Domhnall mac Conchobair Ó Briain, known in English as ''Sir Donnell O'Brien'' (died 1579) was a

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

Irish leader from

Thomond Thomond (Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nena ...

in the Kingdom of Ireland. He is best known for his victory at the

Battle of Spancel Hill The Battle of Spancel Hill took place in 1559 in County Clare, Ireland close to modern Kilraghtis when a force led by Sir Donnell O'Brien defeated his rival for leadership of the O'Briens Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond and his ally Richard ...

, against his nephew who was supported by the English government of the Kingdom of Ireland, particularly the Earl of Sussex. Ó Briain was a contender for the title

Earl of Thomond Earl of Thomond was an hereditary title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created twice for the O'Brien dynasty which is an ancient Irish sept native to north Munster. History and background First creation Under the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, ...

from 1553 to 1558 and again from 1563 to 1564.

Background

Ó Briain was the son of Conchobhar mac Toirdhealbaig Ó Briain,

King of Thomond The kings of Thomond ( ga, Rí Tuamhain) ruled from the establishment of Thomond during the High Middle Ages, until the Early modern period. Thomond represented the legacy of Brian Bóruma and the High Kings of Ireland of his line who could n ...

and his wife, Anabella Burke. Domhnall's brother was

Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond ( ga, Donnchadh Ó Briain; died 1 April 1553), also known as "the fat", was the son of Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond and Annabell Burke. He inherited the earldom from his uncle, Murrough O'Brien, by speci ...

. Domhnall challenged the succession of his nephew

Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond also spelt Conor and called Groibleach, or the "long-nailed", ( ga, Conchobhar Groibleach Ó Briain; 1535–1581) fought his uncle Donnell over his father's succession during thirty years from 1535 to 1565. ...

to the Lordship of the

O'Brien clan The O'Brien dynasty ( ga, label=Classical Irish, Ua Briain; ga, label=Modern Irish, Ó Briain ; genitive ''Uí Bhriain'' ) is a nobility, noble house of Munster, founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais (Dalcassians). After ...

. By Gaelic practice Domhnall was inaugurated as Ó Briain, but his attempts to gain Crown recognition of this failed. He was unsuccessful in his attempts to be made an

Earl Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form '' jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particula ...

, but he was given a

knighthood A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the ...

as a sign of royal favour.

Battle of Spancel Hill

Ó Briain refusal to accept the authority of his nephew led the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the

Earl of Sussex Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel (up to 1243) were often also called Earls of Sussex. The fifth creation came in the Peera ...

to bring Crown forces into

County Clare County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,81 ...

to support the Earl. Following the departure of Sussex's forces Sir Donnell defeated the Earl and his allies at the

in 1559. The following year Crown forces returned again to support the Earl. Fighting continued in the area until a compromise agreement was reached in which the Earl would be confirmed in the succession, but Ó Briain would be given independent status.Brady 1994, p.99.

Family

Ó Briain married a daughter of his uncle

Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond ( ga, Murchadh Carrach Ó Briain) (died 7 November 1551) was the last King of Thomond, and a descendant of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Biography Murrough was a lineal descendant of Brian Boru, High ...

References

Bibliography

* * Brady, Ciaran (1994). ''The Chief Governors: The Rise and Fall of Reform Government in Tudor Ireland, 1536-1588''. Cambridge University Press. 1579 deaths 16th-century Irish people People of Elizabethan Ireland Irish knights Donnell People from County Clare {{Ireland-bio-stub