The
O'Donnells or Clann Dálaigh
The O’Donnells are recognised as the leading family in the
history of Donegal. Like other families in Donegal they claim descent from Conall Gulban
one of three sons of Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), two others being
Eoghan (after whom Tír Eoghain and Inis Eoghain are called) and Éanna (who gave his name
to Tír Eanna).
The surname Ó Domhnaill or O'Donnell has been in use for almost 1,000
years, from sometime after surnames first began to be used in Ireland around 1,000AD. A
certain Cathbarr Ó Domhnaill was one of the first persons to use a surname in Donegal
that we know of. Cathbarr was of the first generation with the Ó Domhnaill surname, and
was himself chieftain of Cenel Luighdheach, the branch of the Cenel Conaill who lived in
Tír Luighdheach in the north of the county. Cathbarr died in 1106. In choosing a surname
Irish families looked to an ancestor held in high regard; if it was their father the
surname took a ‘Mac’ form. eg. Mac Lochlainn or Mac Suibhne. If they wished to
be associated with their grandfather or someone form a previous generation the surname
took an ‘Ua’ or ‘Ó’ form, from ua, meaning grandson. Cathbarr and his
family thus took their surname from their great grandfather Domhnall, son of Éicnechán
who was King of Cenel Conaill until his death in 906. Éicnechán‘s own father was
named Dálach, and the name Clann Dálaigh or Síl Dálaigh which is often used to
describe the O’Donnells, derives from him.
While the O’Donnells are undoubtedly the leading family in the
history of Donegal, their pre-eminence can sometimes obscure the fact that they controlled
Tír Chonaill for only some four centuries, from the year 1201 to the end of the 1500s.
For most of the six centuries before 1201 other families had controlled the kingship
between them. In the three centuries before 1201 the O Canannáin - from whom the name
Leitir Ceannain or Letterkenny derives - and Ó Mael Doraid families were the leading ones
amongst the Cenel Conaill.
The first O’Donnell chieftain was Eighneachan who was inaugurated
in 1200, the first of an unbroken line of twenty five taoisigh or chieftains, the
last being Niall Garbh in 1603. Eighneachan’s grandson Gofraidh, or Godfrey, who was
chieftain from 1248 to 1258 was a noted military leader, who fought a major battle in 1257
near Sligo against English forces led by Maurice FitzGerald, Lord Chief Justice. The Tír
Chonaill forces had the upper hand that day but Godfrey was severely wounded in the
battle; the O’Neills sought to take advantage of the perceived weakness amongst their
rivals and demanded that the O’Donnells show them ‘continued obedience’.
Godfrey would have none of it, however, and led his forces against the O’Neills in an
encounter near the Swilly, from which the latter had to withdraw. Godfrey died from his
wounds and is buried in Conwal graveyard, a few miles west of Letterkenny.
The O’Donnells ruled Tir Chonaill from the beginning of the 13th
to the end of the 16th centuries but the the Golden Age of the O'Donnells / Golden
Age of Tír Chonaill, if such a phrase can be used, was between the middle of the 15th and
the middle of the 16th centuries.
Between 1333 and 1380 Donegal was wracked by wars of succession within
the O'Donnells as various claimants fought with each other for the chieftainship. Niall
Garbh Ó Domhnaill II was one of the notable chieftains of the early 15th century and
built a castle in Ballyshannon to secure his southern borders. Later in the century, in
the early 1470s, Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill built both Donegal Castle and Donegal Abbey, the
latter for the Franciscan Order.
One of the most important literary works of this period - Betha
Cholumcille a life of the saint and icon of the Cenel Chonaill - was written by
Maghnus Ó Domhnaill. Maghnus was at this period - the early 1530s - a prince of the clan
based in the O'Donnell Castle in Lifford, and while the work was undoubtedly compiled at
his direction it is less clear if he was the actual author.
In 1587 Red Hugh, the son of Aodh Ó Domhnaill then chieftain, was
kidnapped along with three companions, the sons of Sweeney Fanad, Sweeney Doe and another
lad of the Gallagher family. The young men were out riding near Rathmullan and were
enticed aboard a ship and taken to Dublin Castle where they were to be held as hostages to
ensure O'Donnell compliance with English rule. Red Hugh was not satisfied to remain in
prison and made his first attempt to escape in 1590, but was recaptured. Two years later
he did escape and returned to Donegal having endured hardship and the loss of one of his
companions in the severe winter conditions of the Wicklow mountains.
Red Hugh, perhaps the most famous of the O'Donnells, was himself
inaugurated later that year of 1592, ushering in the last attempt by the clan to preserve
the Gaelic order in the north west of Ireland. Red Hugh fought alongside Hugh O'Neill for
the next decade or so, but their rebellion ended in the defeat at Kinsale in the winter of
1601/1602, and Red Hugh died in Simancas in Spain a little over a year later. His younger
brother Rory became chieftain and accepted the title of Earl of Tyrconnell, but he left
Ireland along with his peers in the Flight of the Earls in 1607, bringing an end to
the O'Donnell rule in Donegal.
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