The Surrender Of Hugh O’ Neill

Hugh Mór (the Great) Ó Neill surrendered to the English in 1603 after a tumultuous career in which he was originally their puppet before transforming into one of the biggest threats to their rule in 17th century Ireland.

Born in 1550 as the second son of Mathew Dorcha, (the dark), illegitimate but recognised son of Conn Ó Neill the 1st Earl of Tyrone.

Hugh was quickly championed by the English in their attempts to subdue and control the Gaelic chiefdomship of Tír Eoghain. The ruling chieftain was Turlough, but his authority being Irish, was not acceptable to the English Throne.

Unity with the English

In 1580, Hugh sided with the English in their war against Gerald Fitzgerald the 15th Earl of Munster and again in 1584 he fought alongside the English against the Antrim Scots. As a reward he was recognised as the second Earl of Tyrone by England in 1585 and a year later he was granted the lands that had been held by his grandfather Conn. This was after he had been to London and had promised Elizabeth I That he would turn Tyrone into an English shire and that all priests and nuns would be removed from there.

In 1595 Hugh succeeded in obtaining the chieftain-ship of the clan when Turlough abdicated. Hugh was inaugurated in the Gaelic mode. Hugh’s relationship with the English authorities in Ireland began to deteriorate in 1591 when he eloped with and married his third wife Mabel, sister of Sir Henry Bagnal who headed the Provincial Presidency which controlled Ireland. However he was able to allay their suspicions of him by helping to defeat, 1593, the forces of Hugh Maguire at Belleek. Indeed The Viceroy of Ireland, Fitzroy, was recalled to London and replaced by Sir William Russell and Sir Henry Bagnal himself, was censured by Queen Elizabeth.

Rebellion against the English

In 1594 Hugh’s brother joined the O’Donnell, the Maguire and the McMahon in open rebellion that would be the start of a 9 year war. Once again Bagnal brought charges against O’ Neill and the Queen ordered that Hugh should be held in Dublin but this was thwarted and O’Neill escaped. The following year he broke into open rebellion.

He had been arming and training his forces under cover all along at the expense of the throne. He captured Portmore and defeated the English at the battle of Clontibret. He still proclaimed loyalty to the Queeen and entered into negotiations to have freedom of religious practise and property security for Catholics. These requests were refused and in 1597 Bagnal advanced 5000 soldiers to capture Portmore but these were defeated at the battle of the Yellow Ford by the combined forces of O’ Neill, O’ Donnell and Maguire. They also defeated the Earl of Essex. However the noose was tightening and the English defeated the Munster clans, they, led by Lord Mountjoy, overran Leinster.

In the North, Mountjoy’s lieutenant, Docwra seized Derry and made forays into O’ Neill’s own lands. Spanish soldiers did land at Kinsale but were besieged by Mountjoy and Sir George Carew the President of Munster. Then they in turn were besieged by O’ Neill. A Spanish/Irish victory over the English was lost when O’ Donnell lost patience and against the advice of O’ Nell, attacked too soon and it led to the defeat of Kinsale.

O’ Neill held out until 1603 when he surrendered to the new English monarch James 1. The conditions of surrender included the pardon of the O’ Neill and O’ Donnell and the securities of their estates. James 1 also received them at court. However, because of their victories and achievements, English spies so hounded the Gaelic Lords that in 1607, O’Neill, O Donnell and Maguire fled Ireland for the continent in 1607 (the flight of the Earls). The parliament of Ireland outlawed O’ Neill in 1613. O’ Neill died in Rome in 20 July 1617.

Other events of 17th Century Ireland