Lt General Owen Roe O’Neill’s Regiment of Foot

Later, Colonel Phelim mac Tuathail O'Neill’s Regiment of Foot

Irish Confederate foot of the Ulster army victorious at Benburb in 1646

• July: O'Neill returns to Ireland from Dunkirk, landing at Castledoe, County Donegal
• Regiment raised in Ulster, including many Irish veterans of Tercio Irlandes de O'Neill returning from Flanders
• August: O'Neill takes command of the Ulster Army

• May: Battle of Loughgall or Annasamery
• June: Battle of Clones
• August: Battle of Portlester

• Serving under Castlehaven
• August to September: Standoff at Charlemont

• June: Skirmish at Ballaghkillgevill?
• June: Battle of Benburb
• June: Raid from Tanderagee into County Down

• Detachment sent to storm Nenagh
• Detachment of 450 men sent to relieve Athy

• November: With the Death of Lt. Gen. Eoghain Ruadh on November 6th, Phelim mac Tuathail O'Neill became colonel of Eoghain Ruadh O'Neill's regiment

• June: Battle of Scarrifhollis (Phelim mac Tuathail O'Neill executed)

Phelim mac Tuathail O'Neill kept a journal during the conflict, shown in Gilbert's 'A contemporary history of affairs in Ireland'.

The O'Neill battlecry was Lamh-derg aboo meaning 'the Red hand to victory'.

The foot of O'Neil's army in 1646 were equipped with one musket for every pike¹⁾.

After Benburb O'Neill is said to have had the arms of the papacy emblazoned on his colours, though there appears to be no contemporary evidence for this.

Owen Roe O'Neill, or Eoghain Ruadh O Neill

(Sometimes shown as Phelim MacToole) Lieutenant Colonel to Eoghain Ruadh O Neil since 1645, he took over the regiment after Owen Roe's death in November 1649. He was taken prisoner at Scarriffhollis. After that engagement he was, according to his grandson, executed by being “knocked on the head with tent poles”. By order of Sir Charles Coote, the head of Colonel O'Neill, together with that of Henry Roe O'Neill, was impaled at Derry.

• Col. Owen Roe O'Neill
• Lt Col. Phelim MacToole O'Neill
• Maj. Mac MacHugh Boy O'Neill²⁾

• Said to have been 15 companies in 1646

Colonel Owen Roe O’ Neill’s Regiment of Foot in Flanders