Kinard’s Unfinished Advance
Archived: 18 October 2026
In 1531, Sir William Skeffington’s government, supported by the earl of Kildare and Aodh Dubh O’Donnell, campaigned in Tír Eoghain against Conn Bacach O’Neill after O’Donnell’s submission at Drogheda. The coalition devastated territory and halted at Kinard, but failed to secure O’Neill’s defeat or lasting royal control. Ulster remained divided: O’Donnell faced conflict with his son Manus, while lordship disputes, raids, captivity and fosterage shaped local power. Skeffington’s authority also weakened as relations with Kildare deteriorated and parliament rejected a subsidy. Annalistic obituaries nevertheless record medical learning, hospitality and patronage, underscoring a society sustained by networks of care alongside warfare.