Melaghlin 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 ...
: ''Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill'') was
king of Tyrconnell and 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
...
. He was a son of Donall Mor O'Donnell (''Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill''), king of Tyrconnell (died 1241), a man who was married to Lassarina (''Lasairfhíona''), daughter of
Cathal Crobhdhearg Ó Conchobhair, King of Connacht. Melaghlin had two brothers:
Goffraid (died 1257) and
Donall Og (died 1281). Melaghlin died in 1247.
Reign
In 1245, O'Donnell ravaged north Connacht. The following year,
Maurice FitzGerald invaded
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 ...
, seizing several hostages and secured them within
Sligo Castle. The year afterwards, O'Donnell counter-attacked FitzGerald, and the hostages were killed in retaliation.
In 1247, FitzGerald invaded Tyrconnell again, and was halted at Ballyshannon by the combined forces of
Cenél Conaill
Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history
* Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) i ...
and
Cenél nEógain
Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history
* Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) i ...
. When Cormac O'Connor (''Ó Conchobhair'') forded the
River Erne
The River Erne ( , ga, Abhainn na hÉirne or ''An Éirne'') in the northwest of the island of Ireland, is the second-longest river in Ulster, flowing through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and forming part of their border.
...
and came upon O'Donnell's combined forces from the rear, and O'Donnell fell in the resulting
battle of Ballyshannon.
Following O'Donnell's death, FitzGerald installed Rory O'Cannon (''Ruaidhrí Ó Cannanáin'') as king of Tyrconnell. The latter, however, was later repulsed and slain by Goffraid O'Donnell.
O'Donnell is the subject of a contemporary elegy composed by
Giolla Brighde Mac Con Midhe (died c. 1272).
[ Ó hUiginn (2016) p. 113; McKenna (1946).]
Citations
References
Primary sources
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Secondary sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Donnell, Melaghlin
1247 deaths
13th-century Irish monarchs
Maol
People from County Donegal
Medieval Gaels from Ireland