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Éalú a Áodh Rua Uí Dhomhnaill ó Chaisleán Átha Cliath – Red Hugh O’Donnell’s Escape from Dublin Castle

Jan 1, 2022

I still remember the illustration in my school book of 2 desperate boys in rags, frozen, barefoot and huddled together walking in the depths of a snowy Irish winter in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains. I was only 8 / 9 years old but Red Hugh O’ Donnell and Art O’Neill weren’t that much older, I could all but feel their hopelessness, pain and desperation.

Red Hugh’s life story has always captured my imagination so much so that in 2019 after my Camino di Santiago, I followed his footsteps across Spain – starting in La Coruna, Santiago, then onto Simancas Castle and his final resting place in Valladolid. Partly my curiosity relates to knowing that his Dublin Castle escape into the Dublin/Wicklow mountains meant he couldn’t have passed far away from my family home in Rathfarnham.

The Gaelic Prophesy

Red Hugh, son of Manus and Inion Dubh (Dark Daughter) was prophesied to be the leader of the native Irish and vanquish the English invader from Ireland. He alongside his father-in-law, Hugh O’ Neill so nearly did and today that’s still not truly appreciated. They fought a far more strategic and operationally sophisticated war, again than generally recognized.

The English knew that should Red Hugh come of age, align with the other Gaelic clans in Ulster they could make all Ireland theirs by uniting the clans. In contrast to the rest of Ireland, Ulster with the exception of Ulaid (the Norman, John de Courcy’s had conquered it in the 12th century) had been held by the native Gaelic Irish for millennia. In particular, the O’Neill clan had held the power up there for centuries – no different in the late 16th century.

The Crown’s Deception

So, a merchant with the name Bermingham, at Lord Deputy Perrot bidding set sail for Lough Swilly masquerading as a Spanish merchant ship with the intention of kidnapping the young Tír Chonaill (Donegal) prince. Upon setting anchor, the sailors arrived on land with the finest Spanish wines. The news soon reached young Red Hugh but when he arrived found that the wine had run dry but luckily there were better samples on board. The young guest was lured onboard and without realizing his peril became a prisoner, helplessly on a ship that had set sail for Dublin and its infamous Castle dungeons.

The Innocent Captive

Hugh would remain a prisoner there for 4 terrible years, the English content that this potential Gaelic threat had been neutralized, not realizing that his resentment and bitterness grew every day. His parents tried everything to secure his release, even bartering Spanish Armanda soldiers & captains but to no avail. It was his father-in-law, Hugh O’ Neill with his well-established clandestine network of spies who played a significant bribing part in his escape. Actually, there were 2 escapes, the first foiled by the elements, as the Anamore river flooded and was unpassable. Instead of being caught with Red Hugh which meant almost certain death and destruction for clan O’Toole they resolved to “voluntarily” return Red Hugh into English hands.

The second escape from the Castle’s “Bermingham Tower”, winter 1592, was with the O’Neill brothers; Art & Henry (nephews but potential heirs) to Hugh O Neill. Henry was lost within the medieval Dublin streets (died 1624) while Red Hugh and the younger brother, Art made their way into the Dublin-Wicklow mountains.

The Young Death

In the frenzied escape the boys had left the special footwear, clothing and provisions behind them in the hope of making their way to Ballincor and the fortress sanctity of the Gaelic chieftain Fiachra McHugh O Byrne. They were all but spent and could go no further and had to take shelter, sending their trusted guide to seek out the chieftain and his men. The guide did indeed find Fiachra Mchugh O ‘Byrne men and return but found the boys now under a blanket of snow all but frozen and feared the worst. Tragically time had run out for Art and he expired there and then under that rock, it’s still marked to this day.

The Mountain Hideout

Red Hugh was in a particularly poor condition and was quickly removed to Fiachra Mchugh O ‘Byrne safety in Balincor castle. When Red was well enough O’Neill sent his most trusted men, one of the O’Hagens to bring back the young prince. He was not however the same Ulster youth, the understandable resentment he now harbored for the English would in time, ensure he would become a trusted and capable ally to O’Neill. Knowing the English would be looking for O’Donnell and would stop at nothing to prevent him returning to Ulster, both warriors had to be incredibly careful of their route home.

The Return of the Prince

They crossed the river Liffey far from Dublin town and not daring to go through Drogheda town, paid a poor fisherman to transport O’Donnel across the river Boyne and then rode to Hugh O’Neill’s friends residence and passed the night there. Early next morning they rode through Dundalk town and the next day into the Few Mountains of Armagh. A day later would see them make they made their way to Dungannon Castle, Tir Eoghain (Tyrone) staying four nights to rest and recover. Finally, the young embittered prince was escorted from Tir Eoghain through Fir Manach (Fermanagh) by the local chieftain Hugh Maguire, to his beloved homeland and family he hadn’t seen in 4 cruel & desperate years. Frost bite would mean that both Red big toes had to be amputated, he suffered for months and limped for years making his incredible future feats even more so. However, this cruelty that befell him would also make it easier for us to identify the young Donegal prince some 400 years later, in the Spanish city of Valladolid.

Note: The Galactic Chieftain Image. One of my all time favourite images, so much so I happily purchased one from Eddie – www.eddielee.ie

Slán Go Fóill!