Clan McQuillan
Encyclopedia
Clan McQuillan is an Irish clan that descend from south-western Scotland, who originally come over to Ulster to serve as galloglass mercenaries for the earls of Ulster and originally held lands in Dufferin in modern County Down
before taken possession of the Route.
By the 1460s, with the earldom of Ulster near its end, the surviving de Mandevilles of north Antrim deserted their manors in Twescard and sold their interests to the MacQuillans who were already established there. The MacQuillans would rename Twescard, the Route, after their "rout", a common term then for a private army. Their principal residence in the Route was at Dunluce Castle
, near the mouth of the River Bush.
The end of the MacQuillan-O'Cahan feud came in 1559, when their allies, the MacDonnells of the Glens turned upon them. Sorley Boy MacDonnell
, with the aid of levies from Scotland, launched a mass assault on the Route against the MacQuillans. The final battle of this assault was at Aura
, and saw the end of the MacQuillans and the conquest of the Route by the MacDonnells.
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
before taken possession of the Route.
Origin of name
The name MacQuillan is of disputed origin with two prevailing ideas:- They descend from Hugelin de Mandeville, with MacQuillan claiming to be from Mac Uighilín meaning son of Hugelin. This idea has been challenged with historical sources clearly showing that the MacQuillans and de Mandevilles were two different families.
- They descend from Fiacha MacUillin, youngest son of Niall of the Nine HostagesNiall of the Nine HostagesNiall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
. This idea has proved problematic as the full ancient genealogy of the MacQuillans was lost in the 1760s by Ephraim MacQuillan.
History
In 1442, according to the Annals of Ulster, the MacQuillan-O'Cahan feud started.By the 1460s, with the earldom of Ulster near its end, the surviving de Mandevilles of north Antrim deserted their manors in Twescard and sold their interests to the MacQuillans who were already established there. The MacQuillans would rename Twescard, the Route, after their "rout", a common term then for a private army. Their principal residence in the Route was at Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim , and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland...
, near the mouth of the River Bush.
The end of the MacQuillan-O'Cahan feud came in 1559, when their allies, the MacDonnells of the Glens turned upon them. Sorley Boy MacDonnell
Sorley Boy MacDonnell
Somhairle Buidhe Mac Domhnaill , Scoto-Irish prince or flaith and chief, was the son of Alexander MacDonnell, lord of Islay and Kintyre , and Catherine, daughter of the Lord of Ardnamurchan...
, with the aid of levies from Scotland, launched a mass assault on the Route against the MacQuillans. The final battle of this assault was at Aura
Battle of Aura
The Battle of Aura , was fought in the middle of the sixteenth century between the MacDonnells, led by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, against the McQuillans and O'Neills, in which the MacQuillans and O'Neills were defeated...
, and saw the end of the MacQuillans and the conquest of the Route by the MacDonnells.