Gofraid O'Donnell (

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

: ''Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill'') was a

king of Tyrconnell This article lists the rulers of Tyrconnell (Irish: ''Tír Ċonaıll''), a medieval Irish kingdom which covered much of what is now County Donegal. Oral history It was founded in the fifth century by a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Conall ...

and the first

chieftain A tribal chief or chieftain is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribe The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of western Afroeurasia. Tribal societies are sometimes categorized a ...

of mark in the

O'Donnell dynasty The O'Donnell dynasty ( ga, Ó Dónaill or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant Irish clan of the kingdom of Tyrconnell, Ulster, in medieval Ireland. Naming conventions ...

Early years

O'Donnell was a son of Donal Mor O'Donnell (died 1241).

Career

O'Donnell rapidly came to power, initially with the support of the

FitzGerald dynasty The FitzGerald/FitzMaurice Dynasty is a noble and aristocratic dynasty of Cambro-Norman, Anglo-Norman and later Hiberno-Norman origin. They have been peers of Ireland since at least the 13th century, and are described in the Annals of the ...

. In 1248, he was inaugurated as "The O'Donnell", meaning chief of the clan. He made a successful inroad into Tyrone against Brian O'Neill in 1252. In 1257, he drove the

Normans The Normans ( Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Franks and Gallo-Romans. ...

out of northern

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...

after the battle of Creadran-Cille killing

Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly Maurice Fitzmaurice FitzGerald I, 2nd Lord of Offaly (c.1184 – 20 May 1257) was a Norman in Ireland peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1232 to 1245. He mustered many armies against the Irish, and due to his harsh methods as Justicia ...

in personal combat, but suffering severe injuries. O'Donnell, while still incapacitated by his wound, was summoned by O'Neill to give hostages in token of submission. Carried on a litter at the head of his clan, he gave battle to Brian, whom he defeated with severe loss in prisoners and cattle. O'Donnell died of his wound immediately afterwards outside of where the town of

Letterkenny Letterkenny ( ga, Leitir Ceanainn , meaning 'hillside of the O'Cannons'), nicknamed 'the Cathedral Town', is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, a county in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Letterkenny lies on the R ...

is today, and was succeeded in the chieftainship by his brother Donal Óg, who returned from Scotland in time to withstand successfully the demands of O'Neill.

References

* 1257 deaths 13th-century Irish monarchs Goffraid Year of birth unknown {{Ireland-royal-stub