The Siege of Smerwick took place at Ard na Caithne (known in English as Smerwick) in 1580, during the Second Desmond Rebellion in Ireland. A 400–500 strong force of Papal freelance soldiers (of Spanish and Italian origin) captured the village but were forced to retreat to nearby Dún an Óir ('the Fort of Gold', possibly a persistent mistranscription for Dún an Áir, 'the Fort of Slaughter'), where they were besieged by the Irish Royal Army. The defenders eventually surrendered and most of them were then summarily executed on the orders of the English commander, The 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, the Lord Deputy of Ireland.
Reference: Wikipedia