| O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
.svg) Arms of O'Donnell | |
| Parent house | Northern Uí Néill |
| Country | Kingdom of Tyrconnell |
| Founded | 13th (5th) century |
| Founder | Conall Gulban |
| Current head | Hugo O'Donnell, 7th Duke of Tetuan |
| Final ruler | Ruaidrí, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell,An Ó Domhnaill |
| Titles | Cenél Conaill: O'Donnell:
International titles: |
| Cadet branches | O'Donnell von Tyrconnell |
TheO'Donnell dynasty (Irish:Ó Dónaill orÓ Domhnaill,Ó Doṁnaillor Ua Domaill; meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominantIrish clan of the kingdom ofTyrconnell inUlster in the north ofmedieval and early modern Ireland.[2]
| Male | Daughter | Wife(Long) | Wife(Short) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ó Domhnaill | Ní Dhomhnaill | Bean Uí Dhomhnaill | Uí Dhomhnaill |
| Ó Dónaill | Ní Dhónaill | Bean Uí Dhónaill | Uí Dhónaill |
Like the family of O'Neill, that ofO'Donnell of Tyrconnell was of theUí Néill, i.e. descended fromNiall of the Nine Hostages,High King of Ireland at the beginning of the 5th century; the O'Neill, orCenél nEógain, tracing their pedigree toEógan mac Néill, and the O'Donnells, orCenél Conaill, toConall Gulban, both sons of Niall.[3] Conall was baptised bySt. Patrick.
TheRoman EmperorConstantine the Great converted to Christianity after a vision before the famousBattle of the Milvian Bridge, having seen achi-rho in the sky, and thence the mottoIn Hoc Signo Vinces, telling him he would be victorious with the sign of the cross. The chi-rho was adopted on a banner, thelabarum, upheld on avexillum, which resembled a Christian cross, and in time the motto became associated with the Cross all over Europe. Legend has it thatSt. Patrick struck the shield of Conall, son of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, with hiscrosier, calledBachal Isu (the staff of Jesus) inscribing thereon a sign of the cross and told him the same, and baptized him. According to theLife and Acts of Saint Patrick (chapter 138), commissioned by SirJohn de Courcy and written byJocelyn 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[4] This legend is also described several centuries later in theLebhar Inghine i Dhomhnaill.[5] His land becameTír Chonaill, Tyrconnell, the land of Conall.
Conall's Constantinian shield, and this motto, have been the main O’Donnell arms[6] 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 theScala Regia, adjacent toBernini's equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, in theVatican. 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 ofSt. 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 PrinceRory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell following his visit toPope Paul V (at the Palazzo Quirinale) in Rome, just prior to his death in 1608. It would certainly have resonated with and been observed byCardinal Patrick O'Donnell.
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 ofDonegal except the peninsula ofInishowen.[3] But it also included areas outside Donegal, such as the baronies of Carbury in County Sligo, Rosclogher in County Leitrim, and Magheraboy and Firlurg inCounty Fermanagh, and part of southernCounty 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 wasDonegal Castle, one of seven O'Donnell castles, and now a national monument partially restored by the Office of Public Works.[citation needed] Tyrconnell also, therefore, bordered on territory ruled by the O'Neills ofTyrone, 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 northernConnacht,[3] and a wider swathe ofUlster. Nonetheless, Tyrconnell existed for a period as an independent kingdom, recognised by King Henry III of England.[7]
Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill, the first chieftain, was son of Domhnall Mór Ó Domhnaill. In 1257, Gofraidh was victorious when he went to battle atCreadran-Cille againstMaurice FitzGerald.[8] Upon Gofraidh's death, subsequent to wounds incurred during the battle against Ó Néill,[citation needed] he was succeeded in the chieftainship by his brotherDomhnall Óg, who returned fromScotland in time to withstand successfully the demands of Ó Néill.[3] Over time, the O'Donnell King of Tyrconnell became known as theFisher-King, on the Continent,[9] ostensibly due to the export of fish traded for wine inLa Rochelle.[10]
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 theFranciscans inDonegal Abbey. They also exercised "jus patronus" to nominate bishops.
In the early 14th century A.D., the O'Donnell rulers aidedTemplar knights fleeing viaSligo andTyrconnell toScotland where a Templarpriory existed atBallymote[2], a Percival family estate for the last 300 years. TheStewarts relied on the O'Donnells in the balance of power with theMacDonalds beginning in the fourteenth century.[11]
The O’Donnell rulers ofTyrconnell are also noted for having in the late 12th century given sanctuary to theDonlevy dynasty ofUlaid (Ulster), after their kingdom had fallen toJohn de Courcy in 1177. It is in Tyrconnell that a branch of the Donlevy's became known as the MacNulty's, deriving from the IrishMac an Ultaigh, meaning "son of the Ulsterman", in reference to their former kingdom of Ulaid.[12] During the Donlevy exile in Tyrconnell, The O’Donnell gave them the high Gaelic status of “ollahm leighis”[13][14] or his official physicians.[15]
It was in fact two of these deposed MacDonlevy (> MacNulty) royals and Roman Catholic priests thereto exiled in Tyrconnell, Fathers Muiris Ulltach in fullMuiris mac Donnchadh Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe and Muiris Ulltach in fullMuiris mac Seaán Ulltach Ó Duinnshléibhe, who both along with theArchbishop of Tuam attendedHugh Roe O'Donnell (aka Red Hugh O’Donnell), The O'Donnell of 1601 Kinsale fame, in his exile at his death bed atSimancas Castle inSpain 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, onJames II of England'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 theStuarts inFrance at the Archbishopric ofTreves. This union of the MacDonlevy and the O'Donnell, though, bore no issue.[16]
In the absence of these indulgences of the O’Donnell dynasty kings having maintained the MacDonlevy and MacNulty physicians as a dignified community, it is debatable whether they could have so influenced the course of western medicine, educating and trainingNiall 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 thepetechialhaemorrhages of the lung and swelling of the spleen incident ofbubonic plague (Tractatus de Peste, 1629), and early elucidate the empirical method ofdifferential diagnosis for the continental European medical community, and producing the medieval physician and medical scholarCormac MacDonlevy translator from Latin to vernacular ofBernard de Gordon'sLilium Medicine, Gaulteris Agilon'sDe dosibus and Gui de Chuliac'sChirurgia.
Later in the early 13th century, the O’Donnell also gave succour to the Ó Cléirigh kings ofUí 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 theAnglo-Norman forces ofHenry Plantagenet served as ollam lieghis or the official physicians to the O'Donnell kings of Tyrconnell. Onara married Donnchadh Ó Cléirigh, a son of theChief of the name of theÓ Cléirigh family then also of Tyconnell. The Ó Cléirigh were too a learned Irish royal family that had lost their sub-kingdom inUí Fiachrach Aidhne in what is todayCounty 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 inIrish language "ollam righ". Onara bore for Donnchadh a sonMícheál Ó Cléirigh (c. 1590 – 1643), anglicized Michael O’Cleary, who matured to become the principal author of theAnnals 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 ofGaelic Ireland.
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.
The O'Donnells defeated the O'Neills in the 1522Battle of Knockavoe. In 1541Manus O'Donnell took part in the "Surrender and regrant" process. In 1567 the O'Donnells won theBattle of Farsetmore against the O'Neills, reconfirming their autonomy in Ulster.
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During theNine Years' War of 1594-1603, the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell played a leading part, led by the famous PrinceRed Hugh O'Donnell. Under his leadership, and that of his allyHugh O'Neill, they advanced toKinsale and laid siege to the English forces in anticipation of a Spanish invasion. En route, they implanted some O'Donnell kinsmen inArdfert and Lixnaw to protect the territories of their ally, FitzMaurice,Lord of Kerry. TheBattle of Kinsale was lost in 1601, heralding the end of the Gaelic order andBrehon Laws in Ireland, and the completion of the Elizabethan conquest. Following theTreaty of Mellifont of 1603 the newKing James I pardonedRory O'Donnell and created himEarl of Tyrconnell in theIrish peerage.
Rory then joined in theFlight of the Earls in 1607, which led to the title becoming attainted in 1614,[17] and Tyrconnell and Ulster being colonised in thePlantation of Ulster.[citation needed] He died in exile inRome on 28 July 1608.[17]
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 belongedDaniel O'Donnell (1666–1735), a general of theIrish Brigade in the French service, whose father, Turlough, was a son ofHugh Duff O'Donnell, brother ofManus, son of an earlier Hugh Duff. Daniel served in the French army in the wars of the period, fighting againstDuke of Marlborough at the battles ofOudenarde andMalplaquet at the head of an O'Donnell regiment.[17]
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 ofTanistry, 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, theChief 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 inIris 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.[18] His son was the last in the Larkfield line ofChiefs of the Name of O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, namelyFr. Hugh Ambrose O'Donel, O.F.M., who adopted the modern version of the name 'O'Donnell', a Franciscan priest inKilliney, retired from missionary work inZimbabwe, who died on 11 July 2023.[19] Although Fr. Hugh was never inaugurated as Chief of the Name, hisTánaiste (heir apparent) asThe O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, Chief of the Name of O'Donnell, was commonly held to be S.E.The 7th Duke of Tetuan, aGrandee of Spain. The duke is also known asS.E.Don Hugo O'Donnell y Duque de Estrada - the latter appendantDuque de Estrada is not a title but a maternal family name. TheDuke 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. aKnight of Malta. However, following the advice of theAttorney General, in 2003 the Genealogical Office discontinued the practice of recognising Chiefs of the Name.[20]
Following theIrish War of Independence, the ascendantFianna Failpolitical party began a policy of granted courtesy recognition asChief of the Name to the senior male descendants of theGaelic nobility of Ireland.[21] With regard to theO'Donnell dynasty, the succession came down to a contest between the O'Donnell family ofNewport House and theDuke of Tetuan of theSpanish nobility. The Irish State ultimately ruled in favor of Fr. Hugh O'Donnell, OFM, a Roman Catholic missionary inZimbabwe who could document his descent from Manus O'Donnell, the second son of Niall Garve and Nuala O'Donnell, who waskilled in action while fighting for theConfederation of Kilkenny under the command ofOwen Roe O'Neill at theBattle of Benburb in 1646.[22] The O'Donnell clan was revived in 1954.[23]
Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell (1856–1927) was probably the next most prominent O'Donnell to emerge inUlster, perhaps in all of Ireland, after the exile in 1607 ofthe 1st Earl of Tyrconnell.Thomas O'Donnell (1871–1943), MP for West Kerry from 1900 until 1918, was a leading agrarian reformer, and the firstMember of Parliament to address theHouse of Commons inWestminster in theIrish language (Gaelic), but was called to order by theSpeaker, but not without having made his mark withJohn Redmond's support. There was formerly an Irish senator from County Donegal named Brian Ó Domhnaill (O'Donnell).
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: McNeill, Ronald John (1911). "O'Donnell". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 6–8.