TyrconnellO’Donnell,
Rory, 1st earl of Tyrconnell, (1575-1608) Along with Hugh O’Neill,
earl of Tyrone, took part in the Flight of the Earls in 1607. A younger brother
of Red Hugh O’Donnell, famed rebel leader during the Nine Years War 1594-1603,
Rory O’Donnell succeeded as chieftain of the O’Donnells in the latter stage
of the conflict following his elder brother’s death in Spain in 1602. Rory
maintained his family alliance with the O’Neills and took a leading role in
renewed conspiratorial practices prior to the Flight. Rory was intensely
aggrieved by harassment from crown officials in his private affairs and alarmed
by a policy of persecution embarked upon by the royal authorities. Liasing with
discontented elements among the catholic Old English in Ireland, Rory
O’Donnell became the focus of much government suspicion. On the verge of being
arrested, Rory found temporary salvation in taking flight to the continent only
to perish a year later from disease in Rome. He is buried in the church of San
Pietro, Montario, Rome. See rubbing of tombstone
inscription and translation. |