Battle of Moira 637
Marker: recorded battle location (no official boundary).
Key facts
| Date (year) | 637 | Wikidata P585 point in time |
|---|---|---|
| Century | 7th century | derived |
| Period | Early medieval, Anglo-Saxon & Viking | derived |
| Country | Northern Ireland | derived |
| Participants | Domnall mac Áedo | Wikidata |
About the battle
The Battle of Moira, also known as the Battle of Magh Rath, was fought in the summer of AD 637 by the High King of Ireland, Domnall II, against his foster son Congal Cáech, King of Ulaid, supported by his ally Domnall Brecc, King of Dál Riata. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the High King and his army, and Congal Cáech was killed in the fighting.
The battle was reputedly fought near the woods of Killultagh just outside the village of Moira in what would become County Down. It was allegedly the largest battle ever fought on the island of Ireland, and resulted in the death of Congal and the retreat of Domnall Brecc. However, the location of the battle is not settled and some commentators identify the location as being a few miles outside Newry, County Down in the vicinity of the townlands of Sheeptown and Derrylecklagh near to the ancient rath known as the Crown Mound.
Visiting the battlefield
In 637, the settlement of Moira was substantially smaller than it is in present times. However, there was at the very least a motte (the mound of which can still be seen in the village). The area was also much more forested in the 1st millennium, with the existence of expansive woodland near the hamlet. The location may also have been outside Newry in an area that is today rich in historical monuments.
Location
- Recorded location (Wikidata; may be approximate): 54.4800, -6.2300
Battlefields are often on private farmland: please keep to public rights of way and respect landowners.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article Battle of Moira (revision 1370269629), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: excerpted from the article lead section and section(s) “Location”; condensed by selecting paragraphs; citations removed. No text added.
Battle location from Wikidata (CC0).
Nearby battlefields
- Battle of Connor 1315 · 6 km
- Battle of Ballynahinch 1798 · 23 km
- Battle of the Diamond 1795 · 25 km
- Battle of Antrim 1798 · 27 km
- Battle of Benburb 1646 · 34 km
- Battle of Carrickfergus 1597 · 38 km
Browse more: battles in Northern Ireland · Early medieval, Anglo-Saxon & Viking · 7th century battles