History of Donegal : from the
earliest times to late medieval Donegal
The nature of the County and its distinctive geographical features
have profoundly affected the social, ecclesiastical and political evolution of Donegal
over the centuries.
The area was conquered by three branches of the northern Ui Neill in
the fifth century AD - the Cenel Conaill, Cenel Eogain and Cenel Enna. The Cenel Conaill
controlled the major part of the County from Donegal Bay to the Swilly, the Cenel Eoghain
controlled Inis Eoghain (later spreading into Derry and Tyrone) and the Cenel Enna
controlled a smaller strip of land in East Donegal and West Tyrone. The area between the
rivers Drowes and Erne in the southern tip of the county, known as Magh Ene, was the
subject of dispute for many centuries. The area known as Termonmagrath (around Lough Derg)
used to form part of Maguire’s Country (Fermanagh). The Cenel Enna were soon
swallowed up by the Cenel Eogain. The political division of the County in pre-plantation
times is reflected in the ecclesiastical division still used by the Roman Catholic Church
and the Church of Ireland, and which was first laid down in the twelfth century. Cenel
Conaill was the basis for Raphoe; Cenel Eogain and Cenel Enna formed Derry, along with
most of present day county Derry and part of Tyrone; while Magh Ene and Termonmagrath were
incorporated into Clogher.
The earliest record of human activity in the county is a collection of flint
instruments found near Castlefin which could be pre 6000 BC. At Dunaff, a site dating from
3500 BC where small implements were fashioned, has been excavated. This is one of several
late megalithic sites. In quality and quantity, Donegal has one of the most important
collections of megalithic tombs, and three court-tombs have been excavated at Bavan,
Croaghbeg and Shalvey (all between Kilcar and Killybegs). The many wedge-tombs and cist
burials are evidence of settlement in the County during the Bronze Age. The stone circle
at Beltany, near Raphoe, is one of the largest in Ireland, and the north of the County has
many examples of rock art from the early Bronze Age. The best known artefacts from the
Bronze Age are the gold lunalae from Narin and Gartan, the gold ribbon torcs from Inis
Eoghain, and the gold torcs from Largatreany (near Dunfanaghy).
The Ballyshannon sword hilt, the carved stone heads from around Raphoe, and small
brooches, are some of the artefacts from the pre-Christian Iron Age. The Grianan of
Aileach, the fort at Croaghan Hill and Dun Balor (Tory Island) are the most important
remains from this era. From the early Christian era there is a series of crosses and
cross-slabs, some dated to the seventh century, The ‘Cathach’ (revered and
carried into battle by the O’Donnells) the ‘Miosach’, the
‘Bachall’ of St. Mura and a number of bell-shrines, are richly decorated relics
of early Christianity. Silver bracelets from the Viking era have been found at Clonmany
and Quigley’s Point and a Viking hoard of tenth century Anglo-Saxon coins was found
near Burt, all in Inis Eoghain.
The story of Donegal could in large part be said to be the story of
the two great Ulster dynasties - the O’Donnells (Cenel Conaill) and the O’Neills
(Cenel Eogain). Their rivalry lasted for over a thousand years from the sixth century,
until both were vanquished by the superior might of the English. By the twelfth century
the O’Donnells had, through the O’Dohertys, pushed the O’Neills out of Inis
Eoghain; the O’Neills power base was now in Tyrone, but the Grianan of Aileach
remained their great symbolic centre.
The great figure of Christianity in the County is Colm Cille, of the
royal house of the Cenel Conaill, although the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick states that
the latter preached in the County. Colm Cille was a figure of importance in Western Europe
Christianity. Gartan, Tory, Glencolumbkille, Kilmacrennan and Derry are especially
associated with him. Manus O’Donnell wrote ‘Betha Colmcille’, a biography
of his ancestral kinsman, in his castle in Lifford.
There is strong evidence of a Viking influence on the County, none
stronger than the surname MacLochlainn still prevalent in Inis Eoghain. Historians suggest
that the early extinction of Viking settlements meant that Donegal suffered in terms of
economic development, compared with, for instance, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Dublin and
other Viking settlements. The Normans had a more lasting influence on the County. In 1199
John de Courcey came to Derry and later laid waste to Inis Eoghain, killing the chief of
the O’Doherty’s while another baron, Richard de Burgo, built a castle at
Greencastle on Lough Foyle.
In their struggle with the invaders over the following centuries, the
O’Donnells called on their long-standing links with the West of Scotland. The
presence of gallowglasses - in Gaelic gall óglaigh or goreign soldiers - is marked by the
Irish form of the town of Milford, Baile na nGalloglach, and the surname Mac Suibhne
(Sweeney). During this time feuding between the O’Donnells and O’Neills
continued. By the time they united to fight with the other Gaelic chieftains at Kinsale it
was too late, and the end of the old Gaelic order was marked by the ‘Flight of the
Earls’ from Rathmullan in 1607.
Donegal, along with most of the rest of Ulster, was divided into
plantation estates, and a new ere of the history of the County began. The first permanent
Presbyterian place of worship in Ireland was constructed in Ramelton in the 1640’s.
Congested Districts Board in Donegal
Donegal's Fiddling Families
Emigration / Migration
Famine In Donegal
Flight of the Earls
Landlords of Donegal
Killing of the Earl of Leitrim
The O'Donnells
The Golden Age of the O'Donnells
The Dohertys [Uí Dochartaigh]
The Sweeneys [Clann Suibhne]
Other Prominent Donegal Families
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