Ineen Dubh
Encyclopedia
Iníon Dubh, Queen of Tyrconnell ' onMouseout='HidePop("97072")' href="/topics/Ulster_Irish">Ulster Irish
as Ineen Doo; fl.
1570 - 1608), also spelt Inghean Dubh and sometimes Anglicised as Ineen Dubh or Ineen Duv, is the name by which Fionnuala Nic Dhomhnaill (which may be Anglicised as Finola MacDonnell), daughter of James MacDonnell and Agnes Campbell
, was best known. The name literally means Dark Daughter in the Irish language
. She was the second wife of Aodh mac Magnusa Ó Domhnaill, King (Rí
) of Tyrconnell, and the mother of Aodh Rua (Red Hugh) and Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill.
court in Scotland
, and her powerful connections ensured a healthy recruitment of Scottish
mercenaries to O'Donnell's armies after her marriage to him in around 1570.
She bore The O'Donnell four sons, including the last two Kings of Tyrconnell: Aodh and Rudhraighe. When her husband grew senile in his old age, she took over the effective leadership of the territory. She is described in the Annals of the Four Masters
as "like the mother of Machabees who joined a man's heart to a woman's thought".
. In his absence, she devoted herself to defending her son's claim to the chieftancy. In 1588 she had her nephew Hugh Gavelach O'Neill assassinated, following an attempted coup on his part. In 1591 a son by her husband's first marriage, Domhnall Dubh O'Donnell, attempted to seize power but was defeated and killed in battle at Lug na Cnamh. Throughout this period she made repeated attempts to secure Red Hugh's release or escape from Dublin Castle.
When Red Hugh finally escaped in 1592, she bought off the remaining claimant Niall Garve O'Donnell
(Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill) and persuaded her husband to abdicate in their son's favour. Historian Hiram Morgan notes that the election of Red Hugh as The O'Donnell in 1592 was "a stage managed affair in which the influence of his mother was paramount".
She retired to Kilmacrennan. In 1608, with all her sons dead, she implicated her son-in-law, Niall Garve, in treasonous activities and saw him sent to the Tower of London
. Her date of death is unknown. She also, in her later years, may have maintained Mongavlin Castle, a small fortress on the banks of the River Foyle
, as a residence just south of St Johnston
in The Laggan of East Donegal.
= 1stly, an unnamed Irish wife = 2ndly, Fionnuala "Iníon Dubh" MacDonnell (married Aodh c.1570)
| |
__|______________________________________ |_________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Donnchadh Domhnall Ruaidhri Siobhán daughter Nuala Aodh Ruadh Rudhraighe Maghnus Mairghead Máire Cathbarr
(Scaite) d.1590 d.1575 d. 1591 fl.1579 fl.1592 1571-1602 d.1608 alive 1608 died 1662 d.1608
|
|
Domhnall Óg
Ulster Irish
Ulster Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the Province of Ulster. The largest Gaeltacht region today is in County Donegal, so that the term Donegal Irish is often used synonymously. Nevertheless, records of the language as it was spoken in other counties do exist, and help provide...
as Ineen Doo; fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1570 - 1608), also spelt Inghean Dubh and sometimes Anglicised as Ineen Dubh or Ineen Duv, is the name by which Fionnuala Nic Dhomhnaill (which may be Anglicised as Finola MacDonnell), daughter of James MacDonnell and Agnes Campbell
Agnes Campbell
Lady Agnes Campbell was the daughter of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll and his wife Lady Jean Gordon.She was probably born at Inveraray Castle which was the Campbell Family seat.Her sister, Elizabeth, married James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray...
, was best known. The name literally means Dark Daughter in the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. She was the second wife of Aodh mac Magnusa Ó Domhnaill, King (Rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
) of Tyrconnell, and the mother of Aodh Rua (Red Hugh) and Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill.
Background
The Iníon Dubh was raised at the StuartHouse of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
court in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and her powerful connections ensured a healthy recruitment of Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
mercenaries to O'Donnell's armies after her marriage to him in around 1570.
She bore The O'Donnell four sons, including the last two Kings of Tyrconnell: Aodh and Rudhraighe. When her husband grew senile in his old age, she took over the effective leadership of the territory. She is described in the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
as "like the mother of Machabees who joined a man's heart to a woman's thought".
Political activity
In 1587 her eldest child Red Hugh O'Donnell was kidnapped and imprisoned in Dublin CastleDublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
. In his absence, she devoted herself to defending her son's claim to the chieftancy. In 1588 she had her nephew Hugh Gavelach O'Neill assassinated, following an attempted coup on his part. In 1591 a son by her husband's first marriage, Domhnall Dubh O'Donnell, attempted to seize power but was defeated and killed in battle at Lug na Cnamh. Throughout this period she made repeated attempts to secure Red Hugh's release or escape from Dublin Castle.
When Red Hugh finally escaped in 1592, she bought off the remaining claimant Niall Garve O'Donnell
Niall Garve O'Donnell
Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill anglicised as Niall Garve O'Donnell . He is best known for siding with the English against his kinsman Hugh Roe O'Donnell during the Nine Years' War in the 1590s....
(Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill) and persuaded her husband to abdicate in their son's favour. Historian Hiram Morgan notes that the election of Red Hugh as The O'Donnell in 1592 was "a stage managed affair in which the influence of his mother was paramount".
She retired to Kilmacrennan. In 1608, with all her sons dead, she implicated her son-in-law, Niall Garve, in treasonous activities and saw him sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Her date of death is unknown. She also, in her later years, may have maintained Mongavlin Castle, a small fortress on the banks of the River Foyle
River Foyle
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the City of Derry, where it...
, as a residence just south of St Johnston
St Johnston
St Johnston is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The village is located on the west bank of the River Foyle, in The Laggan district of East Donegal, on the R236 regional road.-See also:* St Johnston Cricket Club...
in The Laggan of East Donegal.
O'Donnell family tree
Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill (Sir Hugh O'Donnell), died 1600.= 1stly, an unnamed Irish wife = 2ndly, Fionnuala "Iníon Dubh" MacDonnell (married Aodh c.1570)
| |
__|______________________________________ |_________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Donnchadh Domhnall Ruaidhri Siobhán daughter Nuala Aodh Ruadh Rudhraighe Maghnus Mairghead Máire Cathbarr
(Scaite) d.1590 d.1575 d. 1591 fl.1579 fl.1592 1571-1602 d.1608 alive 1608 died 1662 d.1608
|
|
Domhnall Óg