Shane O'Neill (Irish chieftain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shane O'Neill |
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| Prince of Ulster, Dominus Tyronis Dux Hibernicorum |
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Shane O'Neill meeting Elizabeth I of England
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| Reign | 1559–1567 |
| Coronation | 1559, Tullyhogue |
| Predecessor | Conn Bacach O'Neill |
| Successor | Sir Turlough Luineach O'Neill |
| Born | c. 1530 |
| Died | 6 February 1567 Modern-day Cushendun |
| Spouse |
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| Issue | Conn Og, Henry, Hugh & others |
| Father | Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone |
| Mother | Alice Fitzgerald |
Shane O'Neill (Irish: Séan mac Cuinn Ó Néill; c. 1530 – 2 June 1567) was a powerful Irish leader from the O'Neill dynasty in Ulster during the mid-1500s. He wanted to be the main leader of the O'Neill family in Tír Eoghain. This goal often put him in conflict with other O'Neill family members and with the English government in Ireland.
Even when his father, Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone, was alive, the English saw Shane as an important figure. However, Shane did not want to help the English against Scottish settlers in County Antrim. Instead, he briefly allied with the MacDonnells, a strong Scottish group. Shane saw the Scottish settlers as invaders but hoped to use them to strengthen his own power. Soon, tensions grew, and he fought the MacDonnells, defeating them at the Battle of Glentaisie. The Scottish MacDonnells later killed Shane O'Neill.
Contents
Who Was Shane O'Neill?
His Name and Nickname
The name "Shane" is an English version of the Irish name "Séan," which means John. In old Irish records, he was called "Sean mac Cuinn," meaning "John, son of Conn." He was also known as "Sean Donngaileach Ó Neill" because he was raised by the O'Donnelly Clan. They were cousins and important military leaders for the O'Neills.
Later, when he became the main leader, people simply called him "Ó Néill" (The O'Neill). The nickname "Shane the Proud" came from English writers after his death. They used it to mean "arrogant" because they wanted to make him look bad. However, later Irish writers used the name with a more positive meaning.
His Early Life
Shane was born around 1530. His father was Conn Bacach O'Neill, the chief of the O'Neills of Tyrone. His mother was Sorcha O'Neill. Shane's mother died when he was very young. Following Irish custom, he was raised by the O'Donnelly family until he became an adult. This custom was called fostering.
Because he was the youngest of six sons, it was not expected that he would become a major leader. In 1531, a rival O'Neill family briefly kidnapped him, but not much else is known about his childhood.
Becoming a Leader
Family Conflicts and English Law
In the 1530s, the English government began to take more control over Ireland. This long effort is known as the Tudor conquest of Ireland. To bring Irish lords under their rule, the English gave them English titles. Shane's father, Conn Bacach O'Neill, became the first Earl of Tyrone.
However, there was a big difference in how leaders were chosen. In Gaelic Irish custom, a new leader was elected from the family (this was called Tanistry). But the English insisted that the first-born son should inherit the title (this was called primogeniture). This caused problems for Shane. He believed he should be the clan's head.
Shane's father, Conn Bacach, had a son named Matthew O'Neill (also called Fear Dorcha). Matthew was not Conn's natural son but was recognized as his heir by English law. This meant Shane and Conn's other sons were disinherited. Matthew was given the title Baron of Dungannon.
Shane Takes Charge
Matthew was killed in 1558 by Shane's foster brothers, the O'Donnellys. This happened before Conn Bacach died. The claim to the earldom then went to Matthew's eldest son, Brian. Brian was also killed in 1562 in a fight with Turlough Luineach, another O'Neill.
The claim then passed to Matthew's next son, Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone. Hugh was sent to England in 1559. Meanwhile, Shane became the main leader in Ulster. Shane was officially chosen as "The O'Neill" under Gaelic Irish law. This was seen as illegal by English law.
Shane argued that Matthew was not a true son of Conn Bacach. He made this argument to Queen Elizabeth I in 1562.
Shane and the English Crown
Negotiations with Queen Elizabeth I
When Queen Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, she wanted to make peace with Shane O'Neill. He was the real leader of the O'Neill family after his father's death. She agreed to recognize his claims if he would accept her authority. However, Shane refused to put himself in danger without a guarantee for his safety.
Elizabeth's deputy, the Earl of Sussex, tried to turn the O'Donnells against Shane. But this failed. Elizabeth was careful with money and did not want a costly war. She wanted peace with Shane. Sussex's repeated attacks on Shane's land did not make Shane surrender.
Battles and Diplomacy
Shane O'Neill defeated a large part of Sussex's army at the Battle of the Red Sagums in 1561. After this, Elizabeth sent the Earl of Kildare to talk with Shane. Shane demanded that the English leave his territory completely. Sussex even tried to kill Shane in 1561. Shane then demanded an explanation for these attempts on his life.
Elizabeth agreed to talk. Hostilities stopped, and Shane got most of what he wanted. He agreed to meet Elizabeth in London to present his case. He also asked to marry Sussex's half-sister to show future friendship.
Shane arrived in London on January 4, 1562. He was accompanied by the Earls of Ormonde and Kildare to ensure his safety. People in London were amazed by Shane's bodyguards, called gallowglass. They had long hair and wore saffron-dyed shirts.
Elizabeth was more interested in politics than in who had the better legal claim. She allowed Shane to return to Ireland, recognizing him as The O'Neill. During this visit, Shane was led to believe he would be recognized as the 2nd Earl of Tyrone. However, this official recognition never came. Shane had to defend his leadership in Ulster when Sir Henry Sidney became Lord Deputy and continued Sussex's policy against him.
War in Ulster
At this time, there were three powerful O'Neill leaders: Shane O'Neill, Sir Turlough, and Brian, Baron of Dungannon. Turlough was chosen as Shane's successor (tanist) and hoped to replace him. While Shane was in London, Turlough killed Brian, Matthew's eldest son.
When Shane returned to Ireland, he quickly regained control. He continued his fight with the O'Donnells and the MacDonnells. He wanted them to accept his leadership in Ulster.
Shane claimed he was helping the Queen by fighting the Scottish MacDonnells. In 1564, he fought an undecided battle with Sorley Boy MacDonnell. The next year, Shane marched north very quickly and surprised the MacDonnells. He defeated Sorley Boy MacDonnell's local forces. He then burned James MacDonnell's new castle and chased the rest of their army. Shane routed the MacDonnells at the Battle of Glentaisie and captured Sorley Boy and his wounded brother James.
This victory made Shane O'Neill very powerful. Sir Henry Sidney, the new lord deputy, said Shane was full of pride. Shane attacked the English Pale, failed to capture Dundalk, made a truce with the MacDonnells, and sought help from the Earl of Desmond. The English invaded Donegal and brought back O'Donnell.
Marriages and Alliances
In 16th-century Ireland, noble families often arranged marriages to create political alliances. If the alliance broke, the wife could return to her father. All of Shane's marriages were for political reasons.
His first wife was Catherine, daughter of James MacDonald. Shane married Catherine when the MacDonnells were helping him fight his father for control of Tyrone.
Shane later divorced Catherine to make an alliance with the O'Donnells. He married Mary, daughter of Calvagh O'Donnell, the Lord of Tyrconnell. Mary's brother was openly against this alliance, so Shane rejected Mary. In the conflict that followed, Shane captured and imprisoned Calvagh O'Donnell.
While Calvagh was imprisoned, his wife, Catherine, became Shane's partner. She was the Dowager Countess of Argyle and daughter of Hector Mor MacLean. Her father came to Ireland and approved her marriage to Shane in 1563.
In 1563, during his visit to London, Shane asked Queen Elizabeth to find him "a well-born Englishwoman" to marry.
In 1567, Shane was trying to make a military alliance with the MacDonnells. He discussed divorcing Catherine MacLean to marry Agnes Campbell. Agnes was the widow of James MacDonald, whom Shane had captured in 1565.
Shane was still married to Catherine when he was killed on June 2, 1567. Catherine and her children fled and were protected by another O'Neill lord. Catherine eventually made her way to Duart Castle, where her brother helped raise Shane's youngest children.
His Children: The Mac Shanes
Shane had at least ten sons. Many of them were raised by O'Neill relatives after their father's death. These sons, known as the Mac Shanes, became rivals to Hugh O'Neill as he rose to power.
Some of his known children include:
- Shane Og: His mother was Catherine MacDonnell. He was killed in 1581.
- Henry MacShane O'Neill: His mother was Catherine MacDonnell. He was a famous son and died in 1622.
- Conn MacShane O'Neill: His mother was Catherine MacLean or Shane Óg Maguire's daughter. He fought against his cousin, Hugh O'Neill, during the Nine Years' War. He died in 1630 or 1631.
- Hugh Gaveloch: He led an army to claim the O'Neill Mór title but was captured and killed by his cousin, Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, in 1590.
- Art: His mother was Catherine MacLean. He died after escaping English captivity in 1592.
Defeat and Death
Shane O'Neill failed to make peace with the English and could not get help from France. He was completely defeated by the O'Donnells at the Battle of Farsetmore near Letterkenny. Seeking safety, he went to his enemies, the MacDonnells.
On June 2, 1567, Shane, with a small group of bodyguards and his prisoner Sorley Boy, met the MacDonnells near Cushendun. He hoped to form an alliance. However, the MacDonnells killed him there. He was buried at Crosskern Church. Shane did not know that the Scots had already made a deal with the English.
English historians often described Shane O'Neill as a brutal and uneducated savage. However, Shane was a skilled politician and military leader. He often outsmarted his English opponents in battle and at court. His death was celebrated by his enemies in London.
Shane was succeeded as The O'Neill by his chosen successor, Turlough Luineach O'Neill.
Cultural Recognition
Antrim GAA has a Gaelic Athletic Association club named Shane O'Neill's GAC in his honor. It was founded in 1903 in Glenarm. There is also a Shane O'Neill's GAC in Camloch, County Armagh.
A stone monument, called a cairn, was built at his burial place near Cushendun in 1908. Yearly events were held there to remember Shane until 1914. The poet Robinson Jeffers visited the site in 1929 and mentioned Shane's Cairn in his poems.
Images for kids
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Shane O'Neill meeting Elizabeth I of England
See also
In Spanish: Shane O'Neill para niños
