Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan facts for kids

Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan was an important Irish landowner in Ulster who lived a long time ago, dying around 1627. He was a loyal supporter, or vassal, of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, a powerful leader. Donnell often joined Tyrone in fighting against the English Crown in the late 1500s.

Even though he didn't leave Ireland with Tyrone during the Flight of the Earls (when many Irish lords left the country), Donnell felt the English government had broken a promise about giving him a lot of land. He was arrested for acting against the Crown. He was never put on trial but was held in Dublin Castle until he died.

Donnell O'Cahan: A Powerful Landowner

Donnell O'Cahan was a very important landholder in Ulster. People have called him "the last in a long line of chieftains" who ruled the area between the River Bann near Belfast and the River Foyle near Derry. He held this land as a loyal supporter, or liegeman, to the O'Neill Earls of Tyrone. In the old Gaelic language, this kind of leader was called an ur ri, meaning an "under king."

His main home and property were in Dungiven, and he also owned Limavady. Donnell spent much of the 1590s fighting alongside Tyrone against the English Crown. His lands were badly affected by these conflicts until he finally gave up in the early 1600s. About a third of Donnell's lands in Londonderry were given to Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who was also Donnell's father-in-law.

O'Cahan and the Flight of the Earls

In September 1607, Tyrone and other powerful Irish earls left Ireland. In the same month, Donnell O'Cahan was made a knight.

In early 1608, Donnell's brother joined a rebellion led by Cahir O'Doherty. Even though Donnell O'Cahan wasn't officially involved, people suspected he knew about the uprising. He was arrested but never faced a trial.

A historian named Francis Joseph Bigger suggested that there was a rumor Donnell had tried to leave Ireland with Tyrone and the other lords. The rumor said he was only stopped because of an "accidental delay" while crossing a ferry. Donnell O'Cahan stayed at Limavady Castle after Tyrone left. Sir Arthur Chichester, who was the English Crown's main leader in Ulster, thought this showed Donnell supported the rebels and had a "guilty mind."

This idea grew stronger because, in the eyes of the English, Donnell O'Cahan "had become troublesome." So, they decided it was best to keep him locked up in Dublin Castle. Bigger also noted that Donnell had stayed loyal to Tyrone throughout Tyrone's seven-year fight against the Crown. However, in 1608, Donnell joined Henry Docwra, a major English commander. Donnell agreed to this on the condition that he would receive enough land and support to become independent from Tyrone. This meant he would no longer hold his estates as a fief, or land given in exchange for loyalty.

O'Cahan's Imprisonment and Death

Donnell O'Cahan's agreement with Docwra about his lands was initially approved by the government. However, Sir Arthur Chichester convinced the government to cancel the deal. This made Donnell O'Cahan very upset. His actions and words at this time allowed Chichester to claim that Donnell had spoken and acted against the Crown.

Donnell O'Cahan spent the rest of his life imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he died around 1627. While he was in prison, the Plantation of Ulster continued. This was a plan to settle new people from England and Scotland in Ulster. However, no one ever challenged Donnell's legal right to the Bann−Foyle region. Even though Donnell O'Cahan never returned home, no individual settler ever claimed his estate.