Bagenal's Castle played host to Dom Hugo O'Neill, Chief of the O'Neill clan, when he met with Mayor Michael Cole and colleagues on Friday 29th November 2007.

The family of Dom Hugo has been in Portugal since the 18th Century and is offically recognised by the offices of arms throughout Europe as titular Prince and Count of Clanaboy but uses the title The O'Neill of Clanaboy, Chief of the Name.

The Mayor welcomed Hugo to the Castle which is linked to the events that led to the Flight of the Earls in 1607.

"In this building your kinsman, Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, courted Mabel Bagenal, who became his third wife," said the Mayor. The O'Neill Chief was in Newry to visit Dr John McCavitt who has published a book on the Flight of the Earls.

Both men were among the guest speakers last month at a Flight of the Earls commemoration in Lisbon when Dom Hugo hosted Dr McCavitt at his ancestral family residence.