Castlehaven where Gaelic Ireland's hope sailed away

Clann Uí Dhomhnaill and Domhnaill Ó Domhnaill

Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill was born into the powerful Clann Uí Dhomhnaill (anglicised to O'Donnell), which ruled over the region of Tír Chonaill. This kingdom at that time included most of present-day Co. Donegal with parts of Sligo and a bit of Fermanagh in the northwest of Ireland. Much like the local West Cork clans, they were great seafarers and traded with Europe, Bristol and Scotland.

Young Aodh got the moniker 'Ruadh' as he had reddish-brown / russet coloured hair. Today, we  would probably call him a redhead or a ginger. His father, also named Aodh, was the reigning chieftain, and young Aodh Ruadh was groomed by his mother to become his successor.

However, it was his older step-brother the fabulously named Domhnaill Ó Domhnaill who was the more likely candidate to take over and he had the backing of Elisabeth I in London. There were plenty of other claimants too like his grand-uncle Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill. Are you confused by the names already? Gaelic clan succession was a bewildering and deadly business but it was useful if you where somehow related to the previous incumbent.

Iníon Dubh

His mother Fionnghuala was Aodh senior's second wife and a truly remarkable woman in her own right. Born Fionnghuala Nic Dhomhnaill, she was the daughter of Séamus Mac Dhòmhnaill, 6th Laird of Dunnyveg (Dùn Naomhaig) who was a chieftain on the Western Isles of Scotland. Better know as Iníon Dubh (the black daughter) she is described in the Annals of the Four Masters as "like the mother of Machabees who joined a man's heart to a woman's thought". While growing up in Scotland, she had received a good education at the court of Mary Queen of the Scots. This would be unusual for a women in the 16th century.

She had four sons and four daughters but as her older husband aged, he developed dementia. While Aodh senior was nominally the chieftain, it was actually Iníon Dubh who ruled Tír Chonaill during much of this era. She used her Scottish connections to great effect and imported thousands of Redshank mercenaries from the Western Isles of Scotland, initially get Aodh Ruadh into the chieftainship of the clan but later on to support him during The Nine Years' War.



Formative years as a teenage political prisoner

In 1587, at the tender age of 15, Aodh Ruadh was captured on the orders of Sir John Perrot, the English Lord Deputy of Ireland. It was a scheme to weaken the power of Irish chieftains. According to Irish accounts, Aodh Ruadh was lured on board a ship by an English sea captain named Barnes with the promise of wine. Naturally, kids can't hold their drink and he soon passed out, when he woke up he was in chains and the captain received £200 for kidnapping him and delivering him to Dublin. He was famously held captive in Dublin Castle for three years, three months and three days.

Despite his young age, Aodh Ruadh demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of such cruelty. Contemporary accounts state that he was treated badly as a prisoner and he developed a deep hatred of all things English during this period. He attempted several escapes, finally succeeding in 1591. His final escape attempt was real Shawshank Redemption stuff and even involved crawling through sewers followed by an epic journey over the Dublin and Wicklow mountains during a period of deep snow cover. The effort cost Aodh Ruadh his two big toes which he lost to frostbite and it killed a fellow escapee Art Ó Néill who died of hypothermia. To this day, their escape is commemorated in the annual Art O'Neill Challenge each January, it is a 60km night-time race from Dublin Castle to Glenmalure in Co. Wicklow.

Leader and War Chieftain

Upon his return to Tír Chonaill, Aodh Ruadh was hailed as a hero. At his mothers bidding, his father abdicated in his favour, and Aodh Ruadh became the leader of the O'Donnell clan. He quickly set about strengthening his rule and forging alliances with other Irish chieftains, notably the powerful Aodh Mór Ó Néill who ruled neighbouring Tír Eoghain and who also had the English title Earl of Tyrone.

In 1593, the Nine Years' War erupted, pitting the Irish chieftains against the forces of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Aodh Ruadh, alongside his now father-in-law Aodh Mór Ó Néill, emerged as one of the key leaders of the confederation of Irish clans. Together, they led a series of successful campaigns against English forces, earning them the admiration and support of their fellow Irishmen, including those of us here in West Cork.

War in Munster

Munster was still reeling from the devastation wrought by the Desmond Rebellions in 1569–1573 and 1579–1583. Some estimate up to one third of the population of Munster had died due to these wars and subsequent famine. Understandably the clans in West Cork were initially slow to support their Ulster kinsmen. As the war progressed, they did eventually join the confederation of clans and we see Ó Súileabháin Bhéara, Ó Drisceoil, Ó Donnabháin, and Mac Cárthaigh (O'Sullivan Bere, O'Driscoll, O'Donovan, McCarthy) all involved by 1601.   

It was in Cork that the the most pivotal battles of Cogadh na Naoi mBliana were played out. The Spanish landed initially in Kinsale with about 3,000 men and by December 1601 they had also landed at Castlehaven with a further 1,200 troops. After eight years of war, the stage was set for a final showdown. The naval Battle of Castlehaven in mid December was indecisive but probably counts as a tactical Spanish-Gaelic victory.

Despite everything pointing to a Spanish-Gaelic victory in Kinsale, it all went wrong at dawn on the morning of the battle. Irish armchair historians have puzzled over countless what-ifs ever since. Perhaps, sometimes, the other side just gets lucky?

Kinsale and departure from Castlehaven

After the disastrous rout of the O'Neill's at Kinsale on January 3rd 1602, the Ó'Domhnaill troops left the field in good order and largely unscathed. However, the Irish cause appeared increasingly bleak. Aodh Ruadh made the decision to seek aid from Spain. He promised to return with 10,000 men. Just three days after the battle he set sail from Cuan an Chaisleáin as it was then known, nowadays we know it as Castlehaven or Gleann Bearcháin. Cuan an Chaisleáin is no longer used as a commercial harbour but it was a busy port in the 16th century due to it's very sheltered location and proximity to Europe. We have many accounts of famous comings and goings for this tiny harbor right here in our beloved West Cork.

Undoubtedly, Aodh Ruadh's departure accompanied by a small entourage of loyal followers is the most famous journey to start for here. This is where he saw Ireland for the last time on the 6th of January 1602. There is a passage written by the Franciscans as they discuss kneeling to kiss Aodh Ruadh's ring at Castlehaven Strand as he is about to depart for Spain. I often think about this poignant scene when I am down there in the morning getting ready to swim, especially when the tide is out.

He sailed from Castlehaven with the Basque General Pedro de Zubriaur. The journey was treacherous, as the seas were patrolled by English ships intent on intercepting and capturing Irish chieftains. Nevertheless, Aodh Ruadh and his companions successfully evaded capture and arrived in A Coruña in Galicia Spain, on the 14th of January 1602. There he and his companions were feted as royalty.

Exile and Death

The warm welcome they received from the Spanish authorities was a testament to the admiration and respect that Aodh Ruadh had earned across all of Europe for his efforts during the Nine Years' War. However, despite this initial reception, his mission to secure Spanish support for the Irish cause would ultimately prove unsuccessful.

Disheartened by the lack of Spanish support and with his health deteriorating, Aodh Ruadh died in Simancas, Spain, on September 10, 1602, at the age of 30. There was a degree of intrigue around his death but sin scéal eile. His body was interred with great honours in the monastery of San Francisco in the city of Valladolid, then the capital of Spain.



Conclusion

Aodh Ruadh Ó Domnaill's life was filled with struggle, bravery, and an unwavering commitment to the Gaelic cause. His legacy has endured through the centuries, as he remains a symbol of Gaelic resistance and national pride. Although he did not live to see the end of English rule in Ireland, his courage and leadership during the Nine Years' War left an indelible mark on Irish history.

From our local perspective in West Cork, Aodh Ruadh's departure from Castlehaven Strand is something we are very proud of locally and it stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our ancestors in their fight for freedom. I would have learned about our local connection to Aodh Ruadh as schoolboy in Castletownshend National School many years ago when I was taught by Malachy O'Sullivan a great local historian.

As we walk along the shores of our beautiful West Cork, we can't help but feel a connection to this tenacious and inspiring Irish chieftain. Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill will forever be remembered as a hero who fought valiantly for Ireland's sovereignty, and our right to freedom of religion and conscience. I suspect his story will continue to inspire generations to come.