Faughart or Fochart (Irish: Fochaird)[1] is an area north of Dundalk in County Louth, Ireland. The Hill of Faughart is the site of early Christian church ruins and a medieval graveyard, as well as a shrine to Saint Brigid.
According to tradition, it was the birthplace of Saint Brigid of Kildare in 451 AD. There are ruins of an early medieval church and graveyard on Faughart Hill. There are also two holy wells and a modern shrine devoted to Saint Brigid, which attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year. One of her relics is held in St Brigid's Church in nearby Kilcurry.
Following the 12th century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle was built on Faughart Hill. Its ruins survive. In 1318, the Battle of Faughart was fought here between an Irish-Scottish force led by Edward Bruce, a younger brother of Scotland's king Robert the Bruce, and the Anglo-Normans. Bruce was defeated and killed in the battle, and he is buried in Faughart medieval graveyard (54.0516°N -6.3843°W).
Standing at the southern end of the Gap of the North/Moyry Pass, Faughart held huge strategic importance for many centuries and was the scene of several battles; one such legendary battle was fought by Cú Chulainn in the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
A battle was fought at Faughart by Cormac Ulfada, High King of Ireland, against Storno (Starno), king of Lochlin.[2]
The date of 732, or alternatively 735, is given for the Battle of Fochart between Áed Allán, king of Ireland, and Áed Róin, king of Ulaid.[3] Áed Róin and Conchad mac Cúanach of Uí Echach Cobo were slain, with Áed Róin being decapitated on the Cloch an Commaigh (Stone of Decapitation) located near the door of the old church of Faughart. This conflict arose as a result of a request by Bishop Congus. The Annals of the Four Masters give the story as follows under the year 732:
An Irish proverb arose from this incident: Torad penne Congusa (‘the fruit of Congus’s pen’), i.e. the downfall of the Ulaid resulted from the letter of Congus.
The Battle of Faughart was fought on 14 October 1318 between a Hiberno-Norman force led by John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth, and Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick and a Scots-Irish army commanded by Edward Bruce, the brother of Robert Bruce, King of Scots,[4] [5] who had been hailed as King of Ireland by certain Irish chiefs.[6]