Dates of Leading Events - Taken from "Twixt Foyle and Swilly"
By J.J. Brady

Before 1000 B.C. According to the Dinnseanchus the Grianan of Aileach was established by Eochu Ollathair, the Tuatha de Danaan King (or Dagda).

A.D.
386. Prince Eoghan (Owen), son of Niall of the Nine Hostages and Ri of Ireland, came to Aileach and gave his name to Inish Eoghain (i.e. Island of Eoghan).

395. Prince Eoghan (Owen), son of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, Ard Righ of Ireland, came to Aileach and gave his name to Inis Eoghain (i.e., Island of Eoghan)

433. Prince Eoghan and his people converted to Christianity by St. Patrick.

465. Death of Prince Eoghan.

498. Fergus Mor Mac Earca, grandson of Prince Eoghan, went to Scotland and founded the Royal Line from which His Majesty King George VI. derives descent.

509. Muirchertach I Mor Mac Earca, another grandson of Prince Eoghan, became first Christian Ard Righ or High King of Ireland.

546. St. Columba founded a monastery at Doire-Calgaich (Derry).

563. St. Columba and twelve disciples sailed from Lough Foyle for Iona.

674. Aileach destroyed by Finsneachta, son of Donoch, King of Ireland. Was rebuilt later.

833. Niall III, King of Aileach and Ard Righ of Ireland (10th in descent from Prince Eoghan), defeated the Danes in Derry with great slaughter.

834. Fergus Mac Badhbhchadh, Chief of Carrig Brachaidhe (Carrickbrahey) fell in battle with the Danes.

941. Muircheartach (of the leather clocks), King of Aileach (937-943), "The Hector of Western Europe", made the famous "Circuit of Ireland".

1046. Ardghal, (Son of Lochlann), King of Aileach (18th in descent from Prince Eoghan) died. He was the first to assume the Surname Mac Lochlainn.

1090. Domhnall V, MacLochlainn (son of Ardghal) became Ard Righ of Ireland.

1101. Muircheartach O'Brian, King of Munster, demolished the Royal Palace at Aileach.

1166. Death of Muircheartach III (Mac Lochlainn), Ard Righ of Ireland (1156-1166). Last descendant of Prince Eoghan to be monarch of all Ireland.

1198. Inishowen invaded and plundered by an Anglo Norman force commanded by John De Courcy.

1241. Domhnall Mac Lochlainn, Lord of Cineal Eoghain (grandson of King Muircheartach III) and nine of his kinsmen slain in battle by Bryan O'Neill and Melaghlin O'Donnell, after which the Maclochlainn's ceased to rule in Inishowen.

1247. Melaghlin O'Donnell slain in battle. He is described in Annals as "Lord of Tirconnail, Cineal Moen, Inis Eoghain, and Fermanagh".

1305. Richard de Burgh, the Red Earl of Ulster, erected Castle of Northburgh (Greencastle).

1328. William de Burgh, succeeds to the Earldom of Ulster.

1333. Walter de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, assassinated after which the English ceased to rule in Inishowen until 1608.

1342. Domhnall O'Dochartaigh, High Chief of Ard Midhair, died. The Annals of Ulster record "there was little wanting from his having the Lordship of Inis Eoghain".

1410. (Circa) Erection of castles at Buncrana, Burt, Inch, Elagh and Culmacatraine.

1413. Conchobhar (Conor) O'Doherty, (grandson of Domhnall) died. This is the first mention of O'Doherty in Inishowen. In the Annals he is styled Chief or Ard Midhair and Lord of Inis Eoghain.

1454. Donnell O'Donnell defeats Rory O'Donnell who was besieging him in Inch Castle.

1456. Donnell O'Donnell is succeeded by Rory's brother, Turlough.

1541. Sir John Mor O'Doherty, chieftain of Inis Eoghain, submitted to King Henry VIII and was knighted.

1600. Battle of Pollan Strand, Ballyliffen. Niall Garve O'Donnell victorious over Red Hugh O'Donnell and the O'Cahans.

1600. Sir Henry Docwra with an English army landed at Culmore and occupied Derry.

1607. September 14th. Flight of the Earls from Lough Swilly with their entire retinue.

1608. Defeat and death of Sir Cahir O'Doherty, last Gaelic Chieftain of Inishowen.

1609. Grant of Inis Eoghain to Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland.(1606-1615)

1611. Grant to John Brown of Ferry rights between Fahan (Fane), Inch and Rathmullen.

1629. Moville created a' prebend.

1647. Arthur Chichester, nephew of the first Sir Arthur, created Earl of Donegall.

1689. April 18th. King James from his headquarters at Castle-cooley near Grianan advanced on the city of Derry.

1704. The Parish Priests of Inis Eoghain were compelled (by an Act of Queen Anne) to register at Raphoe, viz., Roger O'Hegarty (Templemore); James Hegarty (Fahan); Denis McColgan (Donagh); Dermott O'Meely (Culdaff); Owen McCool (Cloncha).

1718. George Vaughan, Governor of County Donegal, rebuilt Buncrana Castle and also much of the town.

1768. Samuel Montgomery bought the site Moville (townland of Ballynelly).

1780. Site of Moville (30 acres) leased by Samuel Montgomery to Hugh Doherty.

1784. First Roman Catholic Church in Inis Eoghain since Penal times erected at Lagg, Malin.

1790. Glentogher silver mines opened.

1797. Charles Macklin, the noted actor, born in the townland of Gortinaren near Culdaff, died in London at the remarkable age of 106.

1798. November 3rd. Theobold Wolfe Tone landed as a prisoner at Buncrana from French warship La Hoche.

1810. Last fatal duel in Ireland, fought at Druminderry Bridge near Buncrana (William Todd v. Bateman).

1811. December 4th. H.M.S. Salanha lost at the entrance of Lough Swilly with entire crew of 274 hands.

1812. May 18th. Sold in the Court of Chancery on behalf of the trustees of the Marquis of Donegall, to Isaac Todd, the entire town of Buncrana (spelt Bonecrannagh or Buncranagh) , also the townlands of Tullydish, Adaravan and Ballymacarry.

1812. Six Martello Towers on Lough Swilly and one Martello Tower at Greencastle erected under fear of a Napoleonic invasion.

1813. March 17th. Light first shown on Innistrahull lighthouse.

1814. Act for Suppression of Illicit Distillation passed.

1822. First steamboat service Derry to Glasgow (S.S. Rover).

1828. Moville Bridge swept away by the greatest flood ever recorded in the district.

1832. First steamboat service Derry to Moville.

1835. John O'Donovan wrote letters on Inishowen antiquities.

1837. The Ordnance Survey Commission published a full historical account of the ruins of Ailech and the place became famous.

1839. January 5th. Night of the "Big Wind".

1843. August 7th (Monday). "Repeal" Meeting at Green Hill near Malin Town attended by over 20,000 people.

1843. October. Opening of Inishowen Union Workhouse at Carndonagh.

1845. Greencastle Harbour constructed.

1847. Carrickarory Pier, Moville, erected by Derry Harbour Commissioners.

1847. Irish Famine. (370 gallon soup pot then used still to be seen in Buncrana.)

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