Hugh Boy O'Donnell

Son of Hugh Oge (Hugh Dubh)

1515

Donnell, the son of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, was slain by Hugh Boy
O'Donnell, at Tuath-bhladhach, on 25 th of November. AFM

1529

The son of Mac Dowell (Mac Dugald) of Scotland was slain by Hugh Boy
O'Donnell with one stroke of a sword, on the theshold of the castle of
Cuil-mic-an-treoin (now Castleforward, Raphoe). AFM

1530

A great depredation was committed by Hugh Boy O'Donnell in Gaileanga
(Gallen, in the county of Mayo). AFM

1531

The castle of Belleek was taken by Hugh Boy O'Donnell, from which
followed the disturbance of Tirconnell. AFM

Maguire proceeded with an army into Tirconnell, at the instance of
O'Donnell, for O'Donnels sons were at strife with each other, for fear
that the one might attain to the chieftainship in preference to the
other, after their fathers death; for the name and renown of Manus
O'Donnell had spread not only through all Tirconnell, but through
external territories; and he was oppressing his own kindred. O'Donnell
was afraid that they would commit fratricide upon each other, and that
his own power would, in consequence, be weakened, wherefore he had
invited Maguire to come to him, to see whether they could reconcile
Manus with his relatives through friendship and brotherly love. Maguire
and Hugh Boy O'Donnell afterwards marched with their troops until they
arrived at the River Fin; and they plundered all the territory that was
under the jurisdiction of Manus, from border to border. Manus at this
time was on the Green of Castlefinn, with all his forces assembled; and
the sons of Manus, with a party of their people, set out across
Scairbh-Begoige, opposite the town castle, to await and meet the army
that was advancing towards them. They were routed by Maguire and Hugh
Boy, and forced to retreat into the castle for protection. They all
then returned to their several fortresses. AFM

1536

At this time war and contentions arose between O'Donnell and all the
chieftains of lower Connaught, with the single exception of Brian, the
son of Owen O'Rourke, who did not on this occasion, join either side.
An army was, therefore, mustered O'Donnell and his sons (excepting
Manus alone, who did not come into his fathers army on this expedition,
because he was biassed by O'Neill). These forces marched from
Ballyshannon in the afternoon, and pitched their camp that night
between the rivers Buff and Drowes; and there having taken dinner and
refreshments they sent guards and sentinels to watch the pass between
them and Magh gCeidne, for they were afraid that the O'Conors, with all
their forces, might surprise them that night in their camp, inasmuch as
they were then all assembled in a flaming body at Sligo, threatening to
give battle to O'Donnell as soon as they should meet him. The first
person who went out to watch for the army was Niall O'Boyle, the son of
Turlough, who supposed that his enemies would soon come up to him, and
that he would be able to wreak his vengance upon them. But the people
of Hugh Boy, the son of O'Donnell, went at the same time, without
giving notice to O'Boyle, or his people, to guard another pass. Both
parties met and neither of them recognising the other, they proceeded
to strike at each other. Fiercly and resolutely did O'Boyle fight in
this skirmish against his enemies (as he thought), and he unsparingly
cut off great numbers of the opposite host; but as he was slaughtering
them in this manner, they formed a huge circle around him, so that he
at last met his death from his own true and faithful friends, on the
second of the Calends of August. The death of the person being here
slain, ie Niall, the son of Turlough, was a cause of great grief to the
poor and indigent, and to the literati and the kerns. Although
O'Donnell was much grieved at this lamentable occurrence, it did not,
nevertheless, prevent his projected expedition, but he marched onwards
as far as Finfir. A party of Cathal Oge O'Conors cavalry, composed of
the O'Hartes, set out for Braghait-Chuillighe, and a troop of
O'Donnells cavalry marched likewise aginst them; and they met at
Bealach-Duin-iarainn, where the skirmish ensued, in which a
distinguished horseman of O'Hartes was slain, whereupon both parties
withdrew for that time. O'Donnell remained within his own camp that
night, and on the merrow, marched on to Fearsat-Reanna-an-Liagain, to
cross over to Cuil-irrae. O'Conor was at Sligo, preparing his people to
march against O'Donnell to the same Fearsat, to prevent his crossing
it. While the tide was full both armies were reconnoitering and
observing each other. O'Conor seeing that he had not equal forces with
O'Donnells, and being, together with his army, seized with terror and
awe at the sight of the arrangement and array of O'Donnels troops, and
the position of his cannon, and other military engines, on the borders
of the Fearsat, resolved not to come to an engagement with him at that
place, but to wait until he should find him less prepared somewhere
else. O'Donnell crossed the Fearsat without meeting any opposition, it
being left without defence, without guard against him. Some of the
chieftains of Lower Connaught sent a party to skirmish with O'Donnels
army; but they were responded to and opposed by the other hist, and one
who was a great loss to the Mac Donoughs, namely, <alachy, the son of
Teige, son of Rory, was killed on that occasion with a shot of ball.
Another horseman of O'Donnels people, namely James Ballagh, the son of
Niall, son of John O'Donnell, was slain by a thrust of a spear. They
withdrew form each other then; and O'Donnell proceeded into the country
of the descendants of Brian O'Conor, and remained fro three nights
destroying and burning the country; and O'Conor was all this time
encamped near him, at Beal-an-droichit. After this O'Donnell marched
westwards across the Strand, into Tireragh of the Moy; and his army did
extensively destroy the corn and many towns, for the country was in
their power, except a few of its castles. The forces siezed on many
cows around Sliabh Gamh; they marched westwards across the River Moy,
at the instance of the descendants of Rickard Burke, in pursuit of a
party of creaghts of the sons of O'Dowda. On this occasion the daughter
of Waiter Burke, the wife of Owen O'Dowda, was taken by them, with her
property. So immense were the preys and spoils obtained by O'Donnels
army on that expedition, that two beeves used to be given for a bonn
(great, or four penny piece) in his camp at that time. Mac Dermot, the
sons of Teige Mac Dermot, and the sons of Mac David, came to aid the
people of Lower Connaught against O'Donnell. O'Donnell, after having
accomplished his intentions in Tireragh on that expedition, prepared to
return home. The chiefs of Lower Connaught, and all those who joined
their muster, were resolved and prepared to come to an engagement with
O'Donnell, on his return; they did not, however, give him battle, but
merely came to a slight skirmish with him at Fearsat-Reanna-an-Liagan.
It was in this skirmish, while O'Donnells army was crossing the
Fearsat, that a horseman of the people of Cathal Oge O'Conor, namely
Hugh Ballagh, the son of Brian, son of Hugh O'Conor, was slain; and the
son of Mac Dermot, namely Hugh, the son of Owen, son of Teige Mac
Dermot, was also severly wounded. O'Donnell returned home, without
obtaining rent or tribute, submission or homage, from the chiefs of
Lower Connaught, on that occasion, which was unusual with him. AFM

1537

A war broke out between Hugh Boy O'Donnell and Manus O'Donnell. the
sons of O'Boyle sided with Hugh, who was in the castle of Donegal. In
consequence of this dissention between the sons of O'Donnell, a great
commotion arose in Tirconnell, during which a party of the descendants
of the Bishop O'Gallagher were slain by the sons of O'Boyle. AFM

1538

Hugh Boy O'Donnell, son of Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe, heir to the
lordship of Tirconnell, a man who was well skilled and learned in every
science, who was most distinguished for munificence and hospitality,
for prowess in the field of battle and the gap of danger, and who was
expected, from his steadiness and other characteristics, to attain to
the lordship of his own country (Tirconnell), died at Gill O'dTomhrair
(Killymard, Raphoe, Co Donegal), on the 22nd of March, after having
received the Communion and Extreme Unction. AFM