O'Donnell

O'Donnell (Irish: Ó Dónaill "or" Ó Dómhnaill), which is derived from the forename Domhnaill (meaning "world ruler", "Rex Mundi" in Latin, Modern Irish spelling, Dónall) were an ancient and powerful Irish clan, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill (spelled in English as Tyrconnell or Tyrconnel) in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes rivals of the O'Neills in Ulster.

Origins

Like the family of O'Neill, that of O'Donnell of Tyrconnell was of the Ui Niall, i.e. descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, High-King of Ireland at the beginning of the 5th century; the O'Neill, or Cenél nEógain, tracing their pedigree to Eógan mac Néill, and the O'Donnells, or Cenél Conaill, to Conall Gulban, both sons of Niall. Conall was baptised by St. Patrick.

Arms and motto

The Byzantine Emperor, Constantine the Great, converted to Christianity after a vision before the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge, having seen a sign of the cross in the sky, and thence the motto In Hoc Signo Vinces, telling him he would be thus victorious. A short time later, St. Patrick struck the shield of Conall, son of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, with his crozier, called Bachall Isa (the staff of Jesus) inscribing thereon a sign of the cross and told him the same, and baptized him. His land became Tír Chonnaill, Tyrconnell, the land of Conall.

Conall's Constantinian shield, and this motto, have been the main O’Donnell arms, 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 the Scala Regia, adjacent to Bernini's equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, in the Vatican. 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 of St. Peter's Basilica, ostensibly so inspired. In an earlier version (before Bernini's renovations in the mid-1600s), something similar may have resonated with and been observed by Prince Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell following his visit to Pope Paul V (at the Palazzo Quirinale) in Rome, just prior to his death in 1608. It would certainly have resonated with and been observed by Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell.

Territory

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 of Donegal except the peninsula of Inishowen. But it also included areas outside Donegal, such as the baronies of Carbury in County Sligo, Rosclogher in County Leitrim, and Magheraboy and Firlurg in County Fermanagh, and part of southern County Londonderry, hence it straddled the modern Republic of Ireland and also part of Northern Ireland in the UK. It also therefore bordered on territory ruled by the O'Neills of Tyrone, who were continually attempting to assert their 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 northern Connacht. Nonetheless Tyrconnell existed for a period as an independent kingdom, recognised by King Henry III of England (see Close Roll, in the Tower of London, 28 Hen. 3m.7).

Ascendancy

The first chieftain of mark in the family was Goffraidh (Godfrey, called after Godfrey de Bouillon, 1st Crusader ruler or proto-King of Jerusalem), son of Dónall Dónall Mór Ó Dónaill (d. 1241). He rapidly came to power, with the initial support of the Norman FitzGeralds, in the aftermath of the suppression of the Cathars in France in 1244. Later, the O'Donnell rulers aided Templar knights fleeing to Scotland via Tyrconnell and Sligo, where a Templar priory existed at Ballymote [http://www.templehouse.ie/] , a Percival family estate for the last 300 years. The O'Donnell King of Tyrconnell became known as the "Fisher-King", on the Continent, ostensibly due to the export of fish traded for wine in La Rochelle.

Goffraidh, who was inaugurated as "The O'Donnell", i.e. chief of the clan, in 1248, made a successful inroad into Tyrone against Brian Ó Néill in 1252. In 1257 he drove the English out of northern Connacht, after a single combat with Maurice Fitzgerald in which both warriors were wounded. O'Donnell while still incapacitated by his wound was summoned by Brian O'Neill to give hostages in token of submission. Carried on a litter at the head of his clan he gave battle to O'Neill, whom he defeated with severe loss in prisoners and cattle; but he died of his wound immediately afterwards near Letterkenny, and was succeeded in the chieftainship by his brother Dónall Óg, who returned from Scotland in time to withstand successfully the demands of Ó Néill.

Later struggles and diaspora

At times they co-operated with the English, especially when such co-operation appeared to promise triumph over their ancient rivals the O'Neills, at other times joining with the latter as allies against the English authorities. In the 16th century, when the English began to make determined efforts to bring the whole of Ireland under subjection to the crown, the O'Donnells of Tyrconnel played a leading part, led by the famous Prince Red Hugh O'Donnell. Under his leadership, and that of Hugh O'Neill, they advanced to Kinsale and laid siege to the English forces in anticipation of a Spanish invasion. En route, they implanted some O'Donnell kinsmen in Ardfert and Lixnaw to protect the territories of their ally, FitzMaurice, Lord of Kerry. The Battle of Kinsale was lost in 1601, heralding the end of the Gaelic order and Brehon Laws in Ireland, and the completion of the Elizabethan conquest. It was the end of Irish independence until re-gained in 1922.

Recent times

Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell was probably the next famous O'Donnell to emerge in Ireland after the exile of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. Thomas O'Donnell (MP) for West Kerry (1900-1918) was a leading agrarian reformer, and the first Member of Parliament to address the House of Commons in Westminster in the Irish language (Gaelic), but was called to order by the Speaker, but not without having made his mark with John Redmond's support.

Notable people

The following persons are or were notable O'Donnells:{|
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*Barry O'Donnell, an Irish surgeon.
*Calvagh O'Donnell, (d.1566), The O'Donnell, 22nd Chieftain, and Lord of Tyrconnell
*Cathy O'Donnell, an American actress, originally Ann Steely.
*Reverend Father Charles Leo O'Donnell, (1884-1934), 11th President of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
*Chris O'Donnell, an American actor.
*Cletus F. O'Donnell, an American Roman Catholic bishop
*Daniel O'Donnell, an Irish singer.
*Denis O'Donnell, (1875-1933) an Irish dairy innovator and entrepreneur.
*Edmund O'Donnell, Irish Jesuit
*Elizabeth O'Donnell, (1604-c.1630), 1st Countess of Fingall.
*Emmett O'Donnell, Jr., (1906-1972), US Air Force general.
*Francis Martin O'Donnell, an Irish UN diplomat and Knight of Malta.
*Gary O'Donnell, an Australian-rules footballer.
*Guillermo O'Donnell, an Argentinian academic.
*Godfrey O'Donnell, son of Hugh Gallda O'Donnell, first Irishman reported to use a firearm (1487).
*Sir Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary (chief civil servant), British Government.
*Henry Joseph O'Donnell, Count of La Bisbal, (1769-1834), Irish-Spanish nobleman, Spanish general.
*Hugh Roe O'Donnell, Irish Rebel
*Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (1606-1642).
*Hugo O'Donnell, Duke of Tetuan, a Spanish naval historian, and Knight of Malta.
*James O'Donnell (politician), (1840 - 1915), an American politician from Michigan.
*James O'Donnell (organist), current organist of Westminster Abbey.
*James J. O'Donnell, classical scholar and Provost of Georgetown University.
*James O'Donnell, Filmmaker in Memphis, TN.
*Joseph Heinrich O'Donnell, (1769-1834), a Spanish general.
*Karl O'Donnell, (1715-1771), Count of Tyrconnel, Imperial cavalry general.
*Keir O'Donnell, an Australian actor living in Los Angeles.
*Kenneth O'Donnell, an American politician.
*Leopoldo O'Donnell, (1809-1867), 1st Duke of Tetuan, and former Prime Minister of Spain.
*Luke O'Donnell, Australian International Rugby League Player.
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*Manus O'Donnell, The O'Donnell, 21st Chieftain, King of Tyrconnell, and biographer of St Colmcille.
*Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell, Hiberno-Austrian Count, saved life of Emperor Franz Josef I.
*Martin O'Donnell, Audio Director for Bungie Studios.
*Michael O'Donnell, British physician and broadcaster.
*Myles O'Donnell, a Chicago mobster during the Prohibition era.
*Neil O'Donnell, a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.
*Niall Garve O'Donnell, (1569 - 1626)
*Norah O'Donnell, an American journalist.
*Pacho O'Donnell, an Argentinian psychoanalyst.
*Patrick Denis O'Donnell, (1922-2005), an Irish military historian.
*Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell, (1856-1927), Archbishop of Armagh.
*Peadar O'Donnell, an Irish political activist and writer.
*Peter O'Donnell, a British fiction writer.
*Phil O'Donnell, a Scottish footballer.
*Phil O'Donnell, an IRA volunteer from Derry.
*Red Hugh O'Donnell I, The O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell.
*Red Hugh O'Donnell II, (1572-1601), The O'Donnell, 24th Chieftain, Prince of Tyrconnell.
*Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, (1575-1608)
*Rosie O'Donnell, an American actress and television hostess.
*Sean O'Donnell, a Canadian Hockey Player.
*Steve O'Donnell, an American television scriptwriter.
*Terence O'Donnell, an American writer.
*Thomas O'Donnell, M.P., (1871-1943), Irish Nationalist MP for West Kerry.
*Thomas E. O'Donnell, an activist in the New York Draft Riots.
*Tom O'Donnell, a former Irish politician.
*Vincent O'Donnell,retired Irish teacher

Selected bibliography

*"The Life of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell (Beatha Aodh Rua O Domhnaill)" by Lughaidh O'Cleirigh. Edited by Paul Walsh and Colm Ó Lochlainn. Irish Texts Society, vol. 42. Dublin: Educational Company of Ireland, 1948 (original Gaelic manuscript in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin).
*"Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Annála Ríoghachta Éireann)" by the Four Masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616, compiled during the period 1632-1636 by Brother Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, translated and edited by John O'Donovan in 1856, and re-published in 1998 by De Burca, Dublin.
*"Vicissitudes of Families", by Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, published by Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts, Paternoster Row, London, 1861. (Chapter on O’Donnells, pages 125-148).
*"A View of the Legal Institutions, Honorary Hereditary Offices, and Feudal Baronies established in Ireland", by William Lynch, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Paternoster Row, London, 1830 (O’Donnell: page 190, remainder to Earl’s patent).
*"The Fate and Fortunes of the Earls of Tyrone (Hugh O’Neill) and Tyrconnel (Rory O’Donel), their flight from Ireland and death in exile", by the Rev. C. P. Meehan, M.R.I.A., 2nd edition, James Duffy, London, 1870.
*"The Fighting Prince of Donegal", A Walt Disney Film, made in 1966 about the life of Prince Red Hugh O’Donnell (i.e. Hugh Roe), starring Peter McEnery, Susan Hampshire, Gordon Jackson, and Andrew Keir.
*"Erin’s Blood Royal – The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland", by Peter Berresford Ellis, Constable, London, 1999, (pages 251-258 on the O’Donel, Prince of Tirconnell).
*"Blood Royal - From the time of Alexander the Great to Queen Elizabeth II", by Charles Mosley (genealogist), published for Ruvigny Ltd., London, 2002 (O'Donnell listed as Baron, page v) [ISBN 0-9524229-9-9]
*"History of Killeen Castle", by Mary Rose Carty, published by Carty/Lynch, Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland, April 1991 (ISBN 0-9517382-0-8) - page 18 refers to Elizabeth O'Donnell as 1st Countess of Fingal, by marriage to Lucas Plunkett, 1st Earl of Fingall.
*"Vanishing Kingdoms - The Irish Chiefs and Their Families", by Walter J. P. Curley (former US Ambassador to Ireland), with foreword by Charles Lysaght, published by The Lilliput Press, Dublin, 2004 [ISBN 1-84351-055-3 & ISBN 1-84351-056-1] . (Chapter on O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, page 59).
*"A Political Odyssey - Thomas O'Donnell", by J. Anthony Gaughan, Kingdom Books, Dublin, 1983.

References

*1911