Dohertys [Uí Dochartaigh]
also known as Clann Fiamhain
Like the O'Donnells, the Dohertys were a branch of the Cenal Chonaill,
tracing their descent from a man called Dochartach. This name is often translated as
'Destroyer' and according to Doherty genealogies, he was ninth in descent from Conall
Gulban, son of Niall Noigiallach [Niall of the Nine Hostages]. Thus although nowadays
associated with the peninsula of Inishowen, they claim descent not from Cenel Eoghain but
from the rival Cenel Chonaill.
The annals first mention the surname in 1180AD, and not long after, in
1197, Echmarcach Ó Dochartaigh gained the kingship of Tír Chonaill, breaking the long
hold of the O'Cannon and Mulderry families, but only for a short time as he was killed
resisting the Norman raids of John de Courcey. The stronghold of the family appears to
have been in East Donegal, between modern day Letterkenny and Lifford, and in the area
along the river Finn. It would be another century and a half before the Dohertys had
control of Inishowen, following firstly the decline of the Mac Lochlainns and then of
Norman rule in the peninsula, centred on their massive de Burgo castle in Greencastle.
Conchobhar an Einigh Ó Dochartaigh was the first of the name to be
called the lord of Inishowen, when he died in 1413. Inishowen, as part of the Cenel
Eoghain lands, was a disputed territory. By the end of the fiteenth centry the annals
record the Doherty lords of Inishowen as being subject to the O'Donnells, while soon
after, in 1511, Art Ó Néill, lord of Tír Eoghain plundered the peninsula. Aodh mac
Aoidh Ruaidh, lord of Tír Chonaill, could not let this pass, and after his forces
defeated those of Tír Eoghain on a number of occasions between 1512 and 1522, the
overlordship of the O'Donnells was recognised. Indeed in the annals Ó Dochartaigh is
listed as a loyal follower of Ó Domhnaill, along with Ó Baoighill, Mac Suibhne and Ó
Gallchobhair. As soon as O'Donnell power began to wane, however, the Dohertys sought to
consolidate their own position. In 1606 Cathaoir Ó Dochartaigh was accused of rebelling
against the English governor of Derry, Henry Docwra. He denied this, and to show his
loyalty served on the jury which indicted the Gaelic earls who had fled from Rathmullan in
1607. In 1608 his forces burned Derry, and for this he was pursued deep into Tír Chonaill
and killed near Kilmacrennan. This was the end of the Doherty lordship.
The family is still very numerous in Donegal, and especially in
Inishowen, where, because they are so strong, many families are known by nicknames to
distinguish them from other Dohertys. The line of the ruling family lives on, and as
recently as 1989 a Ramon Ó Dochartaigh, who lives in Cadiz in Spain, was recognised by
the Office of the Cheif Herald of Ireland as the head of the family. He claims descent
from a brother of Cathaoir Ó Dochartaigh. This Sean Ó Dochartaigh did not flee along
with the O'Donnells and O'Neills, however; it was in the late 18th century that a John
Doherty went to Spain along with his two brothers. John took up a career in the Spanish
Navy, the successor to the Armada which had come to grief two centuries earlier on the
coast of his native Inishowen.
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