Niall Garve O'Donnell

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Niall Garve O'Donnell
Lord of Tyrconnell
(disputed)
ReignApril 1603 – 1626
InaugurationApril 1603
PredecessorHugh Roe O'Donnell
SuccessorDormant
Bornc. 1569
Castlefin, Tyrconnell, Ireland
Died1626 (aged 57)
Tower of London, England
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1591; sep. 1600)​
IssueNaghtan (c. 1591–c. 1623)
Manus (died 1646)
Unnamed child (c. 1596–1601)
HouseO'Donnell dynasty
FatherConn O'Donnell
MotherRose O'Neill

Niall Garve O'Donnell (Irish: Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill;[1] c. 1569 – 1626)[a] was an Irish nobleman and soldier who alternately rebelled against and supported English rule in Ireland. During the Nine Years' War he defected from the Irish confederacy and sided with the Crown against his cousin Hugh Roe O'Donnell, with the aim of restoring the lordship of Tyrconnell to his own branch of the O'Donnell clan. He was inaugurated as the O'Donnell clan chief in April 1603. He turned against the Crown in 1608, following years of land rights disputes.

Although Niall's paternal grandfather ruled Tyrconnell, his own father was passed over in favour of his half-uncle Hugh McManus O'Donnell. After a violent succession conflict, Hugh McManus's son Hugh Roe—Niall's younger cousin—succeeded to the lordship in 1592. A long lasting bitterness ensued between the two cousins.

Niall initially fought for Hugh Roe and the Irish confederacy, but in 1600 he entered secret negotiations with English commander Henry Docwra. The English government hoped to harness Niall's feud against Hugh Roe and promised him the lordship of Tyrconnell for his military assistance. Niall defected in October bringing many followers with him. Niall's skills in guerrilla warfare emboldened the English troops and allowed Docwra to significantly weaken Irish forces in Ulster. However, Niall's desire to rule Tyrconnell as a sovereign entity was incompatible with the Plantation of Ulster, and after the war ended, the majority of Tyrconnell's land was granted back to Hugh Roe's immediate family. In early 1608 Niall covertly instigated fellow spurned loyalist Cahir O'Doherty to launch a rebellion in Derry,[3] but he was quickly implicated and put on trial. Faced with a sympathetic jury that would almost certainly acquit, the government sent Niall to the Tower of London in 1609, where he remained until his death seventeen years later.

Family background (1569–1586)

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Niall Garve O'Donnell was born c. 1569 into the O'Donnell clan, the ruling Gaelic Irish noble family of Tyrconnell.[4] He was the fourth[b] son of Conn O'Donnell, head of the O'Donnells' "MacCalvagh" branch, and Rose O'Neill, daughter of O'Neill clan chief Shane O'Neill.[8] Niall's brothers included Calvagh Oge, Manus, Hugh Boye, Conn Oge, Donal[9] and Cathbharr. His sisters were Róise, Elizabeth, Siobhan and Máire.[10]

Niall's sobriquet "Garve"[c] meant "rough".[15] According to historian Paul Walsh, this epithet was traditional with O'Donnell clansmen named Niall, and has no special significance in his case;[16] his ancestor, who ruled Tyrconnell from 1422 to 1439, was also named Niall Garve.[17] As a child, Niall was fostered to the MacLeans of Scotland's Western Isles.[8]

Niall's paternal grandfather, Calvagh, ruled Tyrconnell in the mid-1560s. In 1557, Calvagh's half-brother Hugh McManus turned against the family.[18][8] His allies imprisoned Conn, Calvagh's son and tanist. When Calvagh died in 1566, Hugh McManus easily established himself as the new Lord of Tyrconnell.[8][19] Conn and his descendants, particularly Niall, looked to the Dublin-based English government as a means of restoring their branch of the family to power.[8] This branch established themselves in Lifford, between the River Finn and Lough Swilly, and were constantly at odds with the ruling O'Donnells.[20] The "MacCalvagh" family estate, which Niall inherited, totalled 12,900 acres of land and included Finn Castle (now Castlefin),[21] where he was probably born.[1] His father Conn died in March 1583;[22] his mother Rose died in 1585.[23]

Family tree
Niall Garve O'Donnell and selected relatives
Siobhán
O'Neill		Manus
O'Donnell
1490–1564
Calvagh
O'Donnell
c. 1515–1566		Shane
O'Neill
c. 1530–1567
Fiona
"Iníon
Dubh"
MacDonald		Hugh
McManus
O'Donnell
c. 1520–1600		Conn
O'Donnell
d. 1583		Rose
O'Neill
Hugh
Roe
O'Donnell
1572–1602		Nuala
O'Donnell
c. 1575–c. 1630		Niall
Garve
O'Donnell
c. 1569–1626
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article		XXXInaugurated ruler
of Tyrconnell

Succession dispute (1587–1593)

[edit]
Main article: 1580–1592 Tyrconnell succession dispute

In 1587, Hugh McManus's son and tanist Hugh Roe was kidnapped on the orders of the Lord Deputy and imprisoned in Dublin Castle. Hugh McManus had become senile in his old age,[24] and a violent succession dispute broke out amongst the greater O'Donnell family over who would succeed him.[25] Three of Niall's brothers died during the conflict; six of his brothers would die in violent circumstances.[7] Calvagh Oge died in 1588,[26] and Manus died in 1589.[9]

Hugh McManus's Scottish wife Iníon Dubh effectively took over leadership of Tyrconnell and used her Scottish redshanks to eliminate rival claimants and defend Hugh Roe's claim to the chieftaincy. On her orders, her redshanks killed Calvagh's son Hugh MacEdegany in May 1588.[27] After Hugh MacEdegany's death, Niall took over as the head of the "MacCalvagh" faction.[28] Niall had a significant following within Tyrconnell, but he was apparently not powerful enough to provoke an assault from Iníon Dubh.[29]

Niall was supported by his neighbour Turlough Luineach O'Neill of Tír Eoghain,[30] who had succeeded Niall's maternal grandfather Shane as O'Neill clan chief.[8][31] In turn, Niall supported Turlough in attacks against the latter's rival Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone,[7] who had formed an alliance with the ruling O'Donnell branch.[32] On 1 May 1589, Niall fought alongside Turlough and defeated Tyrone in battle.[7]

English forces took advantage of the clan's internal conflict and began pillaging and raiding across Tyrconnell. At one point Hugh McManus was kidnapped by Captain John Connill, but he was rescued by Niall.[33] Despite the continual presence of freebooting government troops, Tyrconnell's nobility remained obsessed with their succession conflict.[32] Iníon Dubh temporarily bought off Niall with a political marriage to her daughter—his first cousin once-removed—Nuala. This marriage was the family's attempt to temper Niall's hostility.[34][d] By 1592, Niall Garve was in a strong position to claim Tyrconnell's lordship.[39]

Hugh Roe eventually escaped prison and returned to Tyrconnell in early 1592; Tyrone had bribed officials in Dublin to secure his release.[40] Hugh McManus abdicated in favour of Hugh Roe,[7] who was inaugurated as clan chief on 23 April 1592.[36] Niall was incensed at his cousin's successful assertion of the lordship.[41] He was conspicuously absent from the inauguration ceremony, and was instead in Dublin unsuccessfully attempting to secure support from the government.[7]

Hugh Roe was Niall's rival in his pursuit of Tyrconnell's lordship
Hugh Roe was Niall's rival in his pursuit of Tyrconnell's lordship

Soon after Hugh Roe's inauguration, Hugh Roe and Tyrone attacked Turlough,[42] forcing him to surrender in May 1593.[31] In July 1592, Lord Deputy William FitzWilliam agreed to conditionally overlook Hugh Roe's anti-royalist activities,[42] one condition being that Hugh Roe's rivals be treated fairly.[7] Despite his promise to FitzWilliam, Hugh Roe quickly subjugated his rivals. A significant claimant, Hugh Dubh O'Donnell, submitted to Hugh Roe after his followers were beheaded.[43] These beheadings intimidated Niall to submit to Hugh Roe "wholly through fear... by the point and edge of the sword".[44] Niall was forced to turn over control of Lifford's castle, though his ambitions to seize the lordship remained.[45]

Irish confederacy (1593–1599)

[edit]

Niall fought for the Irish confederacy, which was led by Hugh Roe and Tyrone, during the early years of the Nine Years' War. On Hugh Roe's orders, he commanded 60 horsemen, 60 swordsmen and 100 gallowglass to the Battle of Belleek in October 1593. This was one of the first major battles of the war but was secretly planned to result in an Irish failure. This would divert English attention away from Ireland and make the Irish confederacy seem weaker than it actually was. As part of the plan, Hugh Roe was ordered by Tyrone not to send reinforcements. Historian James O'Neill has theorised that Hugh Roe intentionally dispatched Niall to Belleek with the hope that he would die in the slaughter, thus easily eliminating a potential enemy.[46]

Niall's continuing belligerence led him to be detained in February 1594. He was only released when Hugh Roe received one of Niall's brothers as a pledge of good behaviour.[47] In late 1597, Niall told two of Hugh Roe's enemies, imprisoned in Donegal, that he would join the English if their forces were sent there.[48] In 1597 and 1598, Hugh Roe sent Niall on military expeditions into Connacht.[45] From at least 1598, Tyrone had his doubts about the sincerity of Niall’s loyalty.[49] Hugh Roe was seemingly more trusting of Niall,[50] as he left him in charge of the siege of Collooney castle in July 1599.[45]

Defection (1600–1602)

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Arrival of Henry Docwra

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Depiction of Henry Docwra in a stained-glass window

In May 1600, English-born commander Henry Docwra established an English garrison in Derry.[51] Docwra had a policy of fostering divisions in the leading Irish clans in order to win Gaelic support for the Crown.[52] The prospects of Docwra's mission depended on winning over disaffected confederates,[53] and he had instructions to win Niall over.[6] He believed that Niall's resentment against Hugh Roe was a political asset which the English should exploit to its fullest extent.[54][55] Docwra and Niall Garve began secretly communicating. By August, Niall Garve had sent through his list of demands, the principal of which was to rule Tyrconnell like his grandfather Calvagh. Docwra promised to obtain Niall Garve a royal grant of Tyrconnell if he served against his cousin.[56]

In September, Hugh Roe left Ulster for a raid in Thomond, entrusting Niall to besiege Derry.[57][e] Whilst Hugh Roe was in Ballymote, Niall and his followers murdered Niall's uncle Neachtan in a drunken rage. Neachtan was "a man of great authority with [Hugh Roe] and all his country".[59] Fearing Hugh Roe's revenge, Niall Garve—alongside his three brothers and about 100 soldiers—quickly defected to the English. They joined Docwra on 3 October.[60] Hugh Roe's supporters were aware of Niall's communication with Docwra, which forced Niall into leaving for Derry before he was fully ready. He brought over 200 men with him to Docwra, but would have brought more if not for the shortness of time.[48] His brothers Hugh Boy, Conn Oge and Donal defected with him.[61][62]

Niall was one of many other disgruntled Gaelic Irish noblemen who would defect on Docwra's promises, including Arthur O'Neill[63] and Cahir O'Doherty.[64]

Battle of Lifford

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Accompanied by English forces, Niall marched to Lifford's castle,[48] which had been left in the control of Hugh Roe's tanist and younger brother Rory.[65] The loyalists successfully stormed and took control of Lifford on 9 October. Hugh Roe was shocked at Niall's betrayal and rushed back to Ulster to besiege the loyalist forces.[48] The confederates tried in vain to retake Lifford from Niall Garve, with minor skirmishes occurring around the castle.[66] Hugh Roe lost about 20 men on 17 October.[67]

From Lifford, Niall and his brothers, Hugh, Donnell, and Con, made several raids into Tyrone, and captured Newtown from the O'Neills.[14] Men, women and children were killed, and 500 cows were pillaged and taken back to Lifford.[68]

The siege at Lifford climaxed in the Battle of Lifford on 24 October.[48] Hugh Roe attacked the castle,[67] but Niall retaliated by leading a cavalry charge of mixed Irish and English forces out to battle.[69] During the battle, Niall fatally wounded Hugh Roe's younger brother Manus in the shoulder.[70] Rory and Niall subsequently engaged in single combat, though both men were lucky to leave the battle alive.[65][71]

Docwra was pleased that the feud between Niall and Hugh Roe had been exacerbated, as it pushed Niall further into opposition with the confederacy.[48] He wrote: "I think there needeth no better hostages for his fidelity, for he hath slain with his own hands (in fight and open view of our men that saw him) O’Donnell’s second brother, and there have passed beside many arguments of extreme and irreconcible hatred between them. His love and credit with the people is little inferior to O’Donnell’s..."[67] By December 1600, Hugh Roe had put a price of £300 on Niall's head.[72] Apparently Niall later made efforts to return to the Irish confederacy, but this was obviously difficult due to his murder of Manus.[48]

Military skill

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Niall Garve O'Donnell was unrivalled in his use of Ireland's terrain as part of guerilla warfare. This skill was a key factor that increased the prowess of English troops in north-west Ulster. His team of spies and his skill in navigating Irish terrain were valuable tools to the English.[71] He also provided intel on Hugh Roe's tactics.[59] With Niall as an ally, the English could mobilise across Tyrconnell.[71]

By Docwra's admission, Niall's service was crucial.[14] After the war, he wrote "I must confess a truth, all by the help and advice of Neal Garbh and his followers, and the other Irish that came in with Sir Arthur O'Neale, without whose intelligence and guidance little or nothing could have been done of ourselves".[63]

Quarrels with the English

[edit]

In December 1600, Niall travelled to Dublin to meet Lord Deputy Mountjoy. On 18 March 1601, Niall was granted a custodium of Tyrconnell (excepting Ballyshannon and the fishery of the Erne). This recognised him as the O'Donnell clan chief.[71] But to Niall's dismay, fellow loyalist Cahir O'Doherty was established by Docwra in the lordship of Inishowen, a part of Tyrconnell. Mountjoy was willing to establish Niall in the lordship of Tyrconnell, but wouldn't permit him to enforce his supremacy over O'Doherty. Niall was unwilling to give away any of Tyrconnell, and regarded Mountjoy's decision as an infringement of his rights.[41][14] Niall's goal was to rule Tyrconnell in its entirety, in the style of a traditional Gaelic chief. In contrast, the English wanted Tyrconnell to be subsumed under the Kingdom of Ireland, and for Niall to remain under the authority of the Crown. To placate Niall, Docwra gave him control of MacSweeney's country.[71] This was the beginning of a growing resentment between Niall and English authorities.[41][14] When he returned to Derry in April, his relationship with Docwra was beginning to worsen.[71]

Further conflict

[edit]

In April 1601, Hugh Roe unexpectedly marched on Niall, forcing him to temporarily retreat to Derry. On 26 May 1601, upon hearing that Tyrone was near Lifford, Niall put together a small group of both Irish and English and attacked Tyrone's larger army. Niall's forces killed 100 of Tyrone's men, and chased Tyrone for miles.[71]

Siege of Donegal

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Main article: Siege of Donegal
Ruins of Donegal Abbey

In August 1601, Niall led an Anglo-Irish force that captured Donegal.[71][73][74][75] In particular Niall was able to capture Donegal's Franciscan priory Donegal Abbey, which housed a confederate munition store consisting of "a great chamber full of calivers and muskets, a loft full of pikes, and three of powder, containing by estimation two hundred barrels".[76]

Niall's hold over Donegal virtually stopped Hugh Roe from entering Tyrconnell, and a subsequent month-long siege ensued. It came to a head on 26 September[71][73][74][75] (or 19 September[77]) when a gunpowder explosion in the store caused a raging fire in Donegal Abbey. Hugh Roe hurriedly ordered his men to attack, leading to a chaotic engagement amidst the burning abbey. It seemed that Niall would be defeated, but the loyalist forces held out until reinforcements from Docwra arrived, forcing Hugh Roe to retreat. During the battle, 300 of Niall's followers were killed, including his brother Conn Oge, who was buried under fallen stones. It is possible Niall's losses came more from the raging fire rather than enemy attacks.[71][73][74][75][77]

Around this time, Docwra received "many informations against" Niall, but confessed that Niall that "behaued himselfe deservinglie," and "had many of his men slaine at the siege of Kinsale, and amongst the rest a brother of his owne".[14]

Niall was so unsettled by the siege that, with Docwra's permission, he began negotiating with Hugh Roe. He requested "that in recompense of this service he should be made tánaiste of Tír Chonaill and have the present lordship of all the country between Bearnas Mór and Inishowen and where Niall Garbh’s wife being sister to [Hugh Roe]… that upon this agreement … she was still reserved for Niall to have again". However, Niall's conditions (which included "that [Hugh Roe] and [Niall] should be bound and sworn never to come in sight of one another") were so numerous that Hugh Roe discarded the negotiations.[77]

Siege of Kinsale

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Niall's assistance to the English was a major reason for the weakening of Hugh Roe's forces. By the time Irish forces were marching to Kinsale, Niall and Docwra had essentially conquered Tyrconnell and left Hugh Roe with no home to return to. England's victory at the Siege of Kinsale crushed the Irish confederacy.[71][78] After the departure of Hugh Roe from Ireland in 1602,[40] Rory was left as acting chief. Rory and his ally Brian O'Rourke lost Ballyshannon to Niall in spring 1602.[65]

Effective ruler of Tyrconnell

[edit]

By 1602, Niall was in control of Tyrconnell and was effectively the O'Donnell clan chief. In March, he was knighted by Mountjoy. However, that year the rift between Niall and Docwra increased as they argued over pay and the division of plundered goods. By end of the year, Niall refused to help or even meet Docwra. In response, Docwra wrote to Dublin accusing Niall of plotting with Tyrone and Hugh Roe against the crown. Given the animosity between Niall and the confederacy leaders, this was clearly a ploy by Docwra. It is possible that Docwra, not well-regarded as a military strategist, was jealous of the plaudits Niall received for his military assistance. Additionally if Niall was disgraced, his land rights would be retracted by the Crown; this would allow Docwra to obtain a grant to parts of Tyrconnell.[71]

Post-war (1603–1607)

[edit]

On 25 March 1602, Niall and an English force defended Ballyshannon castle against Rory. With Niall's strong hold over Tyrconnell, Donough McSweeney Banagh submitted to him and the English.[79] In January 1603, Rory submitted to the English. Niall was alarmed and correctly assumed that the English would pit Rory against him in a power struggle for Tyrconnell. Niall responded by seizing Rory's cattle, and he may have even tried to murder Rory.[80]

Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy

News of Niall's insubordination reached Mountjoy, who summoned him to Dublin with the apparent intention of granting him a patent of Tyrconnell. Niall disobeyed the summons[14] as he had received news of Hugh Roe's death in Spain,[14][71] which had occurred on 30 August 1602.[40] In April 1603, Niall tried to seize the chieftainship and was "inaugurated" as O'Donnell clan chief in Kilmacrennan with the customary ceremonies.[71][14][12] On 5 April, Docwra wrote that Niall "has now created himself O’Donell after the Irish fashion".[81] His chieftainship was repudiated by Hugh Roe's surviving family, especially Rory.[citation needed]

In 1603, Caffar Óg O’Donnell and Mulmurry McSweeney Doe went to Tyrconnell, "with their people and cattle, to wage war with Niall Garbh and the English". Shortly afterwards Caffar Óg was captured by Niall.[82]

Mountjoy initially treated Niall with good faith but was now weary of his insubordinate behaviour; he ordered Niall's arrest.[71] Docwra arrested Niall, but allowed him to go to Dublin to plead his cause with Mountjoy in person.[14] According to O'Sullivan Beare: "[Niall] had himself inaugurated O'Donnell by O'Ferrall, and for so doing was imprisoned in Derry by the English, who hate the Irish titles and wished to abolish such inaugurations. [Niall] escaped to a thick wood where he assembled his forces and party. [Rory] and Dowcra, joining their forces, stripped him of his goods and shattered his resources. Hence it came to pass that of his party 4,000 men, women and children died of famine, and himself reduced to poverty fled into England less valued now by the English than [Rory]."[83]

Niall subsequently escaped but was pursued by Rory and Docwra. In their bid to recapture the fugitive, they captured all of Niall's cattle and starved or killed many of his followers. Niall ultimately gave himself up[71] and was allowed to proceed to London "to solicit pardon for his offences, and to obtain the reward for his service and aid to the crown of England."[14] Docwra advised that Niall should be imprisoned or executed, but Niall still had several supporters at court.[71]

At the same time Rory also went to London,[14] where the English Privy Council endeavoured to solve the O'Donnell family quarrel.[41] The council raised Rory to the peerage as 1st Earl of Tyrconnell—effectively the lordship.[f] To Niall, they granted 12,900 acres of land extending from Laght in the parish of Donaghmore to Sheskin-loobanagh in the parish of Croaghonagh. This was the land Niall's family had already owned prior to the outbreak of war.[14][71] This decision failed to satisfy either Niall or Rory.[84][14][71]

Niall shortly afterwards complained that he was debarred from the full enjoyment of the lands assigned to him.[14] He smugly refused to formally take out the patent for the lands granted to him (though he retained the land in practice). For the next few years, Niall continued his vendetta with Tyrone and Rory, and engaged with them in land disputes.[71]

In 1605 Lord Deputy Arthur Chichester tried without success to reconcile their differences.[14] In 1607 Chichester promised Niall lordship of Inishowen.[71]

In March 1607, Niall served against Cathbhar Oge O'Donnell, and was reputed to have "got a blow in the service which he will hardly recover of long time, if he escape with his life".[14][71][g]

In September 1607, due to increasing hostility towards former confederacy members, Rory and Tyrone left Ireland for continental Europe.[85] This restored Niall's hopes that he could claim the lordship of Tyrconnell.[14][71] However, his claims were ignored, and he is said to have refused the title of Baron of Lifford.[14] By 1608 he was heavily in debt.[71]

Rebellion, trial and death (1608–1626)

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O'Doherty's rebellion

[edit]
Main article: O'Doherty's rebellion
Pamphlet displaying the heads of Irish rebels Cahir O'Doherty and Phelim Reagh MacDavitt

In early 1608, it appears Niall encouraged Cahir O'Doherty to instigate a rebellion against the Crown.[86][41][71] O'Doherty was a Gaelic Irish nobleman who had similarly defected to Docwra's forces in 1600.[64] However, he had become angered at his poor treatment by Sir George Paulet, Docwra's successor as governor of Derry.[87][88]

O'Doherty burnt Derry on 19 April 1608,[89] but Niall stayed aloof from the rebellion.[90] He clearly hoped to be awarded O'Doherty's lands of Inishowen in the event of a failed rebellion, as promised by Chichester.[87][90] Niall rejected meetings with the English, starting bargaining with them over the price of his assistance, and demanded for him to be finally recognised as the rightful Lord of Tyrconnell. When English forces arrived in late May 1608, Niall pledged his assistance in catching O'Doherty. It appears however that he maintained correspondence with O'Doherty and warned him of his enemies' movements. The English quickly grew suspicious.[71]

Niall was charged by his mother-in-law Iníon Dubh with having instigated O'Doherty's rebellion.[14][34][41][91] Niall protested his loyalty, but after some delay, and under protection from Treasurer Thomas Ridgeway, Niall and his two brothers (Hugh and Donal) surrendered on 14 June. They were committed, on a charge of corresponding clandestinely with O'Doherty, "to the custody of the captain of the Tramontane" to be conveyed immediately to Dublin.[14][92] Niall was charged on six counts of treason and imprisoned in Dublin Castle. Subsequently, many of O'Doherty's supporters (including his wife) implicated Niall in the rebellion.[71]

Trial

[edit]

The Attorney-General for Ireland, Sir John Davies, found little difficulty in accumulating proof of Niall's correspondence with O'Doherty, but the question arose whether his guilt had not been condoned by his protection. He was not brought to trial until June 1609.[86] During this interval, Niall and his brothers made numerous unsuccessful attempts to escape their confinement.[86][90]

Niall died during imprisonment in the Tower of London

On 1 July Niall was examined before the council and committed to the castle. On Friday, midsummer-eve, he was put on his trial in the king's bench.[86] Despite considerable pressure from the government to convict Niall, the Donegal jury feared retribution from Niall's supporters and threats of excommunication from the catholic clergy. After three days, Davies realised that the jury would acquit Niall.[71] "Pretending that he had more evidence to give for the king, but that he found the jury so weak with long fasting that they were not able to attend the service," Davies discharged them before they gave their verdict.[93] According to Clavin, these proceedings were "brazenly illegal".[71] Davies suggested trial by a Middlesex jury, as in the case of Sir Brian O'Rourke. Chichester would have liberated the brothers from prison on giving security.[93][92]

Death

[edit]

In October 1609, Niall was committed to the Tower of London[71] with his eldest son Naghtan.[92][94][93] This is where Niall remained until his death in 1626,[94][93][71] aged 57.[91][95]

Character

[edit]

Historian Paul Walsh points out that because of Niall's betrayal of both Gaelic Ireland and the Crown, both Irish and English contemporary sources would be somewhat biased again him.[96] He is described by Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, Hugh Roe's biographer, as "a violent man, hasty, austere, since he was spiteful, vindictive, with the venom of a serpent, with the impetuosity of a lion. He was a hero in valour, and brave."[93][97]

Docwra praised Niall's military value to the royal army,[63] but nonetheless wrote that Niall was "proud, valiant, miserable, tyrannous, unnecessarily covetous, without any knowledge of God, or almost any civility".[38][15] Walsh points out that Docwra would have described any Irishman of his time in this manner.[96]

Philip O'Sullivan Beare called Niall "a man of great spirit and daring, skilled in military matters". He references that, despite working for the Protestant Crown, Niall "always retained the Catholic faith and kept aloof from heretical rites."[11] Indeed, a condition of Niall assisting Docwra was a guarantee of liberty of conscience for himself and his followers.[98]

Of the commanders working for the Crown, Niall was one of the most zealous and aggressive in attacking Irish civilians during his raids.[99]

According to Clavin, Niall "displayed a childlike cunning, even naivety" in his dealings with the English. He was "first and foremost a warrior... unsuited to the role of a landlord".[71] Robert Dunlop described him as "certainly a most unfortunate and badly used man".[93]

It is known that Niall spoke broken English, and required Willis to translate for him.[100]

John O'Donovan wrote: "The character of Niall Garv has been generally painted in unfavourable colours, because of his hostility to Hugh Roe, and the part which he took against him in conjunction with the English. It is true that history does not present a more chivalrous and devoted Irishman than Hugh Roe proved himself to be during his short and eventful career... we should recollect that Niall had the prior title, and that doubtless he was nurtured in feelings of hostility to what his own immediate family must have considered an unjust usurpation."[6]

A bardic poet wrote a poem on Niall's ambition to become Lord of Tyrconnell:

Original Irish English translation
Do ba neimní re Niall Garbh
crínad a alt df[h]iaclaib feól-arm
go tarrachtain tíre a sean
df[h]ath-bertaibh gríbhe Gaoidheal. 		Niall Garbh little cared if his limbs
were chopped by the teeth of weapons,
provided only he saved his forbears’ land
with skilful deeds of a chief of the Gaedhil.[101]

Family and issue

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Sometime before his submission to Hugh Roe in 1593, Niall married Nuala O'Donnell, his first cousin once-removed.[d] Niall and Nuala had at least two children, Naghtan and Manus.[1][h] When Niall defected from the confederacy in 1600, Nuala separated from him.[102] In 1602 he was reportedly contemplating a marriage to the widow of Arthur O'Neill,[104] who was also the sister of the late Hugh Maguire. Whether or not Niall remarried, it appears he had more than two children.[1] The historian George Hill states that Naghtan had two younger brothers,[94] and Walsh states that it is unlikely that Niall remained without a partner until his arrest in 1608.[105] By 1607, Nuala was living with her brother Rory. She took part in the Flight of the Earls and died in the Spanish Netherlands circa 1630.[102]

Naghtan, Niall's eldest son,[15] was born around 1591.[106][10] He was handed over to Docwra in 1600 as a surety for his father's loyalism.[15] Described as "a boy of an active spirit, and yet much inclined to his book", Naghtan enrolled at St John's College, Oxford in January 1603, at the charge of the Earl of Devonshire. He was given the English name "Hector".[106][93] He was then sent to Trinity College Dublin, whence he was transferred to Dublin Castle.[93] Naghtan disappears from records after 1623; it is assumed that he died in the Tower of London.[95]

Manus served as a colonel under Owen Roe O'Neill in the Irish Confederate Wars. He died at the Battle of Benburb in 1646.[107] The O'Donel baronets of Newport, County Mayo descend from Manus's son Rory.[108][95]

Hugh Roe's killing of child

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A report by Docwra, dated February 1601,[109] describes Hugh Roe murdering Niall and Nuala's four-year-old child in a furious reaction to Niall's betrayal:[110]

"O'Donnell hath of late hanged many of good account . . . he dasht owt the brains of Neil Garve's childe (of [four] yeares olde) againste a post, beinge in the mother’s custody, his owne naturall sister."[111]

This report is contentious amongst historians.[112][111][113] Docwra's biographer John McGurk acknowledges that the report's truthfulness is uncertain. McGurk points out that Docwra's "blunt" personality would indicate that he reported current affairs accurately, though it is unclear where Docwra received this intelligence. McGurk also acknowledges that infanticide was a feature of warfare in the early modern period.[111] Historian Hiram Morgan notes that since this is a contemporary account, it should not be dismissed out of hand.[113]

Legacy

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According to historian David Finnegan, Irish nationalist historians represent Niall as having betrayed Gaelic Ireland. He has been compared to Dermot MacMurrough, the medieval King of Leinster who incited the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.[114] The Franciscan Donagh Mooney, who knew Hugh Roe personally, had a particularly negative view of Niall. English civil servants nevertheless recognised Niall's importance to the English victory in the Nine Years' War.[115]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Unless otherwise stated, all dates before 1752 are given in the Julian calendar, which was used in the Kingdom of Ireland throughout Niall Garve O'Donnell's lifetime.[2]
  2. ^ Morgan and Silke state that Niall was Conn's eldest son,[5] but O'Donovan states that Niall was Conn's fourth son.[6] Three of Niall's brothers died during the 1580–1592 Tyrconnell succession dispute.[7] Thus Niall was the fourth son who became Conn's eldest son following the death of his three elder brothers.
  3. ^ Anglicisations include Garve,[11] Garbh,[12][13] Garv[14] and Garvach.[8]
  4. ^ a b In 1922, Paul Walsh stated that Nuala and Niall Garve married prior to Hugh Roe's inauguration[35] (which took place on 23 April 1592).[36] In 1929 he stated that Nuala and Niall Garve married prior to the latter's submission to Hugh Roe in 1592.[37] Helena Concannon stated that Nuala and Niall Garve married "perhaps about 1591".[38]
  5. ^ O'Donnell had previously entrusted Niall Garve to besiege Derry in June 1600, when he left Ulster to plunder south Connacht and north Munster.[58]
  6. ^ Letters patent of 4 September 1603, invested in Dublin on 29 September 1603
  7. ^ According to Dunlop, Niall served with Rory.[14] According to Clavin, Niall served with the government.[71]
  8. ^ According to Robert Dunlop, Nuala had a daughter named Grania. Dunlop states that Grania accompanied Nuala on the Flight of the Earls, then returned to England in 1617 to petition for a provision of Niall's estate.[93] Eunan O'Donnell states that Naghtan, Manus and Grania were all children of Niall and Nuala.[10] Conversely, Casway believes Nuala had no children.[102][103]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Silke 2004, 1st paragraph.
  2. ^ Morgan, Hiram (1 April 2006). 'The Pope's new invention': the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in Ireland, 1583-1782 (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2024.
  3. ^ Harris, F. W. (1980). "The Rebellion of Sir Cahir O'Doherty and Its Legal Aftermath". Irish Jurist (1966-). 15 (2): 298–325. ISSN 0021-1273. JSTOR 44013910.
  4. ^ Silke 2004, 1st paragraph; Clavin 2009, 1st paragraph.
  5. ^ Morgan 2002, p. 2; Silke 2004, 1st paragraph.
  6. ^ a b c O'Donovan 1854, p. 2385.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Clavin 2009, 2nd paragraph.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Clavin 2009, 1st paragraph.
  9. ^ a b McGettigan 2005, p. 13.
  10. ^ a b c O'Donnell 2006, p. 38.
  11. ^ a b O'Sullivan Beare 1903, p. 136.
  12. ^ a b Newmann, Kate. "Niall Garbh O'Donnell (c.1569 - c.1626)". Dictionary of Ulster Biography. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  13. ^ O'Neill 2017, p. 33.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Dunlop 1895, p. 443.
  15. ^ a b c d McGurk 2006, p. 95.
  16. ^ Walsh 1922, p. 364.
  17. ^ O'Hart 1892, pp. 643–644.
  18. ^ The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (29 March 2024). "Hugh O'Donnell". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024.
  19. ^ McNeill 1911, p. 7. "Calvagh, however, died in the same year, and as his son Conn was a prisoner in the hands of Shane O'Neill, his half-brother Hugh MacManus was inaugurated The O'Donnell in his place. Hugh, who in the family feud with Calvagh had allied himself with O'Neill..."
  20. ^ Morgan 1993, p. 125; Clavin 2009, 1st paragraph.
  21. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 22.
  22. ^ Morgan 1993, p. 127.
  23. ^ Annals of Loch Cé. Translated by Hennessy, William M. CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts. pp. 467–468. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  24. ^ Morgan 2009, 1st–3rd paragraphs.
  25. ^ O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'Donnell (Ó Domhnaill), Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006332.v1.
  26. ^ Morgan 1993, p. 114; McGettigan 2005, p. 13.
  27. ^ O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "MacDonnell (Nic Dhomhnaill), Fiona (Fionnghuala) ('Iníon Dubh')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006337.v1.
  28. ^ Finnegan 2007, p. 60.
  29. ^ Clavin 2009.
  30. ^ Morgan 1993, p. 107.
  31. ^ a b Brady, Ciaran (October 2009). "O'Neill, Turlough Luineach". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006967.v1. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  32. ^ a b Morgan 1993, p. 135.
  33. ^ Morgan 1993, p. 123; McGettigan 2005, pp. 46–47.
  34. ^ a b Boyle, Michelle (20 December 2007). "Iníon Dubh - Forgotten heroine". An Phoblacht. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  35. ^ Walsh 1922, p. 362.
  36. ^ a b Walsh, Paul (1939). "Historical Criticism of the Life of Hugh Roe O'Donnell". Irish Historical Studies. 1 (3): 229–250. ISSN 0021-1214. JSTOR 30005953.
  37. ^ Walsh 1929, p. 569.
  38. ^ a b Concannon 1920, p. 229.
  39. ^ Finnegan 2007, p. 62.
  40. ^ a b c Morgan 2009.
  41. ^ a b c d e f McNeill 1911, p. 7.
  42. ^ a b Morgan 2009, 5th paragraph.
  43. ^ Morgan 1993, pp. 133–134.
  44. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 55.
  45. ^ a b c Clavin 2009, 3rd paragraph.
  46. ^ O'Neill 2017, pp. 21–24, 33–34.
  47. ^ O'Neill 2017, pp. 33–34.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g Clavin 2009, 4th paragraph.
  49. ^ Finnegan 2007, p. 63.
  50. ^ McGettigan 2005, pp. 95, 127.
  51. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 93; O'Neill 2017, p. 128.
  52. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 92.
  53. ^ Morgan 2002, p. 2; O'Neill 2017, p. 131.
  54. ^ McGurk 2006, pp. 37–41, 92.
  55. ^ O'Neill 2017, p. 143.
  56. ^ McGettigan 2005, pp. 93–95.
  57. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 94; Clavin 2009, 4th paragraph.
  58. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 93.
  59. ^ a b McGettigan 2005, p. 95.
  60. ^ McGurk 2006, pp. 83, 94.
  61. ^ Silke 2004, 2nd paragraph.
  62. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 83.
  63. ^ a b c O'Neill 2017, p. 131.
  64. ^ a b McCavitt 2002, pp. 115–116. "As a fifteen-year-old boy Cahir O'Doherty had distinguished himself in battle with Sir Henry Docwra ..."
  65. ^ a b c O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). "O'Donnell (Ó Domhnall), Ruaidhrí". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006701.v1. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  66. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 84.
  67. ^ a b c Morgan 2002, p. 2.
  68. ^ O'Neill 2017, p. 152.
  69. ^ Morgan 2002, p. 2; McGurk 2006, pp. 84–85.
  70. ^ Morgan 2002, p. 2; McGurk 2006, p. 85; McGettigan 2005, p. 98.
  71. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Clavin 2009.
  72. ^ McGettigan 2005, pp. 98, 158.
  73. ^ a b c O'Neill 2017, pp. 242–243.
  74. ^ a b c P. (1840). "The Castle of Donegal". The Irish Penny Journal. 1 (24): 185–187. doi:10.2307/30001200. ISSN 2009-0935. JSTOR 30001200.
  75. ^ a b c O'Sullivan Beare 1903, p. 139.
  76. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 96.
  77. ^ a b c McGettigan 2005, p. 100.
  78. ^ O'Neill 2017, p. 165.
  79. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 112.
  80. ^ Clavin 2009, 8th paragraph.
  81. ^ Russell, C. W., ed. (1872). Calendar of the State Papers, Relating to Ireland of the reign of James I. 1603-1606. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016. p. 9.
  82. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 117.
  83. ^ O'Sullivan Beare 1903, p. 149.
  84. ^ McNeill 1911, pp. 7, 8.
  85. ^ McGurk, John (August 2007b). "The Flight of the Earls: escape or strategic regrouping?". History Ireland. 15 (4). Archived from the original on 18 April 2024.
  86. ^ a b c d Dunlop 1895, pp. 443–444.
  87. ^ a b Bardon 2011, p. 102.
  88. ^ McCavitt 2002, pp. 138–139. "O'Doherty asked him to betray Culmore fort, which Hart resolutely refused to do ..."
  89. ^ Jefferies, Henry A. (December 2009). "Prelude to plantation: Sir Cahir O'Doherty's rebellion in 1608". History Ireland. 17 (6). Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  90. ^ a b c Clavin 2009, 10th paragraph.
  91. ^ a b O'Donovan 1854, p. 2389.
  92. ^ a b c Annals of the Four Masters 2008, p. 2365. "Niall Garv O'Donnell, with his brothers Hugh Boy and Donnell, and his son, Naghtan, were taken prisoners about the festival of St. John in [1608], after being accused of having been in confederacy with O'Doherty. They were afterwards sent to Dublin, from whence Niall and Naghtan were sent to London, and committed to the Tower, Niall having been freed from death by the decision of the law; and they Niall and Naghtan remained confined in the Tower to the end of their lives. Hugh and Donnell were liberated from their captivity afterwards, i.e. in the year following."
  93. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dunlop 1895, p. 444.
  94. ^ a b c Hill 1873, p. 221.
  95. ^ a b c Silke 2004, 6th paragraph.
  96. ^ a b Walsh 1922, pp. 363–364.
  97. ^ Concannon 1920, pp. 229–230.
  98. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 94.
  99. ^ O'Neill 2017, p. 186.
  100. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 98.
  101. ^ McGettigan 2005, p. 56.
  102. ^ a b c Casway, Jerrold (2009). "O'Donnell, Nuala". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006696.v1. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  103. ^ Casway 2003, p. 64.
  104. ^ Walsh 1922, p. 363; Silke 2004, 1st paragraph.
  105. ^ Walsh 1922, p. 363.
  106. ^ a b "Oade-Oxwick | Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714". British History Online. Retrieved 22 September 2025. O'Donell, Hector of Ireland, gent. (ex "comitat. Tuirkonell"). St. John's Coll., matric. entry 27 Jan., 1603-4, aged 12.
  107. ^ Clavin 2009, 11th paragraph.
  108. ^ Burke, John (1845). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Henry Colburn. p. 753.
  109. ^ Morgan 2002, p. 3; McGettigan 2005, p. 97.
  110. ^ McGurk 2006, p. 95; Morgan 2009, 11th paragraph.
  111. ^ a b c McGurk, John (February 2008). "Flight of the Earls special issue". History Ireland. 16 (1). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  112. ^ O'Donnell, Francis M (4 June 2020). "We should avoid being 'holier than Pope' about Red Hugh". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 September 2025. ...the complex character, and indeed weaknesses, of that O'Donnell prince, whilst politely ignoring the accusation of Sir Henry Docwra...
  113. ^ a b Morgan, Hiram (1 June 2007). "Red Hugh O'Donnell and the Nine Years War
    Sir Henry Docwra, 1564–1631: Derry's Second Founder"    . The English Historical Review. CXXII (497): 823–824. doi:10.1093/ehr/cem144. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  114. ^ Finnegan 2007, pp. 60–61.
  115. ^ Meehan, Charles Patrick (1870). The rise and fall of the Irish Franciscan monasteries, and Memoirs of the Irish hierarchy in the seventeenth century. J. Duffy. p. 16.

Bibliography

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Primary sources

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Secondary sources

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Further reading

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