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Jim O'Neill

@jimoneillnyw.bsky.social

Historian of early-modern Ireland. Has a fondness for pillboxes and airfields that's not entirely healthy. Segued to WW2 somehow.

2,198 Followers  |  1,769 Following  |  599 Posts  |  Joined: 27.10.2023  |  2.3568

Latest posts by jimoneillnyw.bsky.social on Bluesky

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The shattered remnants of the army were saved when the English cavalry charged out of Boyle, forcing the Irish back and giving the fugitive troops space to withdraw. Brian O'Rourke cut off Clifford's head and sent it to Red Hugh O'Donnell (who was not present during the battle)

05.08.2025 07:02 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1599 Conyers Clifford marched from Boyle to relieve Collooney Castle. Engaged in the Curlew Pass north of Boyle. He overran the Irish barricades, but the vanguard was shattered in a firefight. They panicked & fled, breaking the rest of the army. Clifford slain during the rout #nineyearswar

05.08.2025 07:01 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Firstly, your statement that they accepted none is false. Second, you appear entirely unwilling to ask why Ireland accepted so few refugees of any sort.

20.07.2025 08:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tyrone's daughters married into Irish and Scots nobility. Alice married Randal MacDonnell, one of whose descendants was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, mother to Q. Elizabeth II. Ironic that a relative of Tyrone ended up on the British throne, what would Elizabeth I have thought of that?

20.07.2025 08:45 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Hugh's line survived through his daughters. All his sons died of disease, were killed in battle or murdered. Con Brian was found hanged in Brussels. Declared suicide his hands were bound. Shane storming MontjuΓ―c fortress in Catalonia in 1641 (spectacular site, well worth a visit)

20.07.2025 08:44 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Some suggested O'Neill died broken by exile and the death of his son but this is not borne out by his final years during which he repeatedly tried to find a way back to Ireland. Physically 'an old man by sight; yet he is lusty and strong, and well able to travel'

20.07.2025 08:43 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1616 Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone died in Rome 'after exemplary penance for his sins, and gaining victory over the world and the devil'. Tyrone was buried in San Pietro in Montorio. His funeral was attended by cardinals, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries #nineyearswar

20.07.2025 08:42 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The fact is, they did try. Moreover, the question is not why no Jewish refugees (which they did after) but why very few refugees of any type

19.07.2025 08:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Turning the knife 'what can be more true...your 2 month journey hath brought never a capital rebel, against whom it would have been worthy to have ventured 1,000 men.' On taking Cahir castle 'you would long since have scorned to have allowed it for any great matter in others'

19.07.2025 08:26 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1599 Elizabeth was an angry elf with Essex 'We that have the eyes of foreign princes upon our actions & have the hearts of people to comfort & cherish, who groan under burden of continual levies...can little please ourself...with anything that has been effected' #nineyearswar

19.07.2025 08:25 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

De Valera's response was measured and considered one of his best speeches. Churchill never repeated the allegation and, years later, expressed regret with his phrasing and tone

13.05.2025 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1945 Churchill's mendacious victory speech accused the Irish of frollicking with the Germans and Japanese, despite knowledge of extensive Irish cooperation with the Allies. When De Valera hit back, he didn't miss and hit the wall

13.05.2025 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Unity, luck, and Philip II not changing his mind about the 1596 fleet should do it

11.05.2025 12:21 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The centre of the city became an inferno as commercial premises went up in flames. By morning, it was clear the familiar streets of central Belfast were transformed forever. Even City Hall was hit, & only the Northern Whig was left standing on Bridge Street.

05.05.2025 18:14 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Night of 4/5 May 1941, Belfast suffered its second major air raid. Fewer people are killed than previous raid (still over 200), but the city centre and much industry was devastated by incendiaries and high explosives

05.05.2025 18:13 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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In a pantheon of questionable characters, Chichester stands out in the history of the conflict with his incendiary and brutal rhetoric, backed by equally brutal actions and callousness. Only much later in life did he hint at regret over his actions.

02.05.2025 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Ever the charmer, Chichester thought the English were 'too mild spirits and good consciences to be their [Irish] masters' and war was unprofitable until 'the nation be wholly destroyed or so subjected to take a new impression of laws and religion'- mural in Belfast City Hall

02.05.2025 13:14 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1600 For Arthur Chichester not enough blood was being spilled 'the traitors in many places receive blows though we kill not in multitudes which cannot be howsoever we be beat them they are swift of foot, it is famine not the sword that must reduce this country' #nineyearswar

02.05.2025 13:14 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
James O'Neill - University College Cork Born in Belfast, I worked in the field of contract archaeology, 16 years to be precise, before I considered entertaining a career in history. In a previous…

Fill your boots ucc-ie.academia.edu/JamesONeill

29.04.2025 13:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Some of the more famous events have no evidence to say they ever happened, such as meeting Elizabeth I

17.04.2025 22:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Both sides courted her son Tibbot Ne Long, but he chose to serve with crown forces in Connacht under Sir Conyers Clifford, and fought at the battle of Kinsale in 1601. He was knighted in 1603 and was later made 1st Viscount Mayo.

17.04.2025 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1595 As the war escalated, GrΓ‘inne NΓ­ MhΓ‘ille sought to retrench her position with the crown, offering to serve 'at their own charges at sea upon the coast of Ireland in Her Majesties wars upon all occasions' as 'true and faithful subjects' #nineyearswar

17.04.2025 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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With a reputation greater than his ability, Essex cashiered his most experienced officers for previous failures, then ignored his orders to attack Tyrone due to 'dangers that might ensue'. Essex would squander the largest army deployed against Tyrone. This won't end well for Essex.

14.04.2025 12:40 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1599 Earl of Essex arrived in Dublin. He believed the conflict to be 'a miserable beggarly...war'. Essex was driven by a need for glory to enhance his reputation & craved a grand tableau on which to demonstrate his knightly virtues. He wouldn't find it in Ireland #nineyearswar

14.04.2025 12:39 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Spouses, spies and subterfuge: the role and experience of women during the Nine Years War (1593-1603) The Nine Years War (1593-1603), also known as Tyrone’s Rebellion brought death and devastation to every province in Ireland. Yet only recently have scholars focused on this pivotal event in Irish hist...

Ormond's female intelligencer 'Imperia Romana' gets a mention in here www.academia.edu/20411798/Spo...

10.04.2025 07:26 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD1602 Capt Esmond was getting ahead of himself. 'Tyrone's brother, has collected some forces & stands for himself, and swears he will not be commanded by Tyrone'. Cormac MacBaron was one of the earl's most successful officers, he didn't throw in the towel until Feb 1603

10.04.2025 07:25 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Throughout Ormond's captivity, he maintained contact with Dublin via a woman intelligencer code-named Imperia Romana. Sharing Ormond's room, the earl said he was greatly beholding to her for 'comforting him in his misery'. After his release in June, Ormond never mentioned her again

10.04.2025 07:25 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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OTD 1600 Earl of Ormond & Owny O'More's parley goes arse over tit. An argument with Fr Archer (a Jesuit) led to a melee & capture of the earl. Carew & Earl of Thomond narrowly escaped. Coldly, Mountjoy wrote of the incident, 'I know not well if this is good or evil news' #nineyearswar

10.04.2025 07:23 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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By Summer Tyrone travelled to England to go hunting with the new king. Was assailed along the way by women, who hurled stones at him in revenge for their lost husbands & sons. While there he wrote to Philip III of Spain offering to rekindle the war & take up arms against James

05.04.2025 08:02 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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An odd twist of fate, Tyrone had benefited from James' tacit support during the war, as the king turned a blind eye to Irish imports of arms and munitions from Glasgow. Tyrone would not have been able to maintain the war without this key line of supply.

05.04.2025 08:02 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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