The 1385 Battle of Tochar Cruacha: O'Connor vs Burke

Before the great Tudor conquests and the Flight of the Earls, Gaelic Ireland saw its own brutal civil wars. This episode dives into the 1385 Battle of Tochar Cruacha (also called the Battle of the Curlew Mountains), where the O'Connor clan of Connacht, led by the aging king Ruaidri mac Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, clashed with the Anglo-Norman Burkes, led by Sir William de Burgh. We explore the shifting alliances, the use of gallowglass mercenaries, and the aftermath that reshaped Connacht. Featuring details on the battle site near the River Suck, the role of the O'Kellys and O'Rourkes, and the broader context of Gaelic resurgence in the late 14th century. We also discuss the scarcity of primary sources for medieval Irish battles and what the Annals of Connacht and Annals of the Four Masters reveal. #BattleOfTocharCruacha #BattleOfTheCurlewMountains #Connacht #OConnor #Burke #Gallowglass #RuaidriMacTairrdelbach #SirWilliamDeBurgh #MedievalIreland #AnnalsOfConnacht #AnnalsoftheFourMasters #GaelicResurgence #14thCentury #IrishHistory #RiverSuck #O'Kelly #O'Rourke #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo