father. Defence of Kilfinny Castle Phelim O'Neill launched the Irish Rebellion of 1641 from the northern province of Ulster in October 1641. The rebellion reached Munster in spring 1642. The rebels attacked the castles of the English settlers. Dowdall defended Kilfinny Castle against the rebels, and is reputed to have hung several of them during the fighting. It is not known what happened to Dowdall after 1642. See also Lettice Digby, 1st Baroness Offaly, who also coordinated the defence of a castle during the rebellion. Notes and references Notes References Sources – D to M (for Ship-pool in Leighmoney parish) – 1221 to 1690 – Irish Women’s Writing and Traditions (for Lady Dowdall's narration) – 1665 to 1707 – Letters, acts, and Lady Dowdall’s narration – G to Z (for Ship-pool) – Earls 228 – Viscounts, barons (under Southwell) – Parliaments & Biographies (PDF downloadable from given URL) – Normans, English, Huguenots etc. – Preview 1658 deaths 17th-century Irish people 17th-century Irish women History of County Limerick Irish nobility Nobility from County Limerick People of the Irish Confederate Wars Wives of knights Women in 17th-century warfare Women in European warfare Year of birth uncertain