Henry MacShane O'Neill
Henry McShane O'Neill | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Tyrone, The MacShane of Orior | |
| Born | c. 1545-1550 |
| Died | 1622 (aged 71–77) |
| Family | O'Neill / MacShane |
| Father | Shane O'Neill |
| Mother | Catherine MacDonnell |
| Occupation | Prince |
Henry MacShane O'Neill or Anraí mac Seáin Ó Néill (c. 1545-1550 – 1622) was an Irish
Early life
Henry was born to the ruling family of Ulster at the time. His father is known to history as "Shane the Proud", though in his own lifetime he went by Sean Donnellach O'Neill, as he was fostered by the Donnelly clan. It is believed Henry's mother was Catherine MacDonnell, Shane's first wife, which makes him one of Shane's oldest and legitimate children. He had many half brothers, but his only full brother was Shane Og, Shane O'Neill's oldest son.
He was fostered in the households of the
Push for power
Henry and Con made a push for power in the summer of 1584; their actions precipitated the temporary collapse of the authority of
Although Henry and Con remained with Turlough, the O'Donelly's and O'Cahan's defected to Mclean's side. When Turlough was thought to have died, the brothers were freed. But Con left, and without his presence western Tyrone was exposed to a direct attack from Sir Hugh O'Donnell, the Rí of Tyrconnell. Although after the death of Turlough, Henry was the strongest candidate for becoming the O'Neill, Hugh O'Neill made a direct bid for leadership and mustered a large force, marching toward the inaugural stone in Tullyhogue.
Henry was unable to quickly retaliate, as he and his brother Art were imprisoned in
Relationship with Hugh O'Neill
He opposed his first cousin,
When Hugh Rua fled to Europe, the English seized his lands and set up a jury to redistribute them; the jury contained many of his enemies, including Henry and some of his brothers. Henry was granted a large estate from this land in Orior, County Armagh.
Known children and grandchildren
Children
- Henry Og MacShane - Henry's son, Henry Og, married Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone's daughter Cortine, and was knighted Sir Henry McShane O'Neill. He was killed by the forces of Sir O'Doherty's Rebellion following the Burning of Derry. Henry Og had a son named Sir Felim Roe, and a daughter who married Brian mac Hugh Oge O'Neill, Lord of the Feeva, ancestor of Charles Henry O'Neill "The Barrister", of the Feeva, ancestor of the O'Neill Conroys of Newfoundland through his only daughter Elizabeth and James Gervé Conroy, whose descent is now numerous. Padré Carlos, or "San Carlos" of Monsefú Perú, (died 1966) was of this line.
- Con Boy McShane – Son of Henry. Little is known about Con Boy other than that he led a raid on MacMahon country for Turlough Lineach in 1569.
- Cormocke MacShane - Member of the jury to distribute Hugh O'Neill's land
Grandchildren
- Sir Felim Roe MacShane – Son of Henry Og, knighted like his father. Born 1604, died 1653.
- Sir Turlough MacShane - Son Of Henry Og, knighted; married Catherine Ny; their children were Neal Roe, Bryan, Henry, Con Boy, Charles, Hugh, Phelim and Turlough Og. He died young in 1608 and his land was divided among his immediate family.
Great-grandchildren
- Phelim MacShane - son of Turlough. Received land with his mother in Tyrone. Leader in the 1641 Rebellion; executed 1653.
- Turlough Og MacShane– brother of Felim Roe; received land in Armagh.
References
- The Fall of Irish Chiefs and Clans; The Conquest, page 135 By George Hill
- The Origins of the MacShanes
- Tyrone's Rebellion: The Outbreak of the Nine Years' War in By Hiram Morgan