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SirCormac MacBaron O'Neill (d.1613) was an Irishsoldier andlandowner of theElizabethan and earlyStuart eras. He was part of theO'Neill dynasty, one of the most prominentGaelic families in Ireland.
O'Neill was the son ofMatthew O'Neill, 1st Baron Dungannon, who was assassinated by his half-brother and rivalShane O'Neill in 1558. His 'middle name' was aPatronymic, denoting his father's title. O'Neill's older brother wasHugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.[1][2]
Despite their father's defeat to Shane, Cormac and Hugh were able to re-establish themselves inUlster thanks to help from the English government. When Hugh, having been recognised asEarl of Tyrone by the Crown, then launched a rebellion in 1594, Cormac joined forces with him. He took part in theSiege of Enniskillen and theBattle of the Ford of the Biscuits the same year. Following their defeat at theBattle of Kinsale, Cormac remained loyal to his brother when most of his other Gaelic Irish changed sides and made peace with the Crown. Following theBurning of Dungannon, in which Tyrone destroyed his own capital, they fought aguerrilla war, and Cormac was able to ambush a force led byHenry Docwra.[3] Nonetheless, his relationship with his brother became increasingly strained, despite theTreaty of Mellifont (1603) in which the Crownpardoned them and restored their lands.
When Hugh O'Neillfled Ireland in 1607, Cormac remained behind, riding to Dublin to inform the authorities of his brother's departure, and claiming he had no part in. His claims however were contradicted by the fact he had learned of his brothers intentions at Dunalonge, being only five miles from the garrisons of Derry or Lifford, both near Lough Swilly where the earl departed. Rather than informing either garrison who would have been better placed to prevent the earl from departing he choose to give the earl as much time as possible by riding to Dublin instead.[4] As such he was arrested and remained in prison for the remainder of his life, although he was never charged with any crime and government officials privately admitted he offered no threat, but should be kept locked up.[5]
One son, Bryan Crossagh O'Neill, was granted a small proportion of land, consisting of 1,000 acres, in Dungannon barony as part of the Plantation of Ulster.[citation needed] However, he was executed in 1615 for his part of the 1614 conspiracy.[1] Another sonConn MacCormac O'Neill (or Constantino O'Neill) was an officer in theSpanish Army. Conn was considered the heir to the Earl of Tyrone by some, but this was not formally recognized because of the Crown's earlierattainder.
Bryan Crossagh O'Neill's mother was Margaret O'Donnell, who was a sister of Hugh Roe O'Donnell.[6]
Cormac also had a son named Art who took part in the Flight of the Earls.[7]
