Characters - The Irish

Ruairí O'Donnell - Earl of Tír Chonaill (1574/75 - 1608)

Ruairí O'Donnell, (Rory, Rury, Ruaidhrí) the first Earl of Tir Chonaill, born in 1574, was the second son of Sir Hugh O'Donnell and the younger brother of Red Hugh. Ruairí was Tánaiste during Red Hugh's lordship of Donegal. During the Nine Years War he fought diligently at his brother's side, fighting in Connaught and Lough Foyle. After Red Hugh's death Ruairí became head of the O'Donnell clan. He became the first Earl of Tír Chonaill and was granted a patent from King James I for his lands in February 1603. In the same year he married Lady Bridget Fitzgerald, daughter of the Earl of Kildare. O'Donnell's position however was short lived.

In-fighting between sub-chieftains and sects of the O'Donnell clan proved impossible to quell. By 1607 Ruairí, left with declining lands and decreasing income, was forced to admit he had lost control of the territory. In September 1607 Ruairí joined with Cú Chonnacht Maguire and O'Neill and left from Rathmullan bound for Spain. Both Ruairí and his brother became ill and died within a short time of their arrival in Rome, Ruairí in July 1608 and Cathbharr in September. They were both buried in the Church of San Pietro Montorio, in Rome.

Hugh O'Neill - Earl of Tyrone (c.1550 - 1616)

Hugh O'Neill (Aodh Ó Neill) was born around 1550 in Tyrone, the second son of the Baron Dungannon and the grandson of Conn Bacach O'Neill, the first Earl of Tyrone. After the death of his father, O'Neill was fostered to families living within the pale and was raised with English customs and traditions. Internal disputes within the lordship meant that for most of his early life O'Neill's future position within the clan was uncertain, although Queen Elizabeth I supported his claim to the title of Earl of Tyrone. This helped secure him the lordship. Increasing incursions by the English into his lands led to Tyrone's eventual rebellion against the Queen. The Earl had secretly supported O'Donnell and Maguire since the beginning of the Nine Years War but it was not until 1595 that he openly rebelled and was declared a traitor to the crown, the same year as he was finally proclaimed The O'Neill, chieftain of the O'Neill clan. O'Neill enjoyed success at the beginning of the Nine Years War, the battle of Yellow Ford in 1598 being a particular personal victory for him. The arrival of the Spanish at Kinsale in September 1601 marked a turning point in the conflict and was the beginning of the end for O'Neill.

Numerous reasons have been given for O'Neill's subsequent flight from Ireland. Although he retained his title and estate and was granted a full pardon by James I, O'Neill's position was made increasingly difficult by the presence of the English administration. His enemies conspired together to gradually chip away at his lands and authority in Ulster. O'Neill's decision to leave for Spain with O'Donnell and Maguire was unexpected. It is unclear whether he left with the intention of returning with additional Spanish support for the cause or whether he resigned himself to the fact that there was no hope of maintaining his authority in the north. Whatever his reason for leaving, it appeared that a normally calm O'Neill panicked on hearing that the ship had arrived to carry them to Spain. He made a desperate effort to gather his family together and rushed from Slane in County Meath to Rathmullan to join the rest of the party, leaving an infant son behind him. He spent his remaining days in Rome, supported by a pension from King Phillip and living at a residence provided by the Pope. He never gave up requesting help from Spain, still writing to the King of Spain up until the year before his death.

His health deteriorated and he died in Rome on the 20th July 1616, leaving the Countess O'Neill, who died less than two years later, penniless. He is buried in the city in the Church of San Pietro Montorio.

Red Hugh O'Donnell - Lord of Tír Chonaill (1572 - 1602)

Red Hugh O'Donnell (Aodh Ó Dónaill, Hugh Roe, Aodh Rua) was the eldest son of Sir Hugh O'Donnell, Lord of Tír Chonaill and Iníon Dhubh of Scottish descent), born in October 1572. Due to suspicions over the O'Donnells' loyalty, Sir John Perrot, Governor of Ireland, decided to Kidnap O'Donnell, his wife and their son Red Hugh, probably on the order of Elizabeth I. In September 1587 Perrot succeeded in kidnapping Red Hugh from Rathmullan in County Donegal and transported him by ship to Dublin Castle, where he remained incarcerated for four years. In January 1591, Red Hugh attempted to escape but was recaptured. A second attempt a year later in the winter of 1592 met with more success, with Red Hugh making his way to Wicklow, and from there returning to the O'Donnell castle at Ballyshannon.

During Red Hugh's incarceration his father had been ill and the English garrison ran amuck in Tír Chonaill. Upon his return his mother assisted him in pressing for his recognition as Chieftain of the O'Donnells'. In May 1592, Red Hugh became Lord O'Donnell, chieftain of the O'Donnells' clan at a ceremony at the inauguration stone at Doon Rock, near Kilmacrennan, at the young age of 19 years. He immediately began strengthening his position with his nearest ally and neighbour Hugh O'Neill. O'Donnell led a very successful campaign into Sligo and Connaught, covering lands that historically had been part of the O'Donnell lordship. He also fought at O'Neill's side at the Battle of the Yellow Ford.

However, the greatest threat to O'Donnell's success came in the form of his kinsman, Niall Garbh O'Donnell. Niall Garbh took Red Hugh's absence as an opportunity to further his own ambitions, by forming an alliance with the English. He managed to seize Lifford Castle and the Friary of Donegal while Sir Henry Docwra raided and plundered lands in Inishowen in 1600. O'Donnell initially made efforts to recover his losses in Donegal, but upon hearing of the Spanish landing at Kinsale, assembled his army for the long march south to join them. The defeat at Kinsale resulted in O'Donnell departing for Spain, leaving his command to his brother Ruairí. O'Donnell left from Castlehaven, County Cork with the intention of returning with reinforcements from Spain. He landed in the north of the country at Corunna, but was not immediately granted an audience with the King. Her languished there for months before receiving permission to travel to the court at Valladolid in August 1602. Upon his arrival however, O'Donnell was taken ill and died in mysterious circumstances shortly afterwards at Simancas Castle.

Hugh Maguire - Lord of Fermanagh (d.1600)

Hugh Maguire (Aodh Mág Uidhir) was the eldest son of Cú Chonnacht Maguire, Lord of Fermanagh, and Nuala O'Donnell of Tir Chonaill. With the support of the O'Donnells and the Irish Privy Council Maguire succeeded as chieftain on his father's death.

Like his neighbouring chiefdoms, Magurie was subject to increasing threats to his autonomy from English garrisons and government officials impinging on his lands. Maguire was the first to openly rebel against the English garrison, leading an attack against Henry Bagenal at the Erne Forde near Ballyshannon in 1593 and laying siege to his own castle at Enniskillen, in February 1594 after it was taken by the English. Magurie also fought at the Battle of the Yellow Ford by O'Neill's side. On an expedition into Munster in February 1600 Maguire was shot and died instantly.

Cú Chonnacht Maguire - Lord of Fermanagh (d.1608)

Hugh Maguire was succeeded by his younger brother Cú Chonnacht. Cú Chonnacht was sent to France to commission the ship that brought the Earls to the continent. He travelled with the Earls on their flight and continued on with O'Neill and O'Donnell to Rome. After his stay in Rome, Cú Chonnacht, determined to make his way to Spain, set out by sea from Naples. During an overnight stay in Genoa, he was struck down with a fever and died shortly afterwards on the 12th August 1608.

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