Roscommon Castle Seized
Archived: 23 October 2026
In 1341, Toirrdelbach Ó Conchobair, king of Connacht, captured Roscommon Castle, a royal English fortress, with annals differing over the role of his imprisoned rival Áed. The seizure strengthened him temporarily amid continuing Connacht dynastic conflict. Meanwhile, Edward III’s administration ordered investigations, resumed grants and proposed replacing locally connected officials, provoking resistance from the English of Ireland. Parliaments at Dublin and Kilkenny petitioned the king, defending lands, liberties and consultation while affirming loyalty. Elsewhere, violence and rapid successions marked Meath, Oriel and Connacht. Ecclesiastical deaths reflected institutional continuity. The year exposed fragmented, negotiated authority across overlapping Gaelic and settler societies.