The song ‘Follow me up to Carlow’ celebrates victory by Fiach McHugh O’Byrne over an English army of 3,000 soldiers at the Battle of Glenmalure, Co Wicklow, Ireland in 1580. It was written by songwriter P J McCall over three hundred years after the battle had taken place. McCall’s father John was from Clonmore Co Carlow.
At the time of the battle, the Pale (an area around Dublin) was the only part of Ireland directly under the control of the English government of Elizabeth I. The remainder of the country was controlled by autonomous Gaelic and Norman lords, most of whom paid only token recognition to the English crown. The territory in the Wicklow Mountains to the south of Dublin was under the control of the O’Byrne’s who frequently raided the Pale. Several attempts were made to deal with the raids. Sometimes these attempts involved counter attacks on O’Byrne which usually led to a settlement only for O’Byrne to carry out another raid.
In 1580 during the Desmond Rebellion O’Byrne formed an alliance with James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass and the Kavanagh clan. He carried out an ambush on British forces in Carlow in August 1580. Around this time Arthur Grey, the Baron Grey de Wilton became Lord Deputy of Ireland. He arrived with an army from England to put down the rebellion. He also wanted make Ireland more secure in order prevent collaboration with Spain. There were rumours at the time that support for the Irish was being assembled in Spain and in the Papal states.
Grey decided to march into the Wicklow Mountains and attack O’Byrne’s stronghold in Glenmalure. However his soldiers were inexperienced and the terrain was difficult. The army marched into the glen and was easily ambushed by O’Byrne’s army hidden in the woods above the valley. The English suffered heavy losses and retreated in disarray down the valley. Further losses were inflicted on Grey’s army by the Irish who pursued for several miles. It is claimed that 800 English soldiers were killed on August 25th 1580 in what became known as the Battle of Glenmalure. Grey eventually retreated with his army to Dublin.
In the years following the Battle of Glenmalure, despite some minor events, O’Byrne remained docile. Then on January 6th 1592 Red Hugh O’Donnell of Donegal and Art and Henry O’Neill of Tyrone escaped from Dublin Castle where they were being held captive. They travelled south to the safety of Glenmalure. Art O’Neill died during the escape. Hugh O’Donnell and Henry O’Neill reached Glenmalure. O’Byrne arranged for his safe return to Donegal and Tyrone.
O’Donnell later fought alongside Hugh O’Neill during the Nine Years War. They were supported during the Nine Years War by O’Byrne. This led to the English Army attacking O’Byrne who by now had a price on his head. O’Byrne was betrayed by one of his own clan. He was captured and executed. His own sword was used to cut off his head. The head was displayed on pike at Dublin Castle for a time before being brought to England. Queen Elizabeth I was angered that the head was brought to London. She ordered that it be buried. It was found a few days later in a tree at Enfield Chase about 20km north of London.
Fiach McHugh O’Byrne was executed in the year 1597 On This Day.
Glenmalure
Photo by Rob Hurson 
Glenmalure