Battle of Scarrifholis

54°55′57″N 7°47′58″W / 54.932431°N 7.799514°W / 54.932431; -7.799514

Battle of Scarrifholis
Part of the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland
River Swilly, at Letterkenny;
Date 21 June 1650 Location near Letterkenny, County Donegal Result Parliamentarian victory
Belligerents
Confederates	English Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Heber MacMahon Richard O'Farrell	Charles Coote Roger Fenwick  †
Strength
3,000 infantry, 400 cavalry [1]	1,600 infantry, 1,200 cavalry
Casualties and losses
Between 2,000 – 3,000 killed, wounded or captured[2]	c. 100 killed or wounded

The Battle of Scarrifholis, also spelt Scariffhollis was fought on 21 June 1650, near Letterkenny in County Donegal during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. A force loyal to the Commonwealth of England commanded by Charles Coote defeated the Catholic Ulster Army, commanded by Heber MacMahon, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher.

Although slightly fewer than their opponents, Coote's troops consisted largely of veterans from the New Model Army and had three times the number of cavalry. After an hour of fighting, the Ulster army collapsed and fled, losing most of its men, officers, weapons, and supplies. The battle secured the north of Ireland for the Commonwealth and cleared the way to complete the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.