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The Battle of Tara Hill was fought on 26 May 1798 between British forces and Irish rebels involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, resulting in a heavy defeat for the rebels and the end of the rebellion in County Meath.

Background

Following the outbreak of the rebellion in neighbouring county Kildare, United Irishmen rebels in Meath began to assemble at the ancient hill of Tara, chosen as much for its historic and cultural symbolism as for the panoramic view it afforded of the surrounding countryside. The initial mobilisations had gone well for the rebels, with a force of 4,000 rebels gathered at the camp by early morning. A successful attack on a party of Reay Fencibles, on their way to bolster the garrison at Dublin, netted the baggage of the entire regiment. This proved to be a pyrrhic victory as when news of this humiliating loss reached the main body of the fencibles, they diverted course and made straight for Tara to avenge this loss.

Battle of Tara

Picking up yeomanry reinforcements along the way, the combined British force of about 700 troops lost no time in forming up at the bottom of the hill to attack the rebels who had posted themselves behind defenses such as old walls and ditches. An attack up the hill was quickly launched and met strong resistance from the rebels but the superior firepower of the military combined with a well-executed bayonet charge drove the rebels from the hill, dispersing them with much slaughter.

The loss to the British was some 30 dead and more wounded, with about 500 rebel dead and many wounded. The battle was notable for participation of a number of women in the rebel forces with at least one, Molly Weston (who died fighting on horseback), in a leadership position. The defeat was a devastating blow to the momentum of the rebellion as it prevented the spread of the rebellion northwards from Kildare.

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