Throughout the day and into the evening of Thursday 24th May, rebels gathered
near the town and some houses were attacked and burned. Captain Langton and
the South Cork Militia were ordered to Sallins but persuaded by James Spencer,
the Duke of Leinster's agent and captain of the yeomanry, to remain in the
town. That night a large rebel force attacked the town from two different
directions but were driven out by the troops and the yeomen 13 rebels were
slain. The next afternoon, Langton and the militia marched out of Rathangan.
At 3 pm on Saturday 26th May, around 5,000 rebels, led by
John Doorley of Lullymore, occupied and fortified the town. Nineteen loyalists,
including Spencer, were killed by the rebels, most in cold blood. As in
Ballitore the Quaker community, though harassed for provisions, were unharmed.
Many loyalists in neighbouring areas fled towards Edenderry.
Lt. Colonel Mahon marched from Tullamore, in the early morning of Monday 28th
May, to recapture the town. He encountered rebels outside the town and killed
14-16 of them, but was repulsed by the rebels in the town with the loss of
3 men. Around 8 am Mahon was reinforced and once more attacked the town. Again
the troops were repulsed, this time they lost 4 killed and 2 wounded.
Around 11 am Colonel Longfield arrived with detachments of
dragoons, the City of Cork Militia and 2 field pieces. After the second
artillery discharge the rebels fled and were pursued by the cavalry who
killed 50-60 of them. Longfield wrote to Dundas the next day; "I took no
prisoners. The troops are in want of everything, the Rebels having destroyed
everything in or near the town." Some of the rebels captured, like Edward
Molloy one of their leaders, were hanged in the street.
Published by Kildare County Council , Written by Mario Corrigan .