Donegal Studies - History of Donegal

Other Prominent Donegal Families

The strength and longevity of O’Donnell power was due in no small measure to the support it received from other prominent families, who were collectively known as the 'Lucht Tighe'. In addition to the Sweeneys [Mac Suibhne] there were the Uí Baoighill or O’Boyles, after whom the Barony of Boylagh which includes the Rosses in named, the Uí Gallchobhair or Gallaghers, who were the leaders of the O’Donnell cavalry, the Uí Firghil or O’Friels, whose job it was to inaugurate O’Donnell chieftains at Doon Rock, and other families such as the Uí Tiomanaigh or Timoneys who specialised in cattle driving, the Uí Cléirigh or O’Clery’s who were clerks to the O’Donnells, and the Mic a’Bháird or Wards, who were the dynastic poets and bards. These Lucht Tighe or household families were so numerous and so loyal that the O’Donnells could not have maintained their dominance in Donegal for four centuries without them.

Lucht Tighe

Family		Role in Clan
Mac Robhartaigh	McRoartys	Custodians of the Cathach
Mac Suibhne	Sweeneys	Chiefs of the Gallowglasses; marshals and standard bearers
Uí Breisléin	Breslins	brehons or judges
Uí Cléirigh	Clerys / Clarkes	scribes and historians
Mac Duinnshléibhe	Dunleevys	physicians
Uí Firghil	Friels	inaugurators of the O'Donnell clan chieftains
Uí Gallchobhair	Gallaghers	commanders of the cavalry
Uí Tiománaigh	Timoneys	stockmen or cattle drivers
Mac a' Bháird	Wards	bards

Other numerous Donegal families, prominent in the history of the county, are: