They marched on then, in the same direction, towards the residence of the Bolands, their numbers increasing as they went along, by voluntary and involuntary parties.
The Bolands, ever on the watch, soon learned that they were to be visited that night by those parties whom they had so long defied, but they never calculated that they Should be attacked by such a strong force as they now learned was approaching them--for it is believed that the actual number could not have been less than five thousand men, contributed by the Counties of Limerick Clare, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny.
However, they were not daunted, but immediately put themselves in order of battle.

They first sent out (off their premises) all their servants, men and women, lest there should be a spy or a traitor among them.

They then carried up all their arms and ammunition to the top floor of their (two-story, long, thatched) house.

The father and the younger sons planted themselves at one of the window's facing the front.

The elder son and the family tutor, a young man of the neighborhood, who would not abandon them in their hour of danger, took their stand at the window which looked directly at the narrow strong door of the wall which inclosed the house.