The Siege of Maynooth and the Fall of the Earls of Kildare
In 1534 Silken Thomas, son and heir to the Earldom of Kildare, rebelled against the English crown. Despite having a large force and much support he was unable to capitalise on this, failing to capture Dublin. At the end of the year Lord Skeffington arrived with a large army. In March, while Silken Thomas was in the west, Skeffington besieged the large castle of Maynooth, seat of the Earls of Kildare. While this may have been a formidable castle in the medieval period, it was unable to stand against the English artillery and treachery and fell in 10 days. A few months later Silken Thomas surrendered having been promised his life and lands. Henry VIII refused to honour these terms and had Silken Thomas and his uncles executed a little over a year later. Although the Earldom of Kildare would be restored eventually, it would never again gain the power and influence it had at the beginning of the 16th century. The fall of Maynooth also marked the fall of the Earls of Kildare
References
Doherty, J.E. A Chronology of Irish History Since 1500
Ellis, Steven. Ireland in the Age of the Tudors 1447-1603.
Lyons, Mary Anne. “FitzGerald, Thomas (‘Silken Thomas’)” Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/fitzgerald-thomas-silken-thomas-a3191
Lyos, Mary Anne. “FitzGerald, Gerald (Gearóid Óg, Garrett McAlison)” https://www.dib.ie/biography/fitzgerald-gerald-gearoid-og-garrett-mcalison-a3152
Never Felt Better (Blog) “Ireland’s Wars: The Siege Of Maynooth.” https://neverfeltbetter.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/irelands-wars-the-siege-of-maynooth/
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Credit to : Foras Feasa: Exploring Irish History