Sir Niall Garv O'Donnell

Eldest son of Con O'Donnell.

Grandson of Calvagh.

1588

Mulmurry, the son of Edmond, son of Mulmurry, son of Donough Mac
Sweeny, was slain by Niall Garve. AFM

The Earl of Tyrone (Hugh, the son of Ferdorcha, son of Con Bacagh, son
of Con) mustered a very great army to march against O'Neill (Turlough
Luineach). The Earl never halted until he had crossed the Mourne and
the Derg, and ancamped at Carraic-liath. O'Donnell (Hugh, the son of
Manus) came to join the Earl, his son-in-law, with a number of his
forces but, however, he did not come with all of them. Turlough O'Neill
had on the other hand, a great army of unanimously combined forces to
oppose the Earl and O'Donnell. Niall Garv O'Donnell, Hugh the son of the
Dean O'Gallagher (who was then usually styled Hugh, the son of Calvagh
O'Donnell), with all the descendants of Calvagh, and their followers,
joined O'Neill with one accord on this occasion. These were then in
castlefinn. Some of his people were requesting of Hugh [O'Gallagher] to
make a nocturnal attack upon the Earl, who was then preying and
plundering the country between the rivers Finn and Mourne; but, through
pride and magnanimity, he did not deem this honourable, and said that
he would not attack an Earl in the darkness of the night, but that he
would give him a fierce battle in the broad light of day. This he
performed, for on the following day he attacked the Earl, and defeated
him. The Earl left behind great numbers of men, horses, and spoils, on
this occasion. This was on the Ist of May. AFM

He was incensed at the elevation of his cousin Hugh Roe O'Donnell to
the chieftainship of the O'Donnels in 1592 and was further alienated
when Hugh Roe deprived him of his castle of Lifford.

Oct 1600 - Held the Castle at Lifford.

With his brothers Hugh, Donnell and Con he made several
successful raids into Tyrone.

Made terms with the English government, to which he rendered valuable
service both against the O'Neills and against his cousin. But in 1601
he quarrelled with the lord deputy who, though willing to establish
Niall Garve in the lordship of Tyrconnell, would not permit him to
enforce his supremacy in Inishowen.

1601 - Took Donegal Abbey from Hugh Roe O'Donnell. The English magazine
       blew up and wrecked the building.

1602 - Hugh Roe left Ireland.

Niall Garve and Hugh Roe's brother Rory went to London, where the privy
coucil endeavoured to arrange the family quarrel, but failed to satisfy
Niall.

1607 - Flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell. His wife Nuala,
       deserted him to accompany her brothers Rory and Cathbhar.

1608 - Charged with complicity in Cahir O'Doghertys rebellion, he was
sent to the Tower of London, where he remained until his death in 1626.
He had been accused by Ineenduv, the mother of Hugh Roe, before the
Lord Bishop of Derry and after a confinement of 18 years by King James
I, died at the age of 57 years.

Wife - Nuala O'Donnell (sister of Hugh Roe O'Donnell).

Son - Naghtan (Hector), who died with him the same year in the Tower of
London.

Daughter - Grania NDonnell.