Battle of Kells

Background

Following the Battle of Connor, Edward Brus pursued the Anglo-Irish army back to Carrickfergus Castle, where they took refuge and laid siege to the castle.

Around November of 1315, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, returned to Ireland from Scotland with 500 men. Edward and Thomas left the siege at Carrickfergus and led the Scottish army into County Meath.

Roger Mortimer, 3rd Baron Mortimer, had succeeded to the eastern part of the Lordship of Meath and was living at his stronghold of Trim Castle. He established his lordship against his wife's relatives, the de Lacys of Rathwire.

Battle

Having heard of Edward Brus and his army moving towards Meath, Mortimer aligned his men on the north border of Meath to try to keep the Scots from his lands. He stocked the castle at Kells, brought in cattle, and strengthened the town's defenses, in plans to use Kells as his primary base.

Edward Brus left a garrison at Nobber and headed to Kells, possibly attracted by a supposed offer of fealty from Lord O'Dempsey from Offaly.

The two armies clashed outside of Kells in early November, where the Scots started to burn the town. After three hours of hand-to-hand fighting, the de Lacy brothers withdrew, leaving Roger de Mortimer to face the Scots alone. His army was destroyed, and the town was set aflame.

Aftermath

Roger de Mortimer managed to escape to Dublin with a few knights. The Scots then burned Granard and marched unopposed for two months through the midlands of Ireland, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.