User:Lord Cornwallis/New Irish Army

The New Irish Army was a military force formed in the Kingdom of Ireland during 1640 and initially in the service of Charles I. They army was intended to be used against the Covenanters in Scotland. It numbered around 8-10,000 troops, drawn from the Irish Catholic populace, and was overseen by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. Following Stafford's impeachment and execution in 1641 the army didn't receive any pay and defected from Charles' service to become the core of the Irish Confederate forces who established a semi-independent state with its capital in Kilkenny while the English Civil War was raging. Elements of the Army later fought alongside Cavalier forces during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Background
Following the outbreak of the Bishops War in Scotland Charles I sought to re-establish control of his homeland, and began seeking

although a number of figures, including Strafford, questioned the judgement of forming the army.

Formation
The army was assembled at Carrickfergus, County Antrim in July 1640.