Hugh O'Neill's Rebellion: The Nine Years War That Broke Gaelic Ireland

The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History · May 12, 2026 · 4m · transcript

This episode focuses on Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and his rebellion against English rule in the Nine Years' War (1594–1603). Unlike previous episodes on the Flight of the Earls or the Battle of Kinsale, we explore O'Neill's early life, his military innovations—like adopting Spanish-style tercios and pike-and-shot formations—and his diplomatic efforts to secure Spanish aid. We also examine the Battle of the Yellow Ford (1598), where O'Neill's forces crushed an English army, and the subsequent English counter-strategy under Lord Mountjoy, including the…