Hugh Dubh O'Donnell (; died 1618) was a member of 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
Or ...
of
Tyrconnell
Tyrconnell (), also spelled Tirconnell, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Donegal, which has sometimes been called ''County Tyrconnell''. At times it also included parts of County Fermanagh, Cou ...
in modern-day
County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...
. He was the younger brother of
Manus O'Donnell
Manus O'Donnell (Irish: ''Maghnas Ó Domhnaill'' or ''Manus Ó Domhnaill'', died 1564) was an Irish lord and son of Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell. He was an important member of the O'Donnell dynasty based in County Donegal in Ulster.
Early life
Hug ...
, the ruler of Tyrconnell between 1537 and 1555. When his brother died, Hugh Dubh unsuccessfully challenged for the Lordship which was held by his two nephews
Calvagh O'Donnell
Calvagh O'Donnell (Irish language, Irish: ''Calbhach Ó Domhnaill''; born c. 1515 - died 26 November 1566), eldest son of Manus O'Donnell, was an Irish King of Tyrconnell of the mid-16th century. He was Rí, king and chief of the O'Donnell dynas ...
and
Sir Hugh O'Donnell
Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell (Irish: ''Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill''; died c. 1600) was an Irish Gaelic lord. He was ''The O'Donnell'' of his clan, and king of Tyrconnell in medieval Ireland.
Biography
O'Donnell's second marriage was to I ...
. He was supported in his claim by
Miler Magrath
, appointed = 3 February 1571
, term_end = 14 November 1622
, predecessor = James MacCawell
, successor = Malcolm Hamilton
, other_post =
, ordination =
, ordinated_by =
, consecration = 4 November 1565
, consecrated_by = Francesco ...
who suggested that his seniority in the family made him the rightful candidate.
Hugh Dubh's powerbase was in northern Donegal, between the
River Lennon
The River Lennon or Leannan ( ga, An Leanainn) is a river in County Donegal, Ireland.
Course
The River Lennon rises in the Glendowan Mountains and flows through Gartan Lough and Lough Fern. It continues through Kilmacrennan and enters Lough S ...
and the
River Swilly
The River Swilly ( ga, An tSúileach) is a river in County Donegal, Ireland, which flows in an eastern direction through Letterkenny. Letterkenny, the largest town in County Donegal, is built on the river and became the first crossing point on ...
. He held castles at
Cahir Anuske and
Ramelton
Ramelton (; ), also Rathmelton, is a town and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. , its population was 1,266.
History
Ramelton is situated at the mouth of the River Lennon, 11 km north of Letterkenny and 4 km south of Milford, on th ...
. He was able to survive attacks by rival O'Donnell claimants, but was unable to gain the support of the Crown for his claims because he was regarded as untrustworthy. He again challenged for the lordship of the O'Donnell's against his great-nephews
Sir Donnell O'Donnell and
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell (Irish: ''Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill''), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell (30 October 1572 – 10 September 1602), was a sixteenth-century leader of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. He became Chief of the Name of Clan O'Donne ...
. In 1593 he was forced to acknowledge the succession of Hugh Roe, after he captured his stronghold of
Beleek and executed sixteen of his leading supporters.
[Morgan p.133-34] Hugh Dubh was still in possession of a large amount of land by the time of the
Ulster Plantation
The Plantation of Ulster ( gle, Plandáil Uladh; Ulster-Scots: ''Plantin o Ulstèr'') was the organised colonisation (''plantation'') of Ulstera province of Irelandby people from Great Britain during the reign of King James I. Most of the sett ...
.
He is noted for his long-life, outliving many of his O'Donnell rivals across several generations.
References
Bibliography
* Morgan, Hiram. ''Tyrone's Rebellion''. Boydell Press, 1999.
16th-century Irish people
17th-century Irish people
People of Elizabethan Ireland
Year of birth unknown
1618 deaths
People from County Donegal
Hugh
Hugh may refer to:
*Hugh (given name)
Noblemen and clergy French
* Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks
* Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II
* Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...
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