These are the opening lines of the vigorous march - and one-time signature tune of Radio Eireann - known as O'Donnell Abu, writes Brian Maye. That was the war cry with which the O'Donnell clan of Tír Chonaill (Donegal) charged into battle. One of the most famous members of that family, Red Hugh, is dead 400 years this year and it would be a shame to let the year pass without a nod to his memory.
Proudly the note of the trumpet
is sounding,
Loudly the war cries arise on
the gale.
Fleetly the steed by Lough
Swilly is bounding
To join the thick quadrons in
Saimear's green vale.
Red Hugh O'Donnell was born around 1571, the son of The O'Donnell, chieftain or taoiseach of one of the most powerful Gaelic Irish families in Ulster. But his father also bore the title bestowed on him by the English of Sir Hugh O'Donnell, Earl of Tirconnell. Ulster had remained the most Gaelic and least anglicised Irish province but in the late 16th century it too was under pressure as Elizabeth II, the last of the Tudor monarchs, extended English rule all over Ireland. In fact, Gaelic Ireland was in its twilight years as Red Hugh grew to maturity.
Brehon legal code
As was the custom in Gaelic Ireland from time immemorial, the boy Hugh was fostered to another Donegal clan, Mac Suihne na dTuath, and for the first 15 years of his life he probably lived as his ancestors had for centuries. He spoke Irish, learned and practised Gaelic customs and pastimes, and lived under the Brehon legal code, which was very different from English common law. Although he wasn't his father's officially elected and appointed successor or tánaiste, it was generally accepted among the clan that he would be their next taoiseach.
The other most powerful clan in Ulster at the time were the O'Neills of Tir Eoghan. Traditionally the O'Donnells and O'Neills were enemies but this was changing. Hugh O'Neill, likely next taoiseach of the O'Neills, was married to Siobhán O'Donnell and planned to betroth a daughter by his first marriage to Red Hugh. Sir John Perrot, the English Lord Deputy in Dublin, didn't relish the prospect of a united and maybe hostile Ulster. The O'Donnells had traditionally been loyal to the Crown but Perrot decided to make doubly sure.
He demanded hostages of O'Donnell as a pledge of his continuing good faith. In those days, hostage-taking did not have the frightening resonances of today. The Gaelic Irish themselves practised the custom widely: when a taoiseach was inaugurated he took hostages from his sub-chieftains and hostages were often exchanged between rival taoisigh before important meetings. The theory was that the promises were freely given and the hostages were volunteers. The Brehon Law strictly defined the conditions of hostage treatment: they lived as guests in their hosts' households and were not considered prisoners - provided, of course, those they represented did not step out of line.
Kidnapped
The English, however, did not observe the niceties of Brehon Law; they did not reciprocate on pledges and didn't worry too much how they treated their hostages. In fact, they usually locked them up and treated them as prisoners. Perrot wanted Red Hugh's younger brother Rory sent to Dublin as a pledge of O'Donnell's good faith. When this didn't happen, in 1587 he sent a ship to Lough Swilly which supposedly was offering good Spanish wine very reasonably. Red Hugh and two companions were enticed on board, kidnapped and taken to Dublin Castle as prisoners.
Red Hugh escaped after three years but was recaptured within a few days in the Wicklow Mountains. On Christmas night of the following year he escaped again with two sons of Shane O'Neill, Henry and Art.
They sought out Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne in Glenmalure, but the weather was intensely cold and Art O'Neill died from exposure en route. The others survived and were succoured by the O'Byrnes. Red Hugh afterwards made his way back to Donegal where some of his toes had to be amputated as a result of the damage done by frostbite.
In the spring of 1592 he became The O'Donnell and soon was at war with the English. He captured Sligo and got control of much of Connacht. When he, Hugh O'Neill and Hugh Maguire joined forces, the English faced a formidable confederation and the "Nine Years' War" followed. Clontibret and the "Ford of the Biscuits" were Irish successes and, in August 1598, the battle of the Yellow Ford was a crushing defeat for the English. But after Lord Mountjoy's arrival as Lord Deputy in September 1600, the course of the war changed.
Battle of Kinsale
A lack of resources and power struggles within and between the Gaelic clans weakened the Irish side. The long-sought help finally arrived from Spain in September 1601 but landed at Kinsale. O'Donnell and O'Neill had a long march across the frozen terrain to reach Kinsale. The key battle, fought on Christmas Eve, proved a disaster for the Irish: O'Neill got lost in a fog and failed to make the arranged meeting-place; the Spanish did not come out of Kinsale and fight. The English had a resounding victory.
Red Hugh crossed to Spain early in 1602 seeking further aid. He was well received by King Philip III and promised further support but he fell suddenly ill at Simancas and died there, most likely poisoned by an English agent. He was buried in the Franciscan monastery church at Valladolid. No trace of that church now survives.
Wildly o'er Desmond the war
wolf is howling,
Fearless the eagle swoops
over the plain,
The fox in the streets of the city
is prowling -
All, all who would scare them
are banished or slain.