People / group

O'Donnell dynasty

Also known as Ó Domhnaill

The O'Donnells, Ó Domhnaill, were a branch of the Cenél Conaill who ruled Tír Chonaill in north-western Ireland from the 13th century to 1607. Based at Donegal Castle from 1474, they kept a strong fleet and Scottish mercenaries. Red Hugh O'Donnell led them in the Nine Years' War, and Rory O'Donnell's departure in the Flight of the Earls ended their rule.

O'Donnell dynasty
Image: MostEpic · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 state histories

Kingdom of Tir ChonaillMac William IochtarLordship of Sligo

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). O'Donnell dynasty. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/odonnell-dynasty
MLA
“O'Donnell dynasty.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/odonnell-dynasty. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “O'Donnell dynasty.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/odonnell-dynasty.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘O'Donnell dynasty’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/odonnell-dynasty (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻