TIRCONNELL (Donegal)

The Uí NeiIl were the great royal tribal dynasty of the North Gaels. Having separated from the royal kinsmen, the Connachta, shortly alter the career of their illustrious fifth century ancestor Niall of the Nine Hostages, they set out from a base in Sligo and soon (by the beginning of the sixth century) monopolized the Sacral High-Kingship of Tara, which for hundreds of years they alternated between their own two illustrious branches, the Nrorthern Uí Neill and the Southern Uí Neill. The Northern Uí Neill divided into three great clans, the Cenél Eoghain, Cenél Conaill and Cenél Cairbre.

The Donegal surnames; O’Doherty, Gormley, Friel, McLaughlin, McGilligan, Mullan and Coyle are also numerous in County Derry. Other chief surnames to be found in County Derry are O’Kane and Bradley. The Uí Neill who were descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages were associated with Co. Donegal. A branch of the Uí Neill were known as Cenél Eoghain (descendants of Eoghain who was one of Niall’s sons). During the ninth and tenth centuries the Cenél Eoghain moved southward and eastward and as a result became associated with County Derry. To the north-east of Fermanagh, the territory encompassing Derry, Tyrone and Armagh was the land of the Cenél Eoghain whereas to the north and west in what is now known as Donegal, the Cenél Connaill were dominant. In 1208 the O’Donnells were defeated by the Ó hEignigh marking the rise of the Fermanagh kings.

Ó Neill is one of the most prominent names in Ireland, being among the top ten in Antrim, Derry and Tyrone. The Tyrone line is descended from Niall Ruadh (Red Niall), brother of Aodh Dubh (Black Hugh) who was a King of Ulster in the fourteenth century. Tyrone has land boundaries with Armagh, Derry, Donegal and Monaghan. Tyrone is the land of Eoghain who was a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Eoghain’s descendants were the Cenél Eoghain who formed part of the northern Uí Neill. Common surnames in County Tyrone were Ó Neill, MacLochlainn, O’Cahan, O’Hagan, Donnelly, Quinn, Kelly, McKenna, Devlin and McLaughlin. The Ó Neills and MacLochlainns fought for supremacy with the Ó Neills being overlords of Ulster from the thirteenth to seventeenth century. The O’Cahans and the O’Hagans were two other important septs.

The Cenél Eoghan were the Royal Clan of the North Gaels, associated with the High-Kingship of Tara, though in the early period they alternated the overkingship of the north with their Cenél Conaill cousins, by the end of the eighth century they had monopolised the overkingship of Ulster and with it the northern representation in the High-Kingship, aided by the fact that they had, with their centrally dominant fortress of Aliech in northeast Donegal, the strategic advantage, together with the energy and will to exploit it. Their original patrimony included the modern baronies of Raphoe and lnishowen in Donegal, but from their center at the great fort of Ailech in Inishowen, they soon spread throughout Derry and much of Tyrone as well (Tyrone, Gealic "Tir Eoghain", the land of Eoghain, is named for them). Until the mid-thirteenth century the leading family of the Cenél Eoghain was MacLoughlin (Mac Lochlainn) of lnishowen; in 1241 they lost a decisive battle to their kinsmen the Ó Neills, and afterwards they declined in power, though a branch became established in County Leitrim under the O’Rourkes. The O’Hegartys (O hEighceartaigh) of the Cenél Eoghain were chiefs in the present barony of Loughinsholin in the south of County Derry, and by about the beginning of the seventeenth century some of them settled in the baronies of Barrymore and Carbery West in County Cork. The family was numerous in the Irish Brigades of France, and several O’Hegartys were, during the eighteenth century, particularly distinguished in that service.

The great Ó Neills (Ó Neill) themselves descend from Niall Glundubh, High-King of Ireland, who fell fighting against the Vikings near Dublin in 919. His grandson Domhnall, who flourished about 943, was the first to bear the dynastic name of Ó Neill. They were the chief family of the Cenél Eoghain from 1241, and as overlords of Tir Eoghain (which included the modern counties of Tyrone, Derry and those northeastern parts of Donegal), and kings of Ulster they make a very distinguished group in history from the eleventh to the seventeenth century. Such Ó Neill magnates as Conn, Shane the Proud, Sir Phelim and Owen Roe are all outstanding figures. A powerful branch of the family settled in Antrim and Down in the fourteenth century, where they were known as Clann Aodha Bhuidhe, or the Ó Neills of Claneboy. Other branches of the Ó Neills include the O’Branigans (O Branagain) of Derry, who provided eranachs (hereditary abbots) to the churches of Derry in County Derry and Derryvullan in County Fermanagh; the O’Rahillys (O Raithile) of Kerry, a literary family that settled early in County Kerry near Killarney, and the MacMartins (Mac Mairtin) of County Tyrone. The great Ó Neills [Tirowen]

The Clan Dalaigh or O’Donnells (O’Domhnaill) of Tirconaill originally possessed the patrimony of Cenél Luighdheach (the descendants of Lugaid, son of Setnae, uncle of Saint Columba), their original clan-name, it having been applied to the mountainous district between the River Swilly and the River Dobhar in north-central Donegal: The territory around Kilmacrenan. They derive their clan-name from their ancestor Dalach, Lord of Tir-conaill, who died in 868, and who was the first of their immediate ancestors to become Lord of Tir-conaill, a dignity continued by his son Eigheachan, father of their eponymous ancestor Domhnall. They did not, however, again become chiefs of the Cenél Conaill until the thirteenth century, when they rose on the downfall of some of their Cenél Conaill kinsmen, the O’Canannains or O’Cannons (O Canannain) and O’Muldorys or O’Mulderrys (O Maoldoraidh). Afterwards the O’Donnells established themselves as the ruling family of the Cenél Conaill and all Donegal, and continued as such for centuries, until the final submergence of the Gaelic order in the seventeenth century.

The O’Donnells, as princes of Donegal, were consistently one of the most able families in the Gaelic aristocracy, and not only successfully defended their territory against both the English and native adversaries alike, but they also made their power respected throughout the north and west of Ireland. Their most famous chief was Hugh Roe (Red Hugh) O’Donnell, who escaped his treacherous imprisonment by the English at Dublin Castle (he was rescued, after his bold escape, by The O’Hagan, and with the assistance of the Wicklow clans) and later fought at Kinsale. Rory O’Donnell was with The Ó Neill in the Flight of the Earls at the beginning of the seventeenth century, while other famous O’Donnells distinguish the pages of Irish and Continental history during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A branch of the family (descended from Shane Luirg, son of Turlough O’Donnell of the Wine, Lord of Tir-conaill in the early fifteenth century) became established in Limerick and Tipperary.

 

O'Boyle

were Chiefs of Clan Chindfaoladh of Tir Ainmireach, and of Tir Boghaine - territories which comprised the present baronies of Boylagh and Banagh: Crioch Baoighilleach or the country of the O'Boyles gave name to the Barony of "Boylagh;" Tir Boghaine was the Barony of "Banagh."

O'Clery or Clarke

hereditary historians to the O'Donnells; and the learned authors of the Annals of the Four Masters, and other valuable works on Irish history and antiquities. They had large possessions in the Barony of Tir Hugh, and resided in their castle at Kilbarron; the ruins of which still remain on a rock on the shores of the Atlantic near Ballyshannon.

O'Dogherty

Chief of Ard Miodhair. In the Annals of the Four Masters, at A.D. 1197, Eachmarcach [Oghmarkagh] O'Doherty is mentioned as Chief of all Tirconnell. The O'Doghertys maintained their rank as Chiefs of Inishowen down to the reign of James the First.

O'Donegan, and MacGaiblin or MacGiblin

Chiefs of Tir Breasail; and O'Maolgaoithe, Chief of Muintir Maolgaoithe (gaoth: Irish, the wind; pronounced "ghee"). Some of this clan anglicised their name "Magee;" and others, "Wynne", another form of "wind," the English for the word "gaoth,"

O'Donnely

Chief of Fear Droma, a district in Inishowen, is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, at A.D. 1177.

Mac Dubhaine or Mac Duane

Chiefs of Cenél Nenna or Cenél Enda, a district, which lay in Inishowen.

O'Furanain (or Foran)

Chief of Fion Ruis, probably the "Rosses," in the Barony of Boylagh.

O'Gallagher

descended from a warrior named "Gallchobhar," were located in the baronies of Raphoe and Tir Hugh, and had a castle at Ballyshannon, and also possessed the castle of Lifford; they were commanders of O'Donnell's cavalry. Sir John O'Gallagher is mentioned in the wars of Elizabeth.

MacGilleseamhais

(anglicised Gilljames, James, and Fitzjames), Chief of Ros-Guill, now "Rosgul," in the Barony of Kilmakrenan.

O'Hugh

Chief of Easruadh [Esroe] or Ballyshannon, in the Barony of Tir Hugh.

O'Kernaghan, and O'Dallan

Chiefs of the Tuath Bladhaidh.

O'Laney or Lane

Chief of Cenél Maoin, a district in the Barony of Raphoe.

MacLoingseachain

Chiefs of Glean Binne; and O'Breislen or Breslein, Chief of Fanaid or Fanad, on the western shore of Lough Swilly.

O'Maoldoraigh or Muldory, O'Canannain

and Clan Dalaigh, were the Principal Chiefs. In the tenth century some of the head Chiefs of the Clan Connell took the tribe name Clan-na-Dalaigh, from Dalagh, one of their Chiefs, whose death is recorded by the Four Masters, at A.D. 868; but they afterwards took the name O'Domhnaill, or O'Donnell, from Domhnall or Donal, grandson of Dalagh.

O'Mullligan

Chief of Tir Mac Caerthain

O'Mulvany

Chief of Magh Seireadh or Massarey.

MacSweeney

(strangely anglicised MacSwiggan), a branch of the Ó Neills, which settled in Donegal, and formed three great families, namely, MacSweeney of Fanaid, who had an extensive territory west of lough Swilly, and whose castle was at Rathmullin; MacSweeney Boghainach or of Tir Boghaine, now the Barony of Banagh, who had his castle at Rathain, and in which territory was situated Reachrain Muintir Birn, now Rathlin O'Beirne Islands; and MacSweeney Na d-Tuath, signifying "MacSweeney of the Territories". His districts were also called "Tuatha Toraighe" or the districts of Tory Island. This MacSweeney's possessions lay in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. According to O'Brien, he was called "MacSweeney Na d-Tuath," signifying MacSweeney of the Battle-axes, title said to be derived from their being Chiefs of galloglasses, and from their being standard bearers and marshals to the O'Donnells. A branch of these MacSweeneys, who were distinguished military leaders, settled in Munster in the county Cork, in the thirteenth century; and became commanders under the Mac Carthys, princes of Desmond.

O'Tairceirt or Tarkert

Chief of Clan Neachtain and of Clan Snedgaile or Snell.

MacTernan

Chief of Clan Fearghoile or Fargal. The following Chiefs and clans not given by O'Dugan are collected from the Four Masters and other sources

MacWard

a clan in Donegal, were bards to the O'Donnells, and were very learned men.