Sir Hugh O'Donnell

Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell (Irish: Sir Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill; c. 1520 – 1600) was an Irish Gaelic lord. He was The O'Donnell of his clan, and king of Tyrconnell in Tudor-era Ireland.

A "wary politician", O'Donnell's lordship was marked by political indecision. He attempted to appease both pro- and anti-English factions in Tyrconnell, and thus alternated between varying alliances. His clan ultimately united with long-time enemies the O'Neills against the English, which led to the Nine Years' War (1592–1603).

O'Donnell's health had heavily declined by the 1580s. His second wife, Scotswoman Iníon Dubh, organised his abdication in 1592, in favour of their eldest son Red Hugh O'Donnell.

Family background
Hugh McManus O'Donnell was born circa 1520. His parents were Manus O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell, and Judith O'Neill (Siobhán Ó Néill), daughter of Conn O'Neill.

Early career
During 1542, he was recorded campaigning for Manus against the lords of north Connacht.

Historian Francis Martin O'Donnell has named Sir Hugh's first wife as "Nuala, a daughter of O’Neill". Their children include Donal and Siobhán O'Donnell.

According to historian Robert Dunlop, "for a long time past there had existed two parties in Tyrconnell" – those who supported an alliance with the English, and those who preferred to side with the O'Neills. The O'Neill clan were hereditary rivals to the O'Donnells.

Around 1557, O'Donnell feuded with his half-brother Calvagh for control of Tyrconnell's lordship. He allied himself with the O’Neill family against Calvagh.

Succession
O'Donnell succeeded to the lordship upon Calvagh's death in 1566. Later that year, O'Donnell's claim to the lordship was disputed by Calvagh's son Hugh MacEdegany O'Donnell.

Politics
O'Donnell's succession to the lordship of Tyrconnell was a triumph for the pro-O'Neill faction. However, O'Donnell attempted to appease both factions by avoiding overt political declarations. This greatly diminished the confidence his own party had in him as leader, and his indecision also failed to satisfy the English government. According to historian Emmett O'Byrne, O'Donnell was "always too weak politically and militarily to deal with the combined challenges of the power of the O'Neills in Ulster, the extension of English control into north Connacht, and the strength of his rivals in Tyrconnell".

O'Donnell later did an about-face and allied with the English to crush the O’Neills. In 1567, he defeated clan chief Shane O’Neill at Letterkenny. Shane lost 1,300 men, and was compelled to seek refuge with the MacDonnells of Antrim, who assassinated him.

Marriage alliances
O'Donnell's second wife was Scottish aristocrat Iníon Dubh of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg - they married in 1569. At the time, marriage into the MacDonald family was particularly coveted due to their military might. It was ultimately the influence of Iníon Dubh that pushed the O'Donnell clan further into opposition with the English – though publicly Sir O'Donnell maintained his loyalty to the Crown.

In June 1574, powerful O'Neill clansman Hugh O'Neill, married O'Donnell's daughter Siobhán. In 1587, O'Donnell's son (and tanist) Hugh Roe O'Donnell was betrothed to Tyrone's daughter Rose O'Neill. These dynastic marriages would further cement a growing alliance between two Irish clans who had traditionally been mortal enemies for centuries. The Description of Ireland (1598) makes reference to this alliance: "This controversie was taken away by a double marriage, Tyrone having married [Hugh Roe]'s sister, by whom he hath diverse sons, and [Hugh Roe] having married his daughter..."

Succession dispute
In the 1580s, a violent succession dispute broke out amongst the O'Donnell family over who would succeed him. With the help of her Scottish kinsmen, Iníon Dubh had MacEdegany killed in May 1588, and Donal O'Donnell killed in September 1590. When O'Donnell became senile in his old age, Iníon Dubh effectively took over leadership of the territory. The succession dispute was compounded by Hugh Roe's kidnapping from Tyrconnell in 1587; he eventually returned in 1592.

Abdication
In 1592, before an assembly of fellow nobles in Kilmacrennan, Sir Hugh O'Donnell abdicated in favour of Hugh Roe. This was accepted by the nobility. Though apparently voluntary, his abdication was largely organised by Iníon Dubh. Hugh Roe was inaugurated as The O'Donnell on 3 May 1592.

Death
Sir Hugh O'Donnell lived in retirement until his death from old age in 1600, by which time Tyrone's Rebellion was in full flight.