After campaigns against the Irish of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and his victory over Edward Bruce at the Battle of Faughart in 1318, ending the Bruce Campaign in Ireland, de Bermingham was rewarded with lands in modern County Louth by the Lord Justiciar of Ireland. de Bermingham, like many other Norman lords, used levies of kerns (native Irish mercenaries) dyrung conflicts and to defend their lands. However, de Bermingham rarely exercised control over the soldiers, who would often attack, rob or sometimes even murder his tenants.