[@forasfeasa]

I completely agree with you. I'd love to take off in a car and drive around Ireland for a couple of months. However, work and reality intervene, so I am doing it bit by bit. Maybe in 50 years I will have seen everything, but I'm sure there will always be more :-)

[@denismccarthy7796]

Big fan of your channel. Just a humble suggestion. A drone camera would really bring the footage to another level (no pun intended). Easier said than done , just a friendly suggestion to help the channel

[@forasfeasa]

A great idea and one that has definitely been on my mind. The problem is that they are expensive (and I'm not sure if you can get one second hand). But one day definitely. For some monuments you really need to see them from above, whether stone rows or circles, or castles. I will keep dreaming...

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I`m not a big fan of Henry the Eighth

[@forasfeasa]

Nor am I. How could anyone be? I am not a fan of any of the Tudors. Give me Blackadder any day!

[@forasfeasa]

Thanks for the coffee my friend. Very much appreciated!!!

[@spazzymacgee5648]

Who is?

[@forasfeasa]

@@spazzymacgee5648 That's a good question, but I think some English are. After all they made the series the Tudors about him...

[@spazzymacgee5648]

@@forasfeasa I don't include the evil English in my thoughts.

[@ivanconnolly7332]

Where were the 12,000 during the siege.

[@forasfeasa]

His army - if you can call it that - were scattered. Many were in various castles, some had died or deserted. Most were under the command of other lords. So while at the beginning of the revolt, he could draw on 15,000 the following year, this number had fallen dramatically. It is hard to say how much. Some lords who supported him at the beginning, especially from Munster, were unable to send him men then. Others were unwilling - they had seen how the wind was blowing... You can see the same in the Nine Years War, in 1601 when the English army was officially 12,000 or 16,000 (can't recall which), the field force was 3 or 4000. Garrisons always sucked up large numbers of men

[@ivanconnolly7332]

@@forasfeasa I suppose the English only became vulnerable when they penetrated deeper into the country, extended supply lines etc, thanks for the reply.

[@forasfeasa]

@@ivanconnolly7332 When they had a large army that was the case. However, any army in Ireland was rapidly decimated by sickness. In the Nine Years War, the English would lose hundreds of men a year to disease. However, when they had veterans, these could penetrate into forests, etc., especially if supported by Gaelic troops

[@fionnmcnessa]

The Tudor plantation of Laois and offaly king and Queens county although my clan or Sept fought hard against them atvthe pass of the plumes and stradbally bridge they were destroyed be trechoury withbthe massacre of Mullaghmast .
Another great episode really well delivered and indeed enjoyed 👏 thank you

[@ivanconnolly7332]

@@forasfeasa The "Dreaded lurgi" I suppose.