Siege of Smerwick

The Siege of Smerwick took place at Ard na Caithne (formerly known as Smerwick) in 1580, during the Second Desmond Rebellion in Ireland. A 400–500 strong force of Papal soldiers (Spanish and Italian troops) captured the town but were forced to retreat to nearby Dún an Óir (The Field of Gold, possibly a persistent mistranscription for Dún an Áir, The Field of Slaughter), where they were besieged by the English Army. The defenders eventually surrendered and most of them were then massacred on the orders of the English commander, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Arthur Grey.^[2]

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege of Smerwick