Siobhán O'Donnell

Siobhán O'Neill, Countess of Tyrone (née O'Donnell; Siobhán Ní Domhnaill; died c. January 1591), sometimes anglicised Joanna, Joan, or Judith, was a sixteenth-century Irish Gaelic noblewoman of the O'Donnell clan. She is known for being the second wife of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, bearing him most of his children.

Family background
She was the daughter of Irish chief Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell, Lord of Tyrconnell. Her mother was Sir Hugh's first wife, who historian Francis Martin O'Donnell has named as "Nuala, a daughter of O’Neill".

Historian Helena Concannon believes Siobhán was born c. 1569, and that her mother was Sir Hugh's second wife Iníon Dubh, whom he married not later than 1569. However, Siobhán's marriage in 1574 makes that date of birth extremely unlikely.

Siobhán's most prominent full-sibling was Donal O'Donnell. He attempted to depose his father, and in September 1590's Battle of Doire Leathan, Donal was killed by Scottish Redshanks led by his step-mother Iníon Dubh. Siobhan's younger half-siblings included chiefs Red Hugh O'Donnell and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell.

Marriage
From the late-1560s to early-1570s, Hugh O'Neill, Baron Dungannon, allied with many neighbouring clans to strength his political position. Siobhán married O'Neill in June 1574. Walter Devereaux, the 1st Earl of Essex, announced their marriage on 14 June. O'Neill had annulled his first marriage earlier the same year, on the grounds of consanguinity. This was in order to cut ties with his first father-in-law, who had been arrested for treason.

In 1579, O'Neill became frustrated with his failure to seize the title of The O'Neill from clan chief Turlough Luineach O'Neill. He repudiated his marriage to Siobhán, and planned to wed one of Turlough's daughters, in a ploy to become Turlough's tanist. His plan failed and Hugh reconciled with Siobhán.

Death
In a letter dated 31 January 1591, O'Neill references Siobhán's recent death. He remarried to Anglo-Irish noblewoman Mabel Bagenal on 3 August 1591.

Children
Siobhán and Hugh had two sons and multiple daughters:


 * Margaret who married Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret sometime before 8 October 1596.
 * Sarah (fl. 1595–1602), who married Sir Arthur Magennis, 1st Viscount Iveagh sometime before 4 March 1595 - possibly in 1590.
 * Alice (1583 - c. 1665) who married Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim.
 * Hugh (1585 - 24 September 1609) known as the Baron of Dungannon. He died in Rome and was buried in San Pietro di Montorio.
 * Henry (c. 1586 - c.  1620) He became a colonel of an Irish regiment in the Archduke's army.
 * Mary (fl. 1608), who married Brian McHugh Og MacMahon. According to historian George Hill, she is the same woman who married Sir Ross McMahon.