Ireland in Schools

 Massacre at Mullaghmast

News from Ireland                              Worksheets                                                 1578

The massacre

In March this year, 1578, Sir Francis Cosby

called a truce and invited the leading

families of the two counties to a banquet in
a fort in nearby County Kildare. 

  His soldiers then attacked the ‘guests’

and only one or two escaped alive.

The background

The settlements under attack are on
land which had previously been
occupied by two ancient Gaelic families,
the O'Connors and the O'Mores.  
  They had long resisted the Tudor advance.  

   However, in the 1570s, under Rory Óg
O’More, attacks on the English had
become more bold and violent.

  The attacks not merely threatened the

settlements but also humiliated Tudor

officials who wanted revenge. 

More pictures

Irish outrage

'A horrible and abominable act of

treachery', typical of the English.

  They take what they want and don't
care how they do it. 

  They have no respect for our customs

or traditions or even international
conventions.

  The Mores and O'Connors went to the
dinner in good faith to try to come to
agreement with the English officials.

  It is just not right.

Tudors reject Irish claims
The Irish have only themselves to
blame for such stern measures.

  If they accepted our offer to bring
civilisation to Ireland, then there would be
no violence.
  Many Irish people have accepted our
generous 'surrender and regrant policy

why can't these rebels? 

  All they have to do is to pledge
allegiance to the Queen and accept
English law.