The O'Donnell dynasty ( ga, Ó Dónaill or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant

Irish clan Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage-based society, originating prior to the 17th century. A clan (or ''fine'' in Irish) included the chief and his patrilineal relatives; howe ...

of the kingdom 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 ...

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

, in

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

Ireland.

Naming conventions

Origins

Like the family of O'Neill, that of

O'Donnell of Tyrconnell 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 ...

was of the

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into t ...

, i.e. descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland at the beginning of the 5th century; the O'Neill, or

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 ...

, tracing their pedigree to

Eógan mac Néill Eógan mac Néill ( modern orthography: Eoghan mac Néill) (reportedly died 465) was a son of Niall Noígiallach and the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nEógain (kindred of Eoghan) branch of the Northern Uí Néill. The Cenél Eoghan would f ...

, and the O'Donnells, or

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 ...

, to

Conall Gulban Conall Gulban (died c. 464) was an Irish king and eponymous ancestor of the '' Cenél Conaill'', who founded the kingdom of ''Tír Chonaill'' in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal in Ulster. He was the son of Niall N ...

, both sons of Niall. Conall was baptised by St. Patrick.

Arms and motto

The

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

Emperor

Constantine the Great Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterran ...

converted to Christianity after a vision before the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge, having seen a

chi-rho The Chi Rho (☧, English pronunciation ; also known as ''chrismon'') is one of the earliest forms of Christogram, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters— chi and rho (ΧΡ)—of the Greek word ( Christos) in such a way tha ...

in the sky, and thence the motto ''

In Hoc Signo Vinces "''In hoc signo vinces''" (, ) is a Latin phrase conventionally translated into English as "In this sign thou shalt conquer". The Latin phrase itself renders, rather loosely, the Greek phrase "", transliterated as "''en toútōi níka''" ( ...

'', telling him he would be victorious with the sign of the cross. The chi-rho was adopted on a banner, the labarum, upheld on a

vexillum The ''vexillum'' (; plural ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Ancient Roman army. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum'' is a derivative of the Latin word, ''velum'', meaning a sail, which co ...

, which resembled a Christian cross, and in time the motto became associated with the Cross all over Europe. Legend has it that St. Patrick struck the shield of Conall, son of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, with his

crosier A crosier or crozier (also known as a paterissa, pastoral staff, or bishop's staff) is a stylized staff that is a symbol of the governing office of a bishop or abbot and is carried by high-ranking prelates of Roman Catholic, Eastern Cathol ...

, called

Bachal Isu The Bachal Isu (from Latin ''baculus Iesu'', "Staff of Jesus") was a Christian relic. According to legend, St. Patrick brought his celebrated golden Crozier, which was consistently identified with the Staff Of Jesus, along with his Book of Gosp ...

(the staff of Jesus) inscribing thereon a sign of the cross and told him the same, and baptized him. According to the ''Life and Acts of Saint Patrick'' (chapter 138), commissioned by Sir

John de Courcy {{Infobox noble , image = Sir John de Courcy (1150-1219).jpg , caption = , alt = , more = no , succession = , reign = , predecessor = , successor = , ...

and written by

Jocelyn of Furness Jocelyn of Furness (fl. 1175–1214) was an English Cistercian hagiographer, known for his Lives of Saint Waltheof, Saint Patrick, Saint Kentigern and Saint Helena of Constantinople. He is probably responsible for the popular legendary associati ...

(c. 1185 AD), St. Patrick took his staff, known as the staff of Jesus, or Bacall Iosa, and struck the shield of Prince Conall, rendering a sign of the Cross on it, “''et mox cum baculo suo, qui baculus Jesu dicebatur Crucis signum ejus scuto impressit, asserens neminem de stirpe ejus in bello vincendum qui signum illud''”, and thus indicating that he and his offspring would henceforth be victorious in battle if they followed that sign This legend is also described several centuries later in the ''Lebhar Inghine i Dhomhnaill''. His land became ''Tír Chonaill'', Tyrconnell, the land of Conall. Conall's Constantinian shield, and this motto, have been the main O’Donnell arms in various forms, through the centuries. The motto also appears prominently placed as a motto on a ribbon unfurled with a passion cross to its left, beneath a window over the Scala Regia, adjacent to Bernini's equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, in the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

. Emperors and other monarchs, having paid respects to the Pope, descended the Scala Regia, and would observe the light shining down through the window, with the motto, reminiscent of Constantine's vision, and be reminded to follow the Cross. They would thence turn right into the atrium of

St. Peter's Basilica The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican ( it, Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply Saint Peter's Basilica ( la, Basilica Sancti Petri), is a church built in the Renaissance style located in Vatican City, the papal e ...

, ostensibly so inspired. In an earlier version (before Bernini's renovations in the mid-17th century), something similar may have resonated with and been observed by Prince

Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell Rory O'Donnell (; 1575 – 30 July 1608), younger brother of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, was the last King of Tyrconnell and 1st Earl of Tyrconnell.An apparent original of the letters patent of the Earldom were in the possession of Count Maximilian ...

following his visit to

Pope Paul V Pope Paul V ( la, Paulus V; it, Paolo V) (17 September 1550 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death in January 1621. In 1611, he honored ...

(at the Palazzo Quirinale) in Rome, just prior to his death in 1608. It would certainly have resonated with and been observed by Cardinal Patrick O'Donnell.

Territory

Tyrconnell, the territory named after the Cenel Conaill, is the vast territory where the O'Donnells held sway, comprised the greater part of the modern county of Donegal except the peninsula of

Inishowen Inishowen () is a peninsula in the north of County Donegal in Ireland. Inishowen is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland. The Inishowen peninsula includes Ireland's most northerly point, Malin Head. The Grianan of Aileach, a ringfort ...

. But it also included areas outside Donegal, such as the baronies of Carbury in County Sligo, Rosclogher in County Leitrim, and Magheraboy and Firlurg in

County Fermanagh County Fermanagh ( ; ) is one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The county covers an area of 1,691 km2 (653 sq mi) and has a population of 61,805 ...

, and part of southern County Londonderry, hence it straddled the modern Republic of Ireland and also part of Northern Ireland in the UK. The jewel in the O'Donnell crown was

Donegal Castle Donegal Castle ( ga, Caisleán Dhún na nGall) is a castle situated in the centre of Donegal Town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. For most of the last two centuries, the majority of the buildings lay in ruins but the castle was almost ful ...

, one of seven O'Donnell castles, and now a national monument partially restored by the Office of Public Works. Tyrconnell also therefore bordered on territory ruled by the O'Neills of Tyrone, who were periodically attempting to assert their claim of supremacy over it, and hence the history of the O'Donnells is for the most part a record of clan warfare with their powerful neighbours, and of their own efforts to make good their claims to the overlordship 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 ...

, and a wider swathe of

. Nonetheless Tyrconnell existed for a period as an independent kingdom, recognised by King Henry III of England.

Ascendancy

Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill Gofraid O'Donnell (Irish: ''Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill'') was a king of Tyrconnell and the first chieftain of mark in the O'Donnell dynasty. Early years O'Donnell was a son of Donal Mor O'Donnell (died 1241). Career O'Donnell rapidly came to power, ...

, the first chieftain, was son of Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill. In 1257, Gofraidh was victorious when he went to battle at

Creadran-Cille The Battle of Creadran Cille was fought in 1257 between the Gaels of Tír Chonaill, led by Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill, and the Normans, led by Maurice FitzGerald. It took place at Ros Ceide (Rosses Point) in the territory of Cairbre Drom Cliabh, nea ...

against Maurice FitzGerald. Upon Gofraidh's death, subsequent to wounds incurred during battle against Ó Néill, he was succeeded in the chieftainship by his brother Domhnall Óg, who returned from

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

in time to withstand successfully the demands of Ó Néill. Over time, the O'Donnell King of Tyrconnell became known as the ''Fisher-King'', on the Continent, ostensibly due to the export of fish traded for wine in

La Rochelle La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Wi ...

Patronage by the O'Donnell dynasty

The O'Donnells were patrons of the arts, literature, and of religious benefices. In particular, one, Manus, wrote the biography of ColmCille (St. Columba). They also were the patrons of the

Franciscans , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

Donegal Abbey Donegal Abbey (Irish: ''Mainistir Dhún na nGall'') is a ruined Franciscan Priory in Donegal in Ireland. It was constructed by the O'Donnell dynasty in the fifteenth century. It is sometimes referred to as Donegal Friary. It was built in 1474 on ...

. They also exercised "jus patronus" to nominate bishops. In the early 14th century A.D., the O'Donnell rulers aided

Templar knight , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

s fleeing via Sligo and

where a Templar

priory A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of ...

existed at

Ballymote Ballymote () is a market town in southern County Sligo, approx. 24 km south east of Sligo town in the province of Connacht, which is located in the north-west of Ireland. Ballymote lies in the barony of Corran. A commuter town with a st ...

br>
a Percival family estate for the last 300 years. The O’Donnell rulers of

are also noted for having in the late 12th century given sanctuary to the MacDonlevy (dynasty), Donlevy dynasty of

Ulaid Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh ( Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and i ...

(Ulster), after their kingdom had fallen to

John de Courcy {{Infobox noble , image = Sir John de Courcy (1150-1219).jpg , caption = , alt = , more = no , succession = , reign = , predecessor = , successor = , ...

in 1177. It is in Tyrconnell that a branch of the Donlevy's became known as the MacNulty's, deriving from the Irish ''Mac an Ultaigh'', meaning "son of the Ulsterman", in reference to their former kingdom of Ulaid. During the Donlevy exile in Tyrconnell, The O’Donnell gave them the high Gaelic status of “''ollahm leighis''” or his official physicians. It was in fact two of these deposed MacDonlevy (> MacNulty) royals and Roman Catholic priests thereto exiled in Tyrconnell, Fathers Muiris Ulltach in full Muiris mac Donnchadh Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe and Muiris Ulltach in full

Muiris mac Seaán Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe Muiris mac Seaán Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe, aka Father Muiris Ulltach, fl. 1602-1630s. Spain Ó Duinnshléibhe was one of two Donegal men named Father Muiris Ulltach who attended Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill (d. 1602) on his death-bed in Simancas ...

, who both along with the

Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam ( ; ga, Ard-Easpag Thuama) is an archbishop which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Catholic Church. Histor ...

attended

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 ...

(aka Red Hugh O’Donnell), The O'Donnell of 1601 Kinsale fame, in his exile at his death bed at

Simancas Simancas is a town and municipality of central Spain, located in the province of Valladolid, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated approximately 10 km southwest of the provincial capital Valladolid, on the ro ...

Castle in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

in 1602. And, it was in turn an Irish Count O’Donnell, who compassionately married the widow (d. 1708) of Don-Levi, a Jacobite (

Jacobitism , war = , image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg , image_size = 150px , caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766 , active ...

) and, thereby, on

James II of England James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...

's and his French allied's failure to reclaim his British crowns, the last The MacDonlevy to sit in Ireland (departed 1691), after this prince died in exile with the Stuarts in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

at the Archbishopric of

Treves Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the w ...

. This union of the MacDonlevy and the O'Donnell, though, bore no issue. In absence of these indulgences of the O’Donnell dynasty kings having maintained the Mac

Donlevy Donlevy is a firstname and surname of Irish origin. Also spelt as MacDonlevy, Donleavy, Dunleavy, MacAleavey, and McAlevey, it derives from the Irish ''Mac Duinnshléibhe'', meaning "son of Donn of the mountain". ''Ó Duinnshléibhe'' is a varia ...

and MacNulty physicians as a dignified community, it is debatable whether they could have so influenced the course of western medicine, educating and training

Niall Ó Glacáin Niall Ó Glacáin, or Nellanus Glacanus (c. 1563–1653) was an Irish physician who worked to treat victims of bubonic plague outbreaks in various places throughout Europe. Early life and education Ó Glacáin's date of birth is uncertain. So ...

(L. Nellanus Glacanus) in the medical arts, so he could later on the Continent apply empirical method to pioneer the field of forensic anatomy and pathology, first describe the

petechial A petechia () is a small red or purple spot (≤4 mm in diameter) that can appear on the skin, conjunctiva, retina, and mucous membranes which is caused by haemorrhage of capillaries. The word is derived from Italian , 'freckle,' of obscure origin ...

haemorrhages of the lung and swelling of the spleen incident of bubonic plague (''Tractatus de Peste'', 1629), and early elucidate the empirical method of differential diagnosis for the continental European medical community, and producing the medieval physician and medical scholar

Cormac MacDonlevy Cormac is a masculine given name in the Irish and English languages. The name is ancient in the Irish language and is also seen in the rendered Old Norse as ''Kormákr''. Mac is Irish for "son", and can be used as either a prefix or a suffix. ...

translator from Latin to vernacular of

Bernard de Gordon Bernard de Gordon ( la, Bernardus Gordonensis; 1270 - 1330) was a French doctor and professor of medicine at the University of Montpellier from 1285. In 1296 he wrote the therapeutic work, ''De decem ingeniis seu indicationibus curandorum morbo ...

's ''Lilium Medicine'', Gaulteris Agilon's ''De dosibus'' and Gui de Chuliac's ''Chirurgia''. Later in the early 13th century, the O’Donnell also gave succor to the Ó Cléirigh kings of

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne (also known as Hy Fiachrach) was a kingdom located in what is now the south of County Galway. Legendary origins and geography Originally known as Aidhne, it was said to have been settled by the mythical Fir Bolg. Dubhalta ...

. Onara Ultach was descended of the MacDonlevy (dynasty) royals of Ulidia (kingdom), who as above noted after the fall of that Ulster kingdom to the

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

forces of Henry Plantagenet served as ollam lieghis or the official physicians to the O'Donnell kings of Tyrconnell. Onara married Donnchadh Ó Cléirigh, a son of the Chief of the name of the

Ó Cléirigh O'Cleary ( ga, Ó Cléirigh) is the surname of a learned Gaelic Irish family. It is the oldest recorded surname in Europe — dating back to 916 CE — and is cognate with cleric and clerk. The O'Clearys are a sept of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty, w ...

family then also of Tyconnell. The Ó Cléirigh were too a learned Irish royal family that had lost their sub-kingdom in

in what is today County Galway to the Anglo-Norman forces of Henry Plantagenet. The Ó Cléirigh then went into service of the O’Donnell as poet historians, scribes and secretaries or official bards, called in

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

"''ollam righ''". Onara bore for Donnchadh a son

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (), sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the ''Annals of the Four Masters,'' assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Per ...

(c. 1590 – 1643), anglicized Michael O’Cleary, who matured to become the principal author of the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Flood myt ...

. But for the manifold grace of the O’Donnell, this union would never have occurred, and Michael O’Cleary never lived to memorialize this history of Gaelic Ireland.

Royal Household

The Royal Household was known in Gaelic as "''Lucht Tighe''" and comprised several offices that were performed on a hereditary basis by the heads and members of particular other families, for over four centuries. *Lector & Inaugurator of the Chieftaincy - O'Friel ( Ó Frighil) *Gallowglass Marshalls & Standard - Bearers - McSweeney ( Mac Suibhne) *Commanders of Cavalry - O'Gallagher ( Ó Gallchobhair) *Custodians of the Cathach of St. Columba - Roarty ( Mac Robhartaigh) *Historians and Scribes - O'Clery (

), formerly kings of

*Brehons or Judges - Breslin ( Ó Breaslain) *Bards & Poets - Ward (

Mac an Bhaird The Mac an Bháird family ( ga, Clann an Bháird) was one of the learned families of late medieval Ireland. The name has evolved over many centuries, the anglicised forms coming down as ''MacAward'', ''McWard'', ''MacEward'', ''MacEvard'', ''Macan ...

) *Physicians - Donleavy (Mac Duinnshléibhe), formerly

Kings of Ulster The King of Ulster (Old Irish: ''Rí Ulad'', Modern Irish: ''Rí Uladh'') also known as the King of Ulaid and King of the Ulaid, was any of the kings of the Irish provincial over-kingdom of Ulaid. The title rí in Chóicid, which means "king of ...

(

Dál Fiatach Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland during the Middle Ages. It was part of the over-kingdom of Ulaid, and they were its main ruling dynasty for most of Ulaid's history. Their ...

) * Herenagh of church lands/Custodians of

Ballyshannon Castle Ballyshannon Castle was a castle at Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. The castle was a stronghold of the O’Donnell's. No visual remains of the castle exist above ground. History Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill built Ballyshannon Castle in 1423 t ...

- McMenamin (Mac Meanman) *Stockmen/Cattle Drivers - Timoney (Ó Tiománaigh)

Later struggles and diaspora

The O'Donnells defeated the O'Neills in the 1522 Battle of Knockavoe. In 1541

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 ...

took part in the "

Surrender and regrant During the Tudor conquest of Ireland (c.1540–1603), "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-feudal system under the English l ...

" process. In 1567 the O'Donnells won the Battle of Farsetmore against the O'Neills, reconfirming their autonomy in Ulster. During the Nine Years' War of 1594-1603, the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell played a leading part, led by the famous Prince

Red Hugh 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'Donn ...

. Under his leadership, and that of his ally Hugh O'Neill, they advanced to

Kinsale Kinsale ( ; ) is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland. Located approximately south of Cork City on the southeast coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon, and has a population of 5,281 (a ...

and laid siege to the English forces in anticipation of a Spanish invasion. En route, they implanted some O'Donnell kinsmen in

Ardfert Ardfert () is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Historically a religious centre, the economy of the locality is driven by agriculture and its position as a dormitory town, being only from Tralee. The population of the village was 749 at the 2 ...

and Lixnaw to protect the territories of their ally, FitzMaurice,

Lord of Kerry Baron Kerry is an ancient title in the Peerage of Ireland named after County Kerry. It was created circa 1223 for Thomas FitzMaurice, Lord OConnello. In 1325, Maurice FitzMaurice, 4th Baron Kerry, murdered Diarmaid Óg MacCarthy (son of Corma ...

. The

Battle of Kinsale The siege of Kinsale, or Battle of Kinsale ( ga, Léigear/Cath Chionn tSáile), was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland, commencing in October 1601, near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and at the climax of t ...

was lost in 1601, heralding the end of the Gaelic order and

Brehon Laws Early Irish law, historically referred to as (English: Freeman-ism) or (English: Law of Freemen), also called Brehon law, comprised the statutes which governed everyday life in Early Medieval Ireland. They were partially eclipsed by the Norm ...

in Ireland, and the completion of the Elizabethan conquest. Following the

Treaty of Mellifont The Treaty of Mellifont ( ga, Conradh na Mainistreach Móire), also known as the Articles of Mellifont, was signed in 1603 and ended the Nine Years' War which took place in the Kingdom of Ireland from 1594 to 1603. End of war Following the Engl ...

of 1603 the new

King James I James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until hi ...

pardoned Rory O'Donnell and created him

Earl of Tyrconnell Earl of Tyrconnell is a title that has been created four times in the Peerage of Ireland. It was first created in 1603, for Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, formerly king of Tyrconnell, along with the subsidiary title Baron Donegal. The 1s ...

in the

Irish peerage The Peerage of Ireland consists of those titles of nobility created by the English monarchs in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland, or later by monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is one of the five divis ...

. Rory then joined in the

Flight of the Earls The Flight of the Earls ( ir, Imeacht na nIarlaí)In Irish, the neutral term ''Imeacht'' is usually used i.e. the ''Departure of the Earls''. The term 'Flight' is translated 'Teitheadh na nIarlaí' and is sometimes seen. took place in Se ...

in 1607, which led to the title becoming attainted in 1614, and Tyrconnell and Ulster being colonised in the Plantation of Ulster. He died in exile in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

on 28 July 1608. Upon Rory O'Donnell's death in 1608, his son Hugh, who took the additional name Albert at his confirmation, under the patronage of Archduke Albert, succeeded to the title as 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (which title was attainted in 1614 by the Crown but which attainder did not have any effect on his use of it in the Spanish realm) and thus the last titular earl of Tyrconnell was this Rory's son Hugh Albert, who died without heirs in 1642, and who by his will appointed Hugh Balldearg O'Donnell his heir. To a still elder branch belonged

Daniel O'Donnell Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, MBE (born 12 December 1961) is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. After rising to public attention in 1983, he has since become a household name in Ireland and Britain; he has also had co ...

(1666–1735), a general of the Irish Brigade in the French service, whose father, Turlough, was a son of

Hugh Duff O'Donnell Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell (Irish: ''Sir Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill'') was a leading figure in Gaelic Ireland during the Tudor era. He was part of the ruling O'Donnell dynasty of Tyrconnell. In Ulster Irish, Sir Hugh Dubh is pronounced as 'Sir Hugh Doo' ...

, brother of Manus, son of an earlier Hugh Duff. Daniel served in the French army in the wars of the period, fighting against

Duke of Marlborough General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 O.S.) was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reign ...

at the battles of Oudenarde and Malplaquet at the head of an O'Donnell regiment.

Succession

The head of the dynasty was traditionally also called "The O'Donnell", and inaugurated as Chieftain in an elaborate ceremony, under the Laws of

Tanistry Tanistry is a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist ( ga, Tánaiste; gd, Tànaiste; gv, Tanishtey) is the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the (royal) Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ir ...

, part of the ancient Brehon Code of Law. Since the collapse of Gaelic Rule and the Brehon legal system, the putative succession of the "

Chiefs of the Name The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan (''fine'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The term has sometimes been used as a title in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland In Eliz ...

" has followed the principle of male primogeniture. On the basis of the information available at the time, the

Chief Herald of Ireland The Genealogical Office is an office of the Government of Ireland containing genealogical records. It includes the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland ( ga, Príomh Aralt na hÉireann), the authority in Ireland for heraldry. The Chief Herald ...

recognized John O'Donel of the Larkfield branch as Chief of the Name, and he was so gazetted on 11 September 1945 in ''Iris Oifigiuil'', bearing the courtesy title of "The O'Donnell". His son, i.e. the latest in the line of

of O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, is Fr. Hugh Ambrose O'Donel, O.F.M., a Franciscan priest in Killiney, retired from missionary work in

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

. His Tánaiste (or heir apparent) as ''The O'Donnell of Tyrconnell'', Chief of the Name of O'Donnell, is S.E. Don Hugo O'Donnell, Duke of Tetuan, a Grandee of Spain. He is known as ''S.E. Don Hugo O'Donnell y Duque de Estrada'' - the latter appendant ''Duque de Estrada'' is not a title but a maternal family name. Don Hugo is an active member of the Clan Association of the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell, and a member of the nobiliary Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, i.e. a Knight of Malta. However, following advice of the Attorney General, in 2003 the Genealogical Office discontinued the practice of recognising Chiefs.Termination of the system of Courtesy Recognition as Chief of the Name
Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland (.PDF file)

Descendants

Melaghlin O'Donnell Melaghlin O'Donnell (Irish: ''Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill'') was king of Tyrconnell and a member of the O'Donnell dynasty. He was a son of Donall Mor O'Donnell (''Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill''), king of Tyrconnell (died 1241), a man who was marr ...

(d. 1247), The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell, son of King Domhnall Mór O'Donnell * Gofraid O'Donnell (d.1257), The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell, son of Domhnall Mór O'Donnell * Donnell Óg O'Donnell (c. 1242-1281), The O'Donnell, crowned King of Tyrconnell in Raphoe Cathedral in 1258 *

, the 1st, The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell, builder of

, (d.1505) *Sir

, The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell (d.1537) *

(1490–1564), The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell, biographer of Saint Colmcille or Columba *

Calvagh O'Donnell Calvagh O'Donnell ( 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 king and chief of the O'Donnell dynasty based in Tyrconn ...

(d. 1566), The O'Donnell, 22nd Chieftain and Lord of Tyrconnell *

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 ...

(c.1540-1601), The O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell *Sir Donnell O'Donnell (d. 1590), Seneschal of Tyrconnell and Sheriff of Donegal, eldest son of Sir Hugh O'Donnell, King *

Nuala O'Donnell Nuala O'Donnell (Irish: ''Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill''; ''c.'' 1565 - 1630) was a member of the O'Donnell dynasty in sixteenth century Ireland who took part in the 1607 Flight of the Earls. Biography Nuala was the daughter of Sir Hugh O'Donnell, the ...

(1565 - 1630), daughter of Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell, King * Conn O'Donnell (d.1583), of Lifford, son of Calvagh and father of Niall Garve * Conn Oge O'Donnell (d.1601), of Lifford, youngest son of Conn, brother of Niall Garve *

Niall Garve O'Donnell Niall Garve O'Donnell ( ga, Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill; 1569 – 1626) was an Irish chieftain, alternately an ally of and rebel against English rule in Ireland. He is best known for siding with the English against his kinsman Hugh Roe O'Donnel ...

(1569–1626), Lord of

Lifford Lifford (, historically anglicised as ''Liffer'') is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland, the administrative centre of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken as holding th ...

Hugh Roe Ó 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'Donn ...

(1572–1601), The O'Donnell, 24th Chieftain, Prince and Lord of Tyrconnell *

(1575–1608), The O'Donnell, Prince and Lord of Tyrconnell *

Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell Hugh Albert O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (October 1606 – August/September 1642 ) (originally known in Irish as Aodh Ailbhe mac Rudhraighe Uí Dhomhnaill), was titular King of Tír Conaill, and son of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell ...

(1606–1642), Prince and Lord of Tyrconnell *

Mary Stuart O'Donnell Mary Stuart O'Donnell (Irish language, Irish: ''Máire Stíobhartach Ní Dhomhnaill''; 1607 - in or after 1639) was an Irish noblewoman. Biography Mary was the daughter of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell and Brighid Nic Gearailt, Bridget ...

(1607-c.1639), Irish noblewoman, daughter of Rory, The O'Donnell, Prince and Lord of Tyrconnell * Daniel O'Donnell (Irish Brigade) (1666–1735), brigadier-general in the Irish Brigade in the French service * Karl O'Donnell (1715–1771), Count of Tyrconnell * Henry O'Donnell (1769–1834), Count of La Bisbal, Irish-Spanish nobleman ( :de:Joseph Heinrich O’Donnell) * Maurice O'Donnell de Tyrconnell (1780–1843), of Pressburg, also known as Moritz Graf O'Donnell von Tyrconnell, an Irish-Austrian count *

Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell Maximilian Karl Lamoral Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell (29 October 1812 — 14 July 1895) was an Austrian officer and civil servant who became famous when he helped save the life of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria. O'Donnell was a descendant of ...

von Tyrconnell, (1812–1895), Irish-Austrian count, son of Maurice/Moritz *

Jean Louis Barthélemy O'Donnell Comte Jean Louis Barthelemy O'Donnell (1783–1836), was born in Maine-et-Loire, France, and was a Hiberno-French count who survived the French Revolution, campaigned in Italy and Spain under Napoleon Bonaparte, and played a prominent role in loca ...

(1783–1836), Irish-French Count, member of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

's Conseil d’État and

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

* Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan (1809–1867), former Prime Minister of Spain *

Carlos O'Donnell, 2nd Duke of Tetuán Don Carlos Manuel O'Donnell y Álvarez de Abreu, 2nd Duke of Tetuan Grandee of Spain, 9th Marquis of Altamira and 2nd Count of Lucena (1 June 1834, in Valencia – 9 February 1903, in Madrid) was a Spanish noble and politician who served four ...

(1834-1903), Spanish foreign minister and Mayordomo mayor to King Amadeo I. * Juan O'Donnell, 3rd Duke of Tetuan (1864-1928), conducted

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...

on visit to

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Peadar O'Donnell Peadar O'Donnell ( ga, Peadar Ó Domhnaill; 22 February 1893 – 13 May 1986) was one of the foremost radicals of 20th-century Ireland. O'Donnell became prominent as an Irish republican, socialist activist, politician and writer. Early life Pea ...

(1893-1986), radical Irish republican, socialist, activist, and politician *

Patrick O'Donnell (cardinal) Patrick Joseph Cardinal O'Donnell (28 November 1856 – 22 November 1927) was an Irish senior prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Armagh from 1924 until his death, and was made a cardinal in 1925. Early life Patr ...

(1856-1927) of

Glenties Glenties () is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated where two glens meet, north-west of the Bluestack Mountains, near the confluence of two rivers. Glenties is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel. Glenties has ...

, Irish nationalist, Bishop of Raphoe, Archbishop of Armagh, and Cardinal *

Denis O'Donnell Denis O'Donnell (28 May 1875 – 16 June 1933) was a well-known entrepreneur in County Kerry, Ireland, in the early 1900s. He was the prime organiser, co-founder, and first manager of the Lee Strand Cooperative Creamery, established based on h ...

(1875-1933), Entrepreneur, Founder of Lee Strand Cooperative Creamery * Patrick Denis O'Donnell (1922-2005), Commandant/Irish Defence Forces, UN peacekeeper, military historian and author *

Francis Martin O'Donnell Francis Martin O'Donnell, GCMM, GCEG, KC*SG, KM, KCHS, KCMCO, (born in 1954), an Irish citizen, has served abroad as an international diplomat in senior representative positions with the United Nations until retirement, and later with the S ...

(b. 1954), Ambassador, Knight of Malta, papal knight, trustee/director, former UN senior representative, author *

Guillermo O'Donnell Guillermo Alberto O'Donnell Ure (February 24, 1936 – November 29, 2011) was a prominent Argentine political scientist, specializing in comparative politics, who spent most of his career working in Argentina and the United States, and who m ...

, (1936-2011), Argentine political scientist, professor, author, and international activist for democracy *

Hugo O'Donnell, 7th Duke of Tetuan Hugo O'Donnell y Duque de Estrada, 7th Duke of Tetuán, GE, OM (born 29 September 1948), is a Spanish peer and historian who was the vice president of the International Commission for Maritime History, censor of the Real Academia de la Histor ...

(b. 1948), Spanish naval historian and Knight of Malta *

O'Donnell baronets The O'Donnell Baronetcy, of Newport House in the County of Mayo, was a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 22 December 1780 for Neale O'Donnell. Initially a Catholic, he renounced this faith and became a Protestant before being ...

, of Newport House, recovered & entrusted Cathach of St. Columba to the Royal Irish Academy File:Irish potato famine Bridget O'Donnel.jpg, An 1849 depiction of Bridget O'Donnell and her two children during the famine. File:Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris.jpg, Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan File:O'Donnell, Maximilian Graf.jpg,

von Tyrconnell,1860 File:Wappen der Grafen O’Donell von Tyrconell.png, Maximilian Karl Lamoral ''

Graf (feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...

'' O'Donnell von

coat of arms

Recent times

Cardinal Patrick O'Donnell was probably the next most famous O'Donnell to emerge in Ireland after the exile of

. Thomas O'Donnell MP for West Kerry (1900–1918) was a leading agrarian reformer, and the first Member of Parliament to address the House of Commons in Westminster in the Irish language (Gaelic), but was called to order by the Speaker, but not without having made his mark with

John Redmond John Edward Redmond (1 September 1856 – 6 March 1918) was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He was best known as leader of the moderate Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) from ...

's support. There is currently an Irish Senator from County Donegal named Brian o Domhnaill (o Donnell).

Notes

References

External links

Official Website
of the O’Donnell Clan Association
Ó Domhnail
by Francis Martin O'Donnell {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Donnell Irish royal families Irish clans Irish families Ancient Irish dynasties European families of Irish ancestry Lists of people by surname