Col Ciotach
Encyclopedia
Col Ciotach Mac Domhnaill (Left-handed Col Macdonald) (1570–1647) was a Scottish-Irish adventurer of Clan Donald
, who became Laird of Colonsay
in 1623, by treachery. His name, which means left-handed, was anglicised as Colkitto (Collkitto), and he became a figure of legend. He died aged 77 at Dunyvaig Castle
.
, who was prominent in the fighting in Western Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
, on the Royalist side. Col Ciotach, an Irish Catholic by birth, was able to recruit troops for that war in Ireland; his birthplace is given as Loughlynch
, which is in the parish of Billy, County Antrim
, mother's name as a local O'Quinn or O'Cahan (O'Kane).
He married Mary MacDonald of Sanda; those MacDonalds were also caught up in related fighting from the 1630s onwards, and lost their position as a result of the Dunaverty Massacre.
His father's name was Gillespick, a nephew of Sorley Boy MacDonnell
.
This family is alluded to in a sonnet
of John Milton
(Sonnet XI) which has a line referring to three generations:
Galasp stands in for Gillespie
(anglicised name). Properly Col Ciotach can be called Coll Mac Gillespick MacDonald, Coll Keitache MacGillespick M'Donald.
From his marriage with Mary MacDonald of Sanda, they had issue:
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, who became Laird of Colonsay
Colonsay
Colonsay is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull and has an area of . It is the ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeill. Aligned on a south-west to north-east axis, it measures in length and reaches at its widest...
in 1623, by treachery. His name, which means left-handed, was anglicised as Colkitto (Collkitto), and he became a figure of legend. He died aged 77 at Dunyvaig Castle
Dunyvaig Castle
Dunyvaig Castle, is located on the south side of Islay, on the shore of Lagavulin Bay, from Port Ellen. The castle was once a naval base of the Lord of the Isles, chiefs of Clan Donald. It was held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg....
.
Family
He is often confused with his son Alasdair MacCollaAlasdair MacColla
Alasdair Mac Colla was a Scottish soldier. His full name in Scottish Gaelic was Alasdair Mac Colla Chiotaich Mac Domhnuill . He is sometimes mistakenly referred to in English as "Collkitto", a nickname that properly belongs to his father. He fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, most notably...
, who was prominent in the fighting in Western Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
, on the Royalist side. Col Ciotach, an Irish Catholic by birth, was able to recruit troops for that war in Ireland; his birthplace is given as Loughlynch
Loughlynch
Loughlynch or Lough Lynch is a townland in the parish of Billy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies about 3½ miles south-east of Bushmills and was once the site of a lake.-History:...
, which is in the parish of Billy, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, mother's name as a local O'Quinn or O'Cahan (O'Kane).
He married Mary MacDonald of Sanda; those MacDonalds were also caught up in related fighting from the 1630s onwards, and lost their position as a result of the Dunaverty Massacre.
His father's name was Gillespick, a nephew of 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...
.
This family is alluded to in a sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
of John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
(Sonnet XI) which has a line referring to three generations:
- [...]Colkitto or Macdonnel or Galasp.
Galasp stands in for Gillespie
Gillespie
Gillespie is both a masculine given name, and a surname in the English language. It is an Anglicised form of the Irish language Mac Giolla Easpaig and the Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Easbuig, which are patronymic forms of a byname which means "servant of the bishop". In Ireland the Gillespie sept...
(anglicised name). Properly Col Ciotach can be called Coll Mac Gillespick MacDonald, Coll Keitache MacGillespick M'Donald.
From his marriage with Mary MacDonald of Sanda, they had issue:
- Gilleasbuig (Archibald), killed at Dunaverty Castle in 1647.
- Aonghus (Angus), killed at Dunaverty Castle in 1647.
- Alastair (Alexander), married Elizabeth MacAlister, died at Battle of Knocknanauss in 1647.
- Seamus (James)