Tirlough Brassileagh O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Tirlough Brassileagh O'Neill was the son of Phelim Caoch O'Neill
, Prince of the Cenél nEógain
.
As the grandson of Conn O'Neill
, then King and later Earl of Tyrone, he was fostered by the McCann clan in the area to the south of Lough Neagh
known as clan Brassill area.
When Tirlough's father died in 1542, he and his family were quickly pushed aside by the internal politics of O'Neill dominated Ulster
. As a son of Conn Bacach, he would eventually be able to attempt a try at the Chiefship of all the O'Neills, and thus was seen as a threat by his uncles Shane O'Neill
(nicknamed "An Diomas" or "the Proud") and Mathew Kelly (Ferdocha), Baron of Dungannon.
In spite of his uncles warfare and attempts to push Tirlough out, he eventually outlived both uncles and grew to some importance in the turmoil of the later 16th century. Turlough stood for election as The O'Neill Mor in 1583 when it was thought that Sir Tirlough O'Neill, the reigning O'Neill Mor had died, and led sizable groups of fighting men in 1575 and throughout the 1590s during the Nine Years War. He is listed as having the ability to raise "50 Horse and 200 foot" soldiers out of his territories at 24 hours notice to fight.
He again made a bid for the Chiefship in the 1590s, but his cousin, Hugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone
, bought him off with a gift of territory. In 1595 the English make reference to him as being part of the leadership in Ulster, but too old to worry about, and he died sometime after.
Turlough Brassileagh was married to an Anabla O'Reilly, a daughter of The O'Reilly of Cavan. They had children: Con McTirlough, and Hugh McTurlough. These sons were fought in the 9 Years War, raided neighboring clans, and fought in the 1608 Rebellion.
Phelim Caoch O'Neill
Phelim Caoch O'Neill was a Prince of the Cenél nEógain from 1517 to 1542.The first son of King Conn Bacach O'Neill. Conn came from a long line of Ulster kings and was known throughout all the O'Neill provinces as "The O'Neill" or the most supreme among all the O'Neill Lords. Phelim's mother was...
, Prince of the Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
.
As the grandson of Conn O'Neill
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone
Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone King of Tír Eógain, c. 1480–1559.-Biography:A son of Conn Mór, King of Tír Eógain, grandson of Henry Ó Néill, the King of Tír Eógain, was the first of the Ó Néills whom the attempts of the English in the 16th century to subjugate Ireland brought to the front as...
, then King and later Earl of Tyrone, he was fostered by the McCann clan in the area to the south of Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
known as clan Brassill area.
When Tirlough's father died in 1542, he and his family were quickly pushed aside by the internal politics of O'Neill dominated Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. As a son of Conn Bacach, he would eventually be able to attempt a try at the Chiefship of all the O'Neills, and thus was seen as a threat by his uncles Shane O'Neill
Shane O'Neill
Seán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...
(nicknamed "An Diomas" or "the Proud") and Mathew Kelly (Ferdocha), Baron of Dungannon.
In spite of his uncles warfare and attempts to push Tirlough out, he eventually outlived both uncles and grew to some importance in the turmoil of the later 16th century. Turlough stood for election as The O'Neill Mor in 1583 when it was thought that Sir Tirlough O'Neill, the reigning O'Neill Mor had died, and led sizable groups of fighting men in 1575 and throughout the 1590s during the Nine Years War. He is listed as having the ability to raise "50 Horse and 200 foot" soldiers out of his territories at 24 hours notice to fight.
He again made a bid for the Chiefship in the 1590s, but his cousin, Hugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone
Hugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone
Aodh Mór Ó Néill, anglicised as Hugh The Great O'Neill , was the 2nd or 3rd Earl of Tyrone and was later created The Ó Néill...
, bought him off with a gift of territory. In 1595 the English make reference to him as being part of the leadership in Ulster, but too old to worry about, and he died sometime after.
Turlough Brassileagh was married to an Anabla O'Reilly, a daughter of The O'Reilly of Cavan. They had children: Con McTirlough, and Hugh McTurlough. These sons were fought in the 9 Years War, raided neighboring clans, and fought in the 1608 Rebellion.
Sources
- Annals of the Four Masters
- Pardon Rolls of King James I
- State Papers of Ireland