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Catherine MacClean

Wife of Calvagh O'Donnell (died 26 Oct 1566)

1559

Calvagh O'Donnell was taken prisoner by John O'Neill on the 14th day of
May. This capture was effected thus: Caffar, the son of Manus, was at
strife with Calvagh and his son Con. Caffar had his abode at this time
in the Crannog of Loch-Beathach,. and Con, the son of Calvagh, assembled
the forces of the country, and laid siege to the Crannog. Calvagh was
at this time at Cill-O'dTomhrair with a few soldiers, besides women and
poets; and some of the Kinel-Connell informed O'Neill that Calvagh was
thus situated, without guard or protection. O'Neill neglected not this
opportunity, but proceeded with the number of forces he had in
readiness, without notice or forewarning, so that they surrounded the
apartment of the monastery in which Calvagh was; and thus they made
prisoners of himself and his wife, the daughter of Mac Gilleain (Mac
Clean), and carried them off into Tyrone. O'Neill detained Calvagh in
close and cruel confinement, and, moreover, cohabitated with his wife,
the daughter of Mac Gilleain, so that she bore children unto him. Were
it not for the advantage taken of the Kinel-Connell on the occasion, it
would not have been an easy matter for the Gaels (Kinel-Owen) to carry
off their chief from them at the time. AFM