In 2001 Kinsale celebrated the 400th anniversary of this famous battle. In that year, as the saying goes, Kinsale became the “cockpit of Europe”, as the battle was pivotal in the futures of the Gaelic, Irish and Spanish traditions. The Irish forces had made an incredible march the length of the country to relieve their besieged Spanish allies – a force of 3000 men who had landed in Kinsale to aid the Irish in their English struggle.

At this time Spain’s outposts in the Spanish Main were being attacked by the British fleet. Some suggest that it was for this reason less altruistic reason that they had a retaliatory strike on Kinsale hoping to force the fleet home. Others suggest that Kinsale was the landing point and not North of the Shannon as requested by O’Neill because the Spaniards wanted to use local oak forests for ship building or because the Irish West coast was seen as too treacherous (after the Spanish armada disaster).

The battle took place approximately 4 miles Northwest of the town on Christmas Eve morning near a creek off the Bandon river. The river would no doubt have been swollen after a recent storm and travel over the ground very rough. This factor delayed the Irish getting into position – having set out from base camp at Coolcarron (see map) and arriving after dawn with the element of darkness and surprise lost. The two Irish forces under Hugh O’Neill and Hugh O’Donnell also fought independently. The following is the sequence of events that led to the battle.