Irish History Synopsis:The Line of Descent

The line of descent

Not much more in the books at hand but reading the Beata Aoda Ruaida o Domnaill
which towards the end discribing the death in Spain of this great hero of Ireland notes his descent from Lugaid son of Setna as the race of Lugaid son of Setna. This Lord had his seat at Lifford Castle in Donegal. The mountain where Donegal Castle was is called the Land of Lugaid This mountain whose name is not right here in the notes but I did write it down is the center of Donegal the tribes of the Clann Conail occupying both east and west sides of the mountain and its plain.the castle was burned by Aeda himself to keep it from being occupied by the English garison. After he died in Spain, whether of desease or by poison, and his brother Rory Rudraighe innagurated ODonnell in his stead escaped by ship in the famous Flight of the Earls the castle and its lands were given by James 1 to sir Brooks who rebuilt it. The Earls were denied landing in france and went to Spain where they were recieved but encourages to leave for Italy and Rome where most of them remained without aid until they died. A poem in this volume written called the sorrow of Erie well worth reading it is good poetry and metered believed to have been composed by mac an Baird tells of the sorrow in Ireland and of the calvanistic punishment for the sins of Erie and its Lords.
Anocht as uaigneach Erie
[Lonley is Ireland tonight}

Many marriges and alliances occured between the Oneill and the O Donnell families over the centuries they being originally cousins by their brotherly descent from Eogain and Conall both sons of Nial Niogalach
The Donnellys primarily being associate with the Oneill family and primarily with the Shane ONeill whom they fostered they bear the same coat of arms and motto as the O Neill
The Donnelly family seem to be descendant from
Bron which means a quern for mashing grain which is also spelled Broin.

Judi Donnelly
Copyright August 1 2007