Hugh Gavelagh O'Neill
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Ireland
Dungannon, Ireland
Hugh Gavelagh MacShane O'Neill | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1562 Ireland |
| Died | January 1590 (aged about 28) Dungannon, Ireland |
Hugh Gavelagh MacShane O'Neill (Irish: Aodh Geimhleach mac Séan Ó Néill;[1][2] c. 1562[a] – January 1590) was a sixteenth-century Irish noble of the O'Neill dynasty, specifically the MacShane branch. He was executed on the orders of his cousin the Earl of Tyrone.
Succession dispute
Gavelagh was one of the many sons of Gaelic chief Shane O'Neill.[4] Shane had captured[5] Catherine MacLean, wife of Calvagh O'Donnell,[6] and made her his mistress.[7][3] Their son gained the name Gavelagh,[b] meaning "Fettered", because he was born while his mother was held captive in chains.[4][8][9]
All of the MacShanes were fostered by the O'Donnelly clan, per Gaelic tradition.[10][8]
Gavelagh's only full-brother was Art MacShane O'Neill.[6] Art died from frostbite in early 1592, during his escape from imprisonment in Dublin Castle with Red Hugh O'Donnell and half-brother Henry MacShane O'Neill.[11][12]
The O'Neills were the most powerful Gaelic Irish clan of their time, but by the mid-to-late sixteenth century, they had fallen into internal conflict due to a succession dispute. The clan split into two major septs: the MacShanes (sons of Shane) and the MacBarons (sons of Matthew, Shane's reputedly illegitimate brother).[13][14] Matthew was assassinated by Shane's followers in 1558;[15][16] Shane was assassinated in 1567.[7][16] Matthew's son, Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, became a major rival to the MacShanes.[16]
Career
Gavelagh and Art could call upon substantial military support. They had access to Scots mercenaries through their cousin Lachlan Mor MacLean of Duart.[17] Prior to 1584, they spent two years in Scotland soliciting MacLean's aid.[18]
In the late 1580s, he became an informant for Lord Deputy William FitzWilliam.[citation needed]
In February 1589, Gavelagh arrived from Scotland; later he proceeded to Dublin where he made allegations against his cousin the Earl of Tyrone.[19][9] Gavelagh reported to FitzWilliam that Tyrone had made treasonous dealings with Spanish noblemen of the Duke of Medina's fleet,[4][1] who had escaped from the Armada.[8] Tyrone had sent them into Scotland with letters to the King of Spain, in which he offered an alliance against Elizabeth I. The Spaniards had told this to Gavelagh, mistakenly thinking he was in Tyrone's confidence.[4]
FitzWilliam and the Irish Council set out from Dublin for Stradbally, Ulster to question Tyrone. Tyrone denied the charge, alleging that Gavelagh was dangerous and untrustworthy.[4] Gavelagh claimed he was ready to prove himself in single combat, but both he and Tyrone were forbidden to fight.[8][4] Instead, Gavelagh agreed to produce witnesses, and a date was set for their testimony. After Tyrone gave bail and was released, he prevented Gavelagh from prosecuting his enquiries.[4]