Major programme finalised for Red Hugh O’Donnell’s 451st birthday

Plans are being finalised for a very special 451st birthday party.

Red Hugh O’Donnell, the fighting prince of Donegal will be remembered at a day-long series of events in Lifford and St Johnston on Saturday, October 28.

It is being organised by Red Hugh O’Donnell Society members Eddie Crawford and Tomás Ó Brógáin.
Red Hugh (1572-1602) was the son of Inion Dubh and Hugh O’Donnell, Lord of Tír Chonaill. As a boy he was fostered by several of the noble houses of Ulster.

Just before his 15th birthday he was captured by the English and was taken to Dublin Castle. He was kept prisoner for four years before he escaped and made his way back to Donegal, travelling in freezing winter weather. On May 3, 1592 he was proclaimed Chieftain O’Domhnaill (O’Donnell) at the rock of Doon, at Kilmacrennan.

The O’Donnells fought in the Nine Years’ War against the English with their allies, the Maguires and the ‘'Neills. The Battle of Curlew Mountain was one of Red Hugh’s greatest victories. In 1601 help arrived from Spain for the Irish. The Spanish forces landed in Kinsale and Red Hugh set out on the long journey to meet them. The English army, led by Lord Mountjoy, arrived to lay siege to the town and this resulted in the Battle of Kinsale in December 1601. The battle was won by the English and the Irish retreated back to Ulster.

Red Hugh left Ireland and travelled to Spain to seek help. Sadly he died en route to Valladolid, then the capital of Spain, while waiting for a response from Spain’s King Philip III to a letter asking him to send another army to Ireland to fight the English. He succumbed to a fever on September 10 1602, however, and with him died the hopes of another Spanish landing. He was buried with honours in the monastery of St Francis in Valladolid.

Though the king never did provide the help sought, he gave O’Donnell (who died aged 29) a royal funeral, as outlined in the Annals of the Four Masters.

“His body was conveyed to the king’s palace at Valladolid in a four-wheeled hearse, surrounded by countless numbers of the king’s state officers, council, and guards, with luminous torches and bright flambeaux of beautiful wax light burning on each side of him,” it said.

“He was afterwards interred in the monastery of St Francis, in the chapter precisely, with veneration and honour, and in the most solemn manner that any of the Gaels had been ever interred in before.”

On May 22. 2020, archaeologists in Valladolid, reported the discovery of bones at an excavation to find the last resting place of Red Hugh O’Donnell. The news provoked significant interest from both the national and social media, with much tweeting and comments on the possible rediscovery of one of Ireland’s lost heroes

They have been attempting to identify the remains ever since and have been examining 16 skeletons they have found in the place where he was buried.

A spokesman for the archaeologists said they recognised the historical significance of finding the remains of Red Hugh and the dig has attracted worldwide publicity.

He added: The Valladolid City Council, given the relevance of the excavation and the interest shown by the Irish Government, gives a high priority to the project and will try to find the best way to give evidence and visibility to the findings.”

Birthday

The birthday programme will begin outside Lifford Courthouse at 1pm with a history of Lifford including an outline of the project by Tomás Ó Brógáin.

Participants move on to Mongalvin Castle, St Johnston, the home place of Red Hugh, his father Sir Hugh O’Donnell and mother Inion Dubh, with a talk on the castle by Eddie Crawford of the International Red Hugh O’Donnell Society. Following refreshments and music at the nearby Maggie’s Tavern the programme resumes at 5pm with a display and talk entitled Tools of the Trade - an assortment of weapons and equipment of Gaelic Ulster by the Oireas Heritage Services team. The centrepiece of the celebrations begins at 6pm with an address from Mr Crawford and the unveiling of a portrait of Red Hugh and plaque by the cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley.

The events end with a hand-picked panel of experts from History Ireland Hedge School delivering a talk on the life and times of Red Hugh, Inion Dubh and the importance of Donegal's fighting prince.

This will include a question-and-answer session to allow members of the public to explore the information presented.

The evening will conclude with traditional music, dance and craic.

Eddie Crawford (left) at last year’s Red Hugh celebrations in Valladolid with his Spanish counterpart

Mr Crawford explained that their group had plans to develop the Red Hugh O’Donnell project well into the future.

“The Red Hugh O’Donnell International Group is a not-for-profit association with representatives in Ireland, Spain and Portugal. Our Irish aim is to erect a statue of our locally-born chieftain and national hero Red Hugh O’Donnell in the towns of Lifford and Valladolid, Spain. These are the locations where he would have taken his first breath and his last.

“We also are working in partnership with both councils in Donegal and Simancas by “twining” both and promoting mutual interests in tourism, commerce, student exchanges and much more.

“We will continue to work with Valladolid City Council who have brought the name of Red Hugh O’Donnell to the world recently in their attempt to locate his resting place in the Chapel of Wonders within their beautiful city.”

He added they also hoped to open a visitors centre in the town of Lifford in his name.
“We are asking in particular the local communities of Porthall, St Johnston, Carrigans, Lifford, Raphoe, Newtowncunningham and all the areas in the Lagan area to attend and participate in this year's local celebration. We also would invite traditional musicians to come along and celebrate with us.

“By carrying out all of the above we hope to place the name of Red Hugh O’Donnell in its proper place in history as one of our greatest chieftains,” he said.

Local councillor Gerry Crawford added his support to the event saying when he was cathaoirleach of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District he had received full support from his council colleagues to twin their area with Valladolid City Council and discussed the matter with the Spanish ambassador to Ireland when he visited their area. He added he hoped to see progress by the council to finalise the new arrangement.