Shane O’Neill marches from Antrim in the…
April 1565 CE
Shane O’Neill marches from Antrim in the spring of 1565 through the mountains by Clogh to the neighborhood of Ballycastle.
James MacDonnell, the eldest of Alexander’s six sons and the chief of Clan Iain Mor, is not expecting an early assault and has retired to Kintyre, leaving Sorley Boy to keep an eye on Shane's movements.
The traditional campaigning season had not yet begun, so most of Sorley's redshanks (Scottish Highlander mercenaries) are back in Scotland.
Outnumbering his enemy by a factor of two to one, Shane advances to the border of Clandeboy in late April, taking Sorley by surprise.
Realizing he faces an action more serious than a raid, Sorley retreats north to organize his defenses.
Sorley tries without success to stop Shane’s advance at Knockboy Pass, a strategic point that guards the southern entry into both the Glens and the Route, an area to the west of the Glens.
His situation now desperate, Sorley orders the signal fires be lit along the northern Antrim coast to alert his brother James, while he retreats with his remaining force towards Ballycastle as Shane continues to advance.
James, sailing with what forces he can gather, leaves Alasdair Oge, another brother, to follow on with reinforcements.
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