The O'Donnell dynasty ( or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant
Irish clan of the kingdom of
Tyrconnell in
Ulster
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
in the north of
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
and early modern Ireland.
Naming conventions
Origins
Like the family of O'Neill, that of
O'Donnell of Tyrconnell was of the
Uí Néill, 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, tracing their pedigree to
Eógan mac Néill, and the O'Donnells, or
Cenél Conaill, to
Conall Gulban, both sons of Niall. Conall was baptised by
St. Patrick.
Arms and motto
The
Roman Emperor
Constantine the Great converted to Christianity after a vision before the famous
Battle of the Milvian Bridge, having seen a
chi-rho in the sky, and thence the motto ''
In Hoc Signo Vinces'', 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, 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, called
Bachal Isu
The Bachal Isu (from Latin ''baculus Iesu'', "Staff of Jesus") was a Christianity, Christian relic. According to legend, Saint Patrick brought his celebrated golden Crozier, which was consistently identified with the Staff Of Jesus, along with his ...
(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 and written by
Jocelyn of Furness (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. 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, 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 following his visit to
Pope Paul V (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. 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, 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, one of seven O'Donnell castles, and now a national monument restored in the 1990s.
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 or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...
, and a wider swathe of
Ulster
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
. Nonetheless, Tyrconnell existed for a period as an independent kingdom, recognised by King Henry III of England.
Ascendancy
Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill, the first chieftain, was son of Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill. In 1257, Gofraidh was victorious when he went to battle at
Creadran-Cille against
Maurice FitzGerald. Upon Gofraidh's death, subsequent to wounds incurred during the 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. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
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.
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
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor being the largest conte ...
in
Donegal Abbey. They also exercised "jus patronus" to nominate bishops.
In the early 14th century A.D., the O'Donnell rulers aided
Templar knights fleeing via
Sligo and
Tyrconnell to
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
where a Templar
priory existed at
Ballymotebr>
a Percival family estate for the last 300 years. The
House of Stuart, Stewarts relied on the O'Donnells in the balance of power with the
MacDonalds beginning in the fourteenth century.
The O’Donnell rulers of
Tyrconnell are also noted for having in the late 12th century given sanctuary to the
Donlevy dynasty of
Ulaid (Ulster), after their kingdom had fallen to
John de Courcy 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, who both along with the
Archbishop of Tuam attended
Hugh Roe O'Donnell (aka Red Hugh O’Donnell), The O'Donnell of 1601 Kinsale fame, in his exile at his death bed at
Simancas Castle in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
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) and, thereby, on
James II of England
James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...
'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 located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
at the Archbishopric of
Treves. This union of the MacDonlevy and the O'Donnell, though, bore no issue.
In the absence of these indulgences of the O’Donnell dynasty kings having maintained the Mac
Donlevy 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 (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 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 translator from Latin to vernacular of
Bernard de Gordon'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 succour to the Ó Cléirigh kings of
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne. Onara Ultach was descended from the MacDonlevy (dynasty) royals of Ulidia (kingdom), who as above noted after the fall of that Ulster kingdom to the
Anglo-Norman 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 family then also of Tyconnell. The Ó Cléirigh were too a learned Irish royal family that had lost their sub-kingdom in
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne in what is today
County Galway
County Galway ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 20 ...
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 Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...
"''ollam righ''". Onara bore for Donnchadh a son
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (c. 1590 – 1643), anglicized Michael O’Cleary, who matured to become the principal author of the
Annals of the Four Masters. 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
Gaelic Ireland () was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late Prehistory of Ireland, prehistoric era until the 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Norman invasi ...
.
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 (
Ó Cléirigh), formerly kings of
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
*Brehons or Judges - Breslin (
Ó Breaslain)
*Bards & Poets - Ward (
Mac an Bhaird)
*Physicians - Donleavy (Mac Duinnshléibhe), formerly
Kings of Ulster (
Dál Fiatach
Dál Fiatach was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic dynastic-grouping and the name of their territory in the north-east of Ireland, which lasted throughout the Middle Ages until their demise in the 13th century at the hands of Normans in Ireland, Normans ...
of
Ulaid)
*
Herenagh of church lands/Custodians of
Donegal Castle &
Ballyshannon Castle -
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 took part in the "
Surrender and regrant" 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
The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...
of 1593-1603, the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell played a leading part, led by the famous Prince
Red Hugh O'Donnell. Under his leadership, and that of his ally
Hugh O'Neill, they advanced to
Kinsale and laid siege to the English forces in anticipation of a Spanish invasion. En route, they implanted some O'Donnell kinsmen in
Ardfert and Lixnaw to protect the territories of their ally, FitzMaurice,
Lord of Kerry. The
Battle of Kinsale was lost in 1601, heralding the end of the Gaelic order and
Brehon Laws in Ireland, and the completion of the Elizabethan conquest. Following the
Treaty of Mellifont
The Treaty of Mellifont (), also known as the Articles of Mellifont, was signed in 1603, ending the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War which took place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603.
End of war
Following the English victory in the Battl ...
of 1603 the new
King James I pardoned
Rory O'Donnell and created him
Earl of Tyrconnell in the
Irish peerage.
Rory then joined in the
Flight of the Earls 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
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
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 (1666–1735), a general of the
Irish Brigade in the French service, whose father, Turlough, was a son of
Hugh Duff O'Donnell, 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 at the battles of
Oudenarde and
Malplaquet at the head of an O'Donnell regiment.
Succession
The head of the clan was traditionally also called Ua Domhnaill ("The O'Donnell"), and inaugurated as Taoiseach (Chieftain) in an elaborate ceremony, under the Laws of
Tanistry, 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" has followed the principle of male primogeniture.
On the basis of the information available at the time, the
Chief Herald of Ireland recognised 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", and who was later inaugurated as Chief of the Name, The O'Donnell (''Ua Domhnaill'') in County Donegal at the O'Donnell Clan rally at Easter 1954. His son was the last in the Larkfield line of
Chiefs of the Name of O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, namely Fr. Hugh Ambrose O'Donel, O.F.M., who adopted the modern version of the name 'O'Donnell', a Franciscan priest in
Killiney, retired from missionary work in
Zimbabwe
file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
, who died on 11 July 2023. Although Fr. Hugh was never inaugurated as Chief of the Name, his
Tánaiste (
heir apparent) as ''The O'Donnell of Tyrconnell'', Chief of the Name of O'Donnell, was commonly held to be S.E.
The 7th Duke of Tetuan, a
Grandee of Spain. The duke is also 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. The
Duke of Tetuan 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 the advice of the
Attorney General, in 2003 the Genealogical Office discontinued the practice of recognising Chiefs of the Name.
Following the
Irish War of Independence, the ascendant
Fianna Fail political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...
began a policy of granted courtesy recognition as
Chief of the Name to the senior male descendants of the
Gaelic nobility of Ireland. With regard to the
O'Donnell dynasty, the succession came down to a contest between the O'Donnell family of
Newport House and the
Duke of Tetuan of the
Spanish nobility. The Irish State ultimately ruled in favor of Fr. Hugh O'Donnell, OFM, a Roman Catholic missionary in
Zimbabwe
file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
who could document his descent from Manus O'Donnell, the second son of Niall Garve and Nuala O'Donnell, who was
killed in action while fighting for the
Confederation of Kilkenny under the command of
Owen Roe O'Neill at the
Battle of Benburb in 1646. The O'Donnell clan was revived in 1954.
Prominent O'Donnells
*
Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill (d. 1247), ''An Ó Domhnaill'' (The O'Donnell), ''
Rí'' (King) of Tyrconnell, son of King Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill
*
Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill (Godfrey O'Donnell; d. 1257), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', King of Tyrconnell, son of Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill
*
Domhnaill Óg Ó Domhnaill (c. 1242–1281), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', possibly 'enkinged' (inaugurated) as King of Tyrconnell in
Raphoe Cathedral in 1258
*
Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill I (Red Hugh O'Donnell I), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', King of Tyrconnell, builder of
Donegal Castle; reigned from ''c.'' 1460 until his death in 1505
*
Sir Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill (
Sir Hugh Doo O'Donnell), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', King of Tyrconnell (d. 1537)
*
Maghnas Ó Domhnaill (Manus O'Donnell; 1490–1564), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', King of Tyrconnell, biographer of Saint Colmcille or
Columba; mainly lived at
Lifford
*
Calbhach Ó Domhnaill (Calvagh O'Donnell; d. 1566), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', 22nd Chieftain and King of Tyrconnell; son of Maghnas Ó Domhnaill
*
Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill (Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell; ''c.'' 1540–1601), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', King of Tyrconnell; son of Maghnas Ó Domhnaill
*
Sir Domhnaill Ó Domhnaill (Sir Donnell O'Donnell; d. 1590),
Seneschal
The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...
of Tyrconnell and
Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...
of County Donegal, eldest son of Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill; Sir Domhnaill was killed at the
Battle of Doire Leathan in September 1590
*
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (Nuala O'Donnell; c. 1575 – c. 1630), daughter of
Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill (Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell)
*
Conn O'Donnell (d. 1583), of
Lifford in the east of Tyrconnell; son of Calbhach and father of Sir Niall Garbh
*
Conn Oge O'Donnell (d. 1601), of Lifford, youngest son of Conn, brother of Sir Niall Garbh
*
Sir Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill (Sir Neil Garve O'Donnell; 1569–1626), Lord of
Lifford; dynastic rival to both Aodh Ruadh II and Ruaidrí, Lord Tyrconnell
*
Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill II (Red Hugh O'Donnell II; 1572–1602), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', 24th Chieftain, ''
Rí'' (King) of Tyrconnell
*
Ruaidrí, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (1575–1608), ''An Ó Domhnaill'', last reigning King of Tyrconnell; younger brother of Aodh Ruadh II
*
Cathbarr Ó Domhnaill (Cathbarr O'Donnell; d. 1608), younger full brother of both Aodh Ruadh II and Ruaidrí, Lord Tyrconnell; married
Rosa O'Doherty, sister of
Sir Cathaoir Ó Dochartaigh
*
Hugh, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (1606–1642), Prince and Lord of Tyrconnell; son and heir of Ruaidrí, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
*
Lady Mary Stuart O'Donnell (1607– ''c.'' 1639), Ulster
Gaelic noblewoman; Lady Mary was the daughter of Ruaidrí, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
*''
Général de Brigade''
Daniel O'Donnell (1666–1735), senior-ranking officer in the
Irish Brigade in the French Royal service
*
Karl O'Donnell (1715–1771), ''
Graf
(; feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility and later also of the Russian nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title ...
'' von Tyrconnell (
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
of Tyrconnell)
*
Enrique, Conde de La Bisbal (Henry,
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
of La Bisbal; 1769–1834), Irish-Spanish nobleman and
peer (
:de:Joseph Heinrich O’Donnell)
*''
Comte''
Maurice O'Donnell de Tyrconnell (1780–1843), of
Pressburg, also known as Moritz ''
Graf
(; feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility and later also of the Russian nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title ...
'' O'Donnell von Tyrconnell, an Irish-Austrian count
*
Maximilian Karl Lamoral ''Graf'' O'Donell von Tyrconnell (1812–1895), Irish-Austrian count, son of Maurice/Moritz
*''
Comte''
Jean Louis Barthélemy O'Donnell (1783–1836), Irish-French count, member of
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
's ''
Conseil d’État'' and ''
Légion d'honneur''
*
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
The 1st Duke of Tetuán (1809–1867), former
Prime Minister of Spain
*
The 2nd Duke of Tetuán (1834–1903), Spanish foreign minister and Mayordomo mayor to
King Amadeo I.
*
The 3rd Duke of Tetuán (1864–1928), conducted
Winston Churchill on visit to
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
*
Peadar O'Donnell (1893–1986), radical Irish republican, socialist, activist, and politician
*
Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell (1856–1927),
Lord Primate of All Ireland and
Lord Archbishop of Armagh; senior
prelate
A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Minister (Christianity), Christian clergy who is an Ordinary (church officer), ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which me ...
from near
Glenties
*
Denis O'Donnell (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 (b. 1954), Ambassador,
Knight of Malta, President of Clan O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, President of Genealogical Society of Ireland; former UN senior representative, author
*
Guillermo O'Donnell, (1936–2011), Argentine political scientist, professor, author, and international activist for democracy
*
The 7th Duke of Tetuán (b. 1948), Spanish naval historian and
Knight of Malta
*
O'Donnell baronets, 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, General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
The 1st Duke of Tetuán
File:O'Donnell, Maximilian Graf.jpg, Maximilian Karl Lamoral ''Graf'' O'Donell von Tyrconnell,1860
File:Wappen der Grafen O’Donell von Tyrconell.png, Maximilian ''Graf
(; feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility and later also of the Russian nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title ...
'' O'Donell von Tyrconnell's coat of arms
Recent times
Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell (1856–1927) was probably the next most prominent O'Donnell to emerge in
Ulster
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
, perhaps in all of Ireland, after the exile in 1607 of
the 1st Earl of Tyrconnell.
Thomas O'Donnell (1871–1943), MP for West Kerry from 1900 until 1918, was a leading agrarian reformer, and the first
Member of Parliament to address the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
in
Westminster
Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...
in the
Irish language
Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...
(Gaelic), but was called to order by the
Speaker, but not without having made his mark with
John Redmond's support. There was formerly an Irish senator from County Donegal named Brian Ó Domhnaill (O'Donnell).
Family Tree
See also
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Irish nobility
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Gaelic nobility of Ireland
*
O'Donnell Abu
References
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Sources
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Further reading
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*''The Life of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell (Beatha Aodh Ruadh O Domhnaill)'' by
Lughaidh O'Cleirigh. Edited by Paul Walsh and Colm Ó Lochlainn. Irish Texts Society, vol. 42. Dublin: Educational Company of Ireland, 1948 (original Gaelic manuscript in the
Royal Irish Academy in Dublin).
*''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Annála Ríoghachta Éireann)'' by the Four Masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616, compiled during the period 1632-1636 by Brother
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, translated and edited by John O'Donovan in 1856, and re-published in 1998 by De Burca, Dublin.
*
*''Vicissitudes of Families'', by Sir
Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, published by Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts, Paternoster Row, London, 1861. (Chapter on O’Donnells, pages 125-148).
*''A View of the Legal Institutions, Honorary Hereditary Offices, and Feudal Baronies established in Ireland'', by William Lynch, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Paternoster Row, London, 1830
O’Donnell: page 190 remainder to Earl’s patent).
*''The Fate and Fortunes of the Earls of Tyrone (Hugh O’Neill) and Tyrconnel (Rory O’Donel), their flight from Ireland and death in exile'', by the Rev.
C. P. Meehan, M.R.I.A., 2nd edition, James Duffy, London, 1870.
*''The Fighting Prince of Donegal'', A
Walt Disney Film, made in 1966 about the life of Prince Red Hugh O’Donnell (i.e. Hugh Roe), starring Peter McEnery, Susan Hampshire, Gordon Jackson, and Andrew Keir.
*''Erin’s Blood Royal – The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland'', by Peter Berresford Ellis, Constable, London, 1999, (pages 251-258 on the O’Donel, Prince of Tyrconnell).
*''Blood Royal - From the time of Alexander the Great to Queen Elizabeth II'', by
Charles Mosley (genealogist), published for Ruvigny Ltd., London, 2002 (O'Donnell listed as Baron, page v)
*''History of Killeen Castle'', by Mary Rose Carty, published by Carty/Lynch, Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland, April 1991 () - page 18 refers to
Elizabeth O'Donnell as 1st Countess of
Fingal
Fingal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is one of three successor counties to County Dublin, which ...
, by marriage to Lucas Plunkett, 1st
Earl of Fingall.
*''Vanishing Kingdoms - The Irish Chiefs and Their Families'', by Walter J. P. Curley (former US Ambassador to Ireland), with foreword by
Charles Lysaght, published by The Lilliput Press, Dublin, 2004
& (Chapter on O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, page 59).
*''A Political Odyssey - Thomas O'Donnell'', by J. Anthony Gaughan, Kingdom Books, Dublin, 1983.
*''The Execution, Life and Times of Patrick O'Donnell'', by Gavin O'Donnell, Perfugulator Publishing 2023. ISBN 978-1399951326
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External links
Official Websiteof the O’Donnell Clan Association
Ó Domhnailby Francis Martin O'Donnell
{{Royal houses of Britain and Ireland
Irish royal families
Irish clans
Irish families
Gaelic nobility of Ireland
Ancient Irish dynasties
Families of Irish ancestry
History of County Donegal