Knockavoe’s Night Assault
Archived: 18 October 2026
In 1522, Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill defeated Conn Bacach Ó Néill’s extensive coalition at a surprise night attack at Cnoc Buidhe, or Knockavoe, near Strabane. Conn’s allies included Ulster lords, Connacht and Munster contingents, men from Meath and Leinster, and Scottish mercenaries. Earlier raids captured Ballyshannon, burned settlements and seized livestock, damaging Tír Chonaill’s communities and resources. Ó Domhnaill’s victory disrupted the coalition’s planned advance from Sligo and preserved his lordship, though warfare continued into 1523. The campaign demonstrated Ireland’s interconnected political and maritime world, while annalistic notices also recorded churchmen, scholars and the wartime deaths of learned household members.