12/31/2023 0 Comments Edwin neal hand cutMore recently, O’Neills have been active in politics on both sides of the Atlantic. And the town of O’Neill, Nebraska, is named for General John O’Neill, an Irish immigrant who fought for the Union during the Civil War. Some 175 O’Neills served in the Continental Army, including Captain William O’Neill who served with great distinction during the Battle of Brandywine. In America, O’Neills continued to distinguish themselves as soldiers. Hugh Dubh’s father, Art Óg O’Neill, was among those exiles who made careers for themselves in the Spanish Army of Flanders after the Battle of Kinsale. Owen Roe’s nephew, Hugh Dubh O’Neill, who was born in Brussels in 1611, also played an important role in the Wars, especially with his defense of Clonmel against England’s “New Model Army” in 1650. Felim also fought with Owen Roe O’Neill during the Irish Confederate Wars, also known as the War of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51 (an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Ireland, Scotland and England), and was put to death by the British in 1653. Owen Roe O’Neill organized the return of 300 Irish officers in the Spanish service to Ireland to support the Irish Rebellion of 1641, which was led by Felim O’Neill of Kinard (Phelim O’Neill). The O’Neills continued to distinguish themselves in the fight for Ireland’s independence. The remaining O’Neills split into two septs the senior branch were called the Tyrone O’Neills and the younger branch were known as the “Clan Aedh Buidhe,” the Yellow-haired Hughs or Clanaboy. His death is the last entry in the Annals of the Four Masters, the best-known account of medieval Irish history.Īfter the defeat at Kinsale, many O’Neills fled to Spain and Portugal. Hugh O’Neill spent his last days in Rome, where he died in 1616 being buried next to his son in San Pietro. The departure of those two Irish chieftains for Europe effectively ended the Gaelic order in Ireland. The Irish forces were defeated and Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh O’Donnell were forced to leave Ireland, in what is now known as the “Flight of the Earls,” in 1607. He defended his lands for six years from the English but left his northern strong-hold to attack them with fellow Irish leader Red Hugh O’Donnell and Spanish allies at the Battle of Kinsale on December 24, 1601. After a number of years and patriotic Irish actions, Hugh O’Neill was inaugurated as “The O’Neill” in 1595. The Great Hugh O’Neill (1550-1616) was the second Earl of Tyrone. Subsequent generations and kings made their own modifications resulting in the current coat of arms. King Aedh “the Stout” O’Neill of Ulster first used the crest during his reign in the mid-1300s. The chief who was about to lose, cut off his right hand and threw it to the shore before his opponent could touch it. The first man to touch the shore with his right hand would be the winner and rightful king. The most prominent myth recounts that two Mileasan chiefs wished to settle a land dispute with a boating contest. The significance of the red hand on the O’Neill family coat of arms is often debated, and there are many interpretations as to what it signifies. Another story tells of three O’Neill brothers who were given laurel branches as a result of their victory over the Vikings and added the nickname “Creagh” to their names. The O’Neills were known by the nickname “Creagh” which comes from the Gaelic word “craobh” meaning branch, because they were known to camouflage themselves to resemble the forest when fighting the Norsemen. When Nial Gluin Dubh (Niall of the Back Knee), the King of Ireland from 890 until 919 A.D., was killed fighting the raiding Norsemen, his grandson Domhnall adopted the surname Neill. The name is derived from two separate Gaelic words, “Ua Niall,” which means grandson of Niall, and “Neill” meaning “champion.” The Ui Neill dynasty split into two septs, the Northern Ui Neill and the Southern Ui Neill, around 400 A.D. to the legendary warrior king of Ireland, Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), who is said to have been responsible for bringing St. The O’Neill family traces its history back to 360 A.D.
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