Niall Garve O'Donnell


Son of Turlough-An-Fhina O'Donnell

1407

Hugh Maguire and Manus Eoghanagh Maguire were taken prisoners by Niall
O'Donnell and Cathal O'Rourke, and brought before Turlough O'Donnell, who
liberated Hugh on the guarantees of Owen O'Neill and Maguire. AFM

1418

Great depredations and plunders were committed by Niall upon O'Neill,
whom he banished eastwards across the Bann to Mac Quillan, in the north
of County Antrim. AFM

1420

The sons of Turlough O'Donnell, Niall Garv, Donnell and Naghtan,
proceeded with a troop of cavalry to the Moy; and the sons of Brian
O'Conor set out at the same time with another troop of cavalry to
reconnoitre Ballyshannon, so that both parties thus met face to face.
The Kinel-Connell charged and routed the Carbury men, and killed John,
the son of Brian O'Conor. Brian O'Conor on hearing of this ill news
advanced with his troops to Magh-Eni; and on the 5th night afterwards,
Owen and Turlough Carragh O'Conor, the sons of Donnell, son of
Murtough, crossed the ford of Assaroe with a large body of cavalry, on
a nocturnal excursion. The sons of O'Donnell were at this time
stationed with a squadron of cavalry at Port-na-Long, at the yonder
side of the cataract, and they had been drinking wine. After Owen had
received information of this he made an attack upon them, and killed
Donnell, the son of Turlough O'Donnell, heir to the lordship of
Tirconnell, and others not enumerated. Niall O'Donnell went to the
harbour, and swam to one of the merchant vessels lying in it. AFM

1421


Niall O'Donnell and his army went to the harbour of Assaroe. AFM

1422

An army was mustered by Niall, O'Neill, Owen O'Neill, and
Mac-I-Neill Boy, with the other chiefs of the northern province. They
burned and plundered the entire territory of Carbury as far as Sligo.
Owen O'Conor Turlough Carragh, and O'Rourke mustered their forces to
oppose them at Sligo, and there gave battle to the eastern army, of
which 7 men fell by the Connacians. From thence they (the Ultonians)
went into Tirerrill, and devastated the entire territory. AFM

Niall Garv, the son of Turlough, son of Niall Garve O'Donnell, went
into Fermanagh, subjugated Maguire, Mac Mahon, and Magennis, and
brought them with him to O'Kane, to Mac-I-Neill Boy, and completely
plundered the Glynns (of Antrim) and Mac Eoin Bisset, and burned the
country; and they proceeded to Clannaboy and Moylinny, the spoils of
which territories they carried off to Carrickfergus, and afterwards
returned home in safety. AFM

An army was led by Niall, O'Neill, and the chiefs of the entire
province against O'Neill Boy, and penetrated through the woods and
fastnesses, until they obtained the mastery over him, so that he gave
hostages to O'Neill. AFM

The same Niall assembled together all the chiefs of the province,
namely O'Neill, and the sons of Henry O'Neill; Owen O'Neill, with his
sons and kinsmen; the sons of Cu-Uladh Foe O'Neill; the people of
Fermanagh and Oriel, under the conduct of Mac mahon and Maguire;
Magennis, O'Hanlon, and Mac-I-Neill Boy, with his forces; the O'Kanes
and the Kinel-Connell themselves, with their gallowglasses, and also
the English of the province; and they all set out upon an expedition
into Connaught. They were drawn upon this expedition by the sons of
Cormac Mac Donough, and the sons of Mulrony Mac Donough, who had been
banished from their country by their paternal uncle, Mac Donough, by
Coner Mac Donough and his sons, and by Cormac Oge Mac Donough. This
great army arrived in Carbury, wounded and killed many persons at the
castle of Bundrowes, burned and spoiled the country, and then proceeded
to Sligo. Here Owen, the son of Donnell, and Turlough Carragh, came up
with them, and routed the rear of the army, killed 7 of them, and
wounded men and horses. The Ultonian army remained at Cuil-irra (west
of Sligo) for that night, and on the next day, marched to Tireragh to
spoil that country. O'Dowda met them and made peace with Niall
O'Donnell, and delivered him hostages in behalf of his territory. From
thence they went into Tirerrill and Corran, and burned and destroyed
the country. AFM

1423

An army was led by Donnell O'Neill, Niall O'Donnell, Owen, son of
Niall, with the Irish of Ulster in general, against the English. They
first marched to Traigh-Bhaile (Dundalk), to Machaire-Oirghiall, to the
town of Louth, and from thence into Meath. They gave battle to the
Deputy of the King of England, in which the knight who was the chief
commander of the English army was slain tie by Mulmurry Mac Sweeny
Connachtach, O'Donnells Constable, and it was by him the English were
routed), and many others of his people besides him (100 was the number
of the slain). They obtained great spoils on that occasion, and
afterwards made peace with the English, and left Traghbhaile, and all
the English dwelling in its vicinity under tribute. AFM

The castle of Ath-Seanaigh (Ballyshannon) was erected by Niall, son of
Turlough O'Donnell. AFM

1424

War and great disturbance was kindled in Ulster by the English. The
greater part of nobles of the province, both lords, dynasts, and
toparchs, with O'Neill, Niall O'Donnell, and Owen O'Neill at their head
assembled their forces to oppose the English.

1426

Naghtan O'Donnell, who had been imprisoned by the English, was ransomed
by Niall, his brother. It would be difficult to reckeon or recount all
the property given for his ransom, besides hostages given in his place.
Turlough O'Donnell, Nialls son, was left in lieu of Naghtan, made his
escape not long afterwards. AFM

1427

An army was led by Niall, Lord of Tirconnell, into Trian-Chongail,
against O'Neill, and to assist the Mac-I-Neill Boys. On this expedition
O'Donnell defeated Mac Quillin, and killed a great number of his
people; and the 2 sons of Donough Mac Sweeny, who were assisting Mac
Quillin, were taken prisoners by O'Donnell. The people of O'Donnell and
of the sons of Mac-I-Neill Boy became possessed of great spoils and
immense booty on that day. AFM

1432

Owen O'Neill and the sons of Donnell Mac Murtough O'Conor (of Sligo)
came to a conference at Cael-Uisge. The sons of Donnell and the sons of
Mac Donough had fourscore horsemen at this conference. Niall O'Donnell
sent his people to guard the strait (narrow part of Lough Erne, near
castle Caldwell), and prevent the meeting; so that when O'Neill and
Maguire advanced to the strait, they were met by O'Donnells people; and
as soon as Maguires troops had landed, they were routed all over
Miodhbholg (between Breesy Hill and the northern margin of Lough Erne);
and many of them were killed and wounded by the Kinel-Connell. The sons
of Donnell, son of Murtough nevertheless, proceeded onward to the place
where O'Neill was; and they gave one another their hands, in token of
their keeping mutual friendship and amity. AFM

A great war arose between O'Neill and O'Donnell; and Henry, the son of
O'Neill, went to Sligo for the sons of Donnell son of Murtough; but
O'Donnell and O'Rourke (Tiege), with the sons of Hugh Maguire, were on
the watch for them, while Henry was in the West. AFM

A great army was led by O'Neill, Maguire, and the Mac-I-Neill Boy, into
Kinel-Moen, confronting O'Donnell; and they remained there face to face
from the festival of the Holy Cross to Lammas. During this time many
persons were wounded and killed in the affrays between them; and the
town of O'Donnell and the town of Naghtan O'Donnell were burned on this
occasion. Both parties returned to their homes without peace or
cessation from hostilities. AFM

Great depredations were committed by O'Donnell upon O'Neill; and on the
same day another depredation was also committed upon O'Neill by Brian
Oge O'Neill. AFM

1433

A great war broke out between the Kinel-Owen and the Kinel-Connell; and
Niall Garv O'Donnell, the son of Turlough an Fhina, marched with his
forces to Duibhthrian (barony of Dufferin, west side of Strangford
Lough, in Co Down) to assist Mac Quillin. Owen O'Neill set out with a
great army in pursuit of O'Donnell and Mac Quillin; and Mac Donnell of
Scotland arrived at the same time with a large fleet, and went to where
O'Neill was, to aid him. The Scots proceeded to attack the creaghts of
Mac Quillin and of Robert Savadge, worsted them, and caused great
slaughter and loss of men upon Mac Quillin and Robert; and those that
made their escape from the territory of Duibhthrian were almost all cut
off at the Pass of Newcastle. O'Neill, Hnerys son, and Mac Donnell,
afterwards went to Ardglas, which they burned; and Mac Donnell and his
Scots afterwards went in their ships from Ardglas to Inishowen, while
O'Neill marched by land to meet them, with intent to plunder
Tirconnell. Naghtan O'Donnell and the daughter of O'Conor Faly, the
wife of O'Donnell, and the sons of the chieftains of Tirconnell,
repaired to Inishowen to meet them; and they made peace with O'neill,
without leave from O'Donnell. AFM

In the meanwhile O'Donnell and Mac Quillin went to the English of
Meath, to make a treaty of alliance and friendship with them and the
deputy of the King of England. They led a great army to
Machaire-Ardamacha, and the English attacked the monastery, but
afterwards returned without gaining any strength by that expedition.
O'Donnell then proceeded round through Meath, wast to Athlone, from
thence into Hy-Many, and afterwards across Machaire Chonnacht, to Mac
Dermot of Molyurg and O'Rourke (Tiege, son of Tiernan). O'Rourke went
with him over the River Erne; and o'Neill and Maguire came to Cael
Uisge to meet O'Donnell; and they concluded a charitable peace with one
another. AFM

1434

A war arose between Niall O'Donnell and his brother Naghtan, in
consequence of the death of Egneaghan O'Donnell. Many depredations were
committed, and many lives were lost in the contests between them; and
Naughtan went over to the sons of Donnell, the son of Murtough O'Conor
of Sligo. O'Donnell took prey in the Moy and in the territory of
Carbury, from the sons of Donnell, son of Murtough, and from Naghtan;
and Naghtan and Brian, son of Donnell, with the other sons of Donnell,
in revenge of the taking of this prey, made an incursion into the Moy,
and into Tirhugh, where they burned houses, and seized inanimate
spoils, and numbers of small cattle. Naghtan went a second time into
Tirconnell, and committed depredations on Coner, the son of O'Donnell;
and Conner, in return, made an incusion into Carbury, and plundered the
whole territory. AFM

The same war was continued between O'Donnell and Naghtan; and the
latter went to Mac Quillin and Brian Oge O'Neill, to induce them to
declare war against O'Donnell. O'Donnell and O'Neill attacked Naghtans
castle, namely, Caislen-na-Finne (Castlefinn, a village on the River
Finn, Raphoe, Co Donegal), and continued to beseige it for some time,
but were, nevertheless, unable to take it. AFM

Owen O'Neill and Niall O'Donnell with the whole forces of the province,
marched to Meath to destroy and plunder the English there. The English
of Dundalk came to O'Neill, and paid him his rent, and gave him also
many articles of value; and O'Neill and O'Donnell then proceeded to set
fire to Machaire-Oirghaill. AFM

O'Donnell and his son, Turlough, heir to the lordship of Tirconnell, went
in search of plunder and booty; and their evil fortune brought them
into collision with a large body of English cavalry, who surrounded
them. They contended with them for a long time, until Turlough
O'Donnell and many others were slain, and this was on the day after
Michaelmas. After the loss of his people, O'Donnell was taken prisoner,
and delivered up to the son of John Stanley (Sir Thomas Stanley), the
Kings Deputy, who had shortly before arrived in Ireland, and who sent
him to be imprisoned in Dublin. AFM

1435

Niall Garv was taken to London. AFM

The son of Brian Oge, son of Henry O'Neill, made a predatory incursion
into Tirhugh; but some of the household of Niall overtook him,
despoiled him of the prey, took himself prisoner, and slew a great
number of his people. AFM

1436

A great war was waged by O'Conor Faly against the English, during which
he did much injury by burning, plundering, and slaying, to revenge
O'Donnell, his relative by marriage, whom the English had in
confinement. AFM

1437

A peace was made between O'Donnell and Naghtan O'Donnell. AFM

1438

O'Conor Faly continued to wage war with the English of Meath, in
revenge of O'Donnell. AFM

1439

Niall was taken to the Isle of Mann, that he might be ransomed from the
English; and one hundred marks were paid for information of the price
of his ransom. AFM

Niall died in the Isle of Mann in captivity. He was the chosen hostage
of the Kinel-Connell and Kinel-Owen, and all of the north of Ireland,
and the chief theme of conversation in Leth-Chuinn during his time, the
harasser and destroyer of the English (until they took revenge for all
that he had committed against them), and the protector and defender of
his tribe against such of the English and Irish as were opposed to him,
both before and after he assumed the lordship. Naghtan O'Donnell, his
brother, was installed in his place. AFM