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This article lists the rulers of Tyrconnell (Irish: Tír Ċonaıll), a medieval Irish kingdom which covered much of what is now County Donegal. Unless otherwise stated, all dates before 1752 are given in the Gregorian calendar, which was used by Irish chroniclers.^[1]

Oral history

It was founded in the fifth century by a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Conall Gulban, of whom the Cenél Conaill are descended.^{[2][3] [4]} They ruled the kingdom until the Flight of the Earls in September 1607, which marked the end of the kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

Early Chiefs of Cenél Conaill

• Conall Gulban mac Néill (died 464)
• .......
• Ninnid mac Dauach (flourished 544-563)
• Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569)
• Báetán mac Ninneda (died 586).
• Áed mac Ainmuirech (died 598)
• Conall Cú mac Áedo (died 604)
• Máel Coba mac Áedo (died 615)
• Domnall mac Áedo (died 642)
• Conall Cóel mac Máele Coba (died 654)
• Cellach mac Máele Coba (died 658)
• ......
• Loingsech mac Óengusso (died 703)
• Congal Cennmagair mac Fergusa (died 710)
• Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765)
• Áed Muinderg mac Flaithbertaig (died 747)
• Loingsech mac Flaithbertaig (died 754)
• Murchad mac Flaithbertaig (died 767)
• Domnall mac Áeda Muindeirg (died 804)
• Máel Bresail mac Murchada (died 819)
• Ruaidrí ua Canannáin (died 950)

13th century – 17th century

O'Donnell clan chiefs were inaugurated with a traditional ceremony. Under brehon law, the title of clan chief could only be transferred by abdication or the death of the current clan chief. Despite this, many of the following individuals took power by force by imprisoning or overpowering the current clan chief, effectively becoming the ruler of Tyrconnell.

Illustration	Name	Reign	Claim	Life details	Ref.
	Egneghan MacDaly Eigneachan mac Dalach	1201[citation needed] – 1207[5]		1207[5]
	Donall Mor MacEgneghan O'Donnell Domhnall Mór mac Eicnechain Ó Domhnaill	1207[5] – 1241[6][7]	Son of Eneas[6][2]	1241[6][7][8]
	Melaghlin O'Donnell Maol Seachlainn Ó Domhnaill	1241[6][7] – 1247[8]	Son of Donall Mor[8]	1247[8]
	Gofraid O'Donnell Gofraidh Ó Domhnaill	1247 – 1257		died 1257	[9]
	Donal Oge O'Donnell Domhnall Óg Ó Domhnaill	1257[8] – 1281[10][8]	Son of Donall Mor[11][2]	c. 1242[citation needed] – 1281[10][8]
	Hugh O'Donnell Aodh Ó Domhnaill	1281[10] – 1290[12]	Son of Donal Oge[10][13][2][8]	1333[8]
	Turlough O'Donnell Toirdhealbhach Ó Domhnaill	1290[12] – 1303[13]	Son of Donal Oge[13]	1303[13]
	Hugh O'Donnell Aodh Ó Domhnaill	began 1303[13]	Son of Donal Oge[10][13][2]
	Connor O'Donnell Conchobhar Ó Domhnaill	1333[8] – 1342[8]	Son of Hugh[8]
	Niall Maelsechlainn Donnchadh Garbh O'Donnell	1342[8] – 1348[8]	Son of Hugh[8]
	Aonghus O'Donnell Aonghus Ó Domhnaill	1348[8] – 1352[8]	Son of Connor[8]
	Felim O'Donnell Felim Ó Domhnaill	1352[8] – 1356[8]	Son of Hugh[8]
	Seaán O'Donnell Seaán Ó Domhnaill	1356[8] – 1380[8]	Son of Connor[8]
	Neal Garbh O'Donnell	ended 1380[2]	Son of Hugh[2]	1380[2]
	Turlough-an-Fhina O'Donnell Tairrdelbach an Fhiona Ó Domhnaill	1380[2][8] – 1422[2][8]	Son of Neal Garbh[2][8]	1422[2]
	Niall Garve O'Donnell Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill	1422[2] – 1439[14]	Son of Turlough-an-Fhina[14]	1439[14]
	Naughton O'Donnell Neachtan Ó Domhnaill	1439[citation needed] – 16 May 1452	Son of Turlough-an-Fhina	c. 1392 – 16 May 1452 (aged 59–60)	[15][16]
	Hugh Roe O'Donnell I Aodh Ruadh mac Néill Gairbh Ó Domhnaill	c. 1461[17] – 11 July 1505[18][17]	Son of Niall Garve[17][19][14]	c. 1427[17] – 11 July 1505[18][17](aged 78)[20]
	Hugh Duff O'Donnell Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill	11 July 1505[18][17] – 5 July 1537[19][21]	Son of Hugh Roe I[19]	5 July 1537[19][21]
	Manus O'Donnell Maghnas Ó Domhnaill	5 July 1537[19][21] – 1555[22][21]	Son of Hugh Duff[21]	1490 – 9 February 1563 (aged 72–73) Imprisoned and deposed by his son Calvagh in 1555; Died during imprisonment in Lifford.[citation needed]	[23]
	Calvagh O'Donnell Calbhach Ó Domhnaill	1555 – 26 October 1566	Son of Manus	c. 1515[citation needed] – 26 October 1566 (aged 50–51) Seized power in 1555[22][21]	[24]
	Hugh McManus O'Donnell Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill	26 October 1566 – 3 May 1592	Son of Manus	c. 1520 – 7 November 1600 (aged 79–80) Seized power in 1561 with Calvagh's imprisonment. Became senile in his later years and abdicated.	[25]
	Hugh Roe O'Donnell II Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill	3 May 1592 – 9 September 1602	Son of Hugh McManus	October 1572 – 9 September 1602 (aged 29) Senior confederate commander in the Nine Years' War. Died in Simancas whilst seeking Spanish reinforcements.	[26]
	Niall Garbh O'Donnell Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill	1603 – 1626 (disputed)	Grandson of Calvagh	c. 1569 – 1626 (aged 57) Fought for the Crown during the Nine Years' War. Traditionally inaugurated but challenged by Rory. Arrested for instigating O'Doherty's rebellion and sent to the Tower of London for life in 1609.	[27]
	Rory O'Donnell Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill	1602 – 1608 (disputed)	Son of Hugh McManus	1575 – 28 July 1608 (aged 32–33) Elevated as Earl of Tyrconnell by King James on 4 September 1603. Took part in the Flight of the Earls. Died in Rome of fever.	[28]

References

Further reading

• Annals of the Four Masters (1998), Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Annala Ríoghachta Éireann) from the earliest period to the year 1616 (compiled during the period 1632-1636 by Brother Michael O’Clery et al., and translated and edited by John O’Donovan in 1856), Dublin: De Burca, ISBN 0946130 06 X
• Annals of Ulster University College Cork
• Annals of Tigernach University College Cork
• Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, ISBN 978-1-85182-196-9
• Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-36395-0
• Mac Niocaill, Gearoid (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
• O'Donnell, Francis Martin (2018). The O'Donnells of Tyrconnell: A Hidden Legacy. Academica Press. ISBN 978-1-68053-474-0.