Rosa O'Neill facts for kids

Rosa O'Neill (born O'Doherty; c.1588–1660) was an important Irish woman who lived a long time ago, during the late Tudor and Stuart periods. She was part of the powerful O'Doherty family from County Donegal in Ireland.

Rosa's Early Life

Rosa O'Doherty was the daughter of Sir John O'Doherty. Her older brother was Sir Cahir O'Doherty. The O'Doherty family were the traditional leaders of a place called Inishowen.

Her brother, Sir Cahir, first helped the English Crown during a big fight known as Tyrone's Rebellion (1594-1603). But later, in 1608, he became very angry with how local officials treated him. Because of this, he started his own fight, called O'Doherty's Rebellion, by burning down the town of Derry. Sir Cahir was defeated and killed in a battle, and his family lost control of Inishowen.

Life in Europe

Rosa had married Cathbarr O'Donnell, who was the younger brother of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. In 1607, Rosa and Cathbarr went with Rory to Europe. This journey is known as the Flight of the Earls, when many Irish leaders left Ireland.

Sadly, her husband Cathbarr died from a fever in Italy the next year. Rosa was only about twenty years old when she became a widow.

A few years later, in 1613 or 1614, Rosa married again. Her new husband was Owen Roe O'Neill. He was an Irish officer who was serving in the Spanish army. They met in a place called Flanders.

Return to Ireland

In 1642, Owen Roe O'Neill returned to Ireland. He came back to help the Irish Confederacy during a time of big wars called the War of Three Kingdoms. Rosa came with him.

She arrived in Ireland a little after her husband. She landed at Wexford and brought important supplies and more soldiers for her husband's army, known as the Ulster Army. Owen Roe O'Neill became a very important leader in the Irish Confederacy. He had some good times and some difficult times. He won a famous victory against Scottish forces at the Battle of Benburb in 1646.

Later Years and Death

Owen Roe O'Neill passed away in November 1649 at Cloughoughter Castle in County Cavan. Rosa was in Galway at the time and arrived a few days after he died. His death was from natural causes.

After the English took control of Ireland in what is called the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Rosa went back to Flanders. She lived in Brussels until she died in 1660. She was buried at the Franciscan College of St. Anthony of Padua in Louvain.