Imeacht na hEarlaí 1607 - 2007
Flight of the Earls 1607 - 2007
On the 14th September 1607 the most senior of the Ulster Clan Chiefs, The O'Neill Prince of Clanaboy, The O'Donell Prince of Tyrconnell and The Maguire of Fermanagh, left Ireland headed for Spain where they had been promised an army by King Phillip who supported them in their fight against the English in Ireland. However, due to a number of events, not least a new peace brokered between the Spanish and English monarchs, the Irish Chiefs ended up in Rome as guests of the Pope where they would remain for the rest of their lives. The so called Flight of the Earls marked the formal end of the power of the Gaelic aristocracy and Clan system in Ireland and the start of the modern Irish diaspora as we have come to know it.
On the 11th September 2007 the Árd Rúnaí of the Clan O'Higgins visited the graves of The O'Neill and The O'Donnell in the Church of St Pietro in Monotorio in Rome where he laid a wreath in advance of the Commemoration in Donegal to mark the 400th Anniversary of the Flight of the Earls.
 |
|
Church of St. Pietro in Montorio, Rome, burial place of Hugh O'Neill Earl of Tyrone and Rory O'Donnell Earl of Tyrconnell. |
A special commemoration was held at Rathmullen in Donegal on the 14th September 2007 to mark the 400th anniversary of this important event in the history of Ireland and its Clans. A key element in the commemoration was a call to all Irish Clans to send representatives to participate in the "Walk of the Chiefs and Clans". This was the first gathering of Irish Clans since 1601 when they gathered at Ballymote Castle in Sligo before marching with Red Hugh O'Donnell to Kinsale in Cork to fight against the English. Out of a possible 250 registered Clans just 40 were present in Rathmullen, however, many of those who gathered believe that this will be the first of many occasions on which the Clans will meet in the future.
Another highlight of the commemoration was the unveiling of a new sculpture by artist John Behan by President Mary McAleese in the presence of many Clan Chiefs including His Excellency Don Hugo O'Neill, The O'Neill, Prince of Clanaboy and His Excellency Don Carlos O'Neill y Castillo the Marqués de la Granja both of whom are descended from the High Kings of Ireland. The Chief of the O'Higgins, was unable to attend the commemoration but the Clan was represented by our Árd Rúnaí, Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman.
In a particularly poignant moment, The MacSweeney Doe, Chief of the MacSweeney's gave an address in which he movingly spoke about the hardship experienced by those who stayed in Ireland and remained faithful to their culture and religion while under English rule.
MacSweeney Doe, Chief of the Name
Below we have provided a number of photographs from the celebrations in Donegal.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| President McAleese unveils new sculpture at Rathmullen. | Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman (Árd Rúnaí) Dr. Gareth Fitzgerald (Former Taoiseach) and Senator Jim Higgins attend commemoration. | Religious Service to Commemorate Flight of the Earls is led by local clergy of all faiths. | Wreath is laid on the watersedge from where the Chiefs left in 1607. | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Clan Chiefs and those representing Clans gather on the beach from where the Earls left. | Dr. O'Higgins-Norman and Cahir O'Tiernaigh Chief of the Tierney. | The O'Callaghan Clan was represented by its Tanaist who travelled from Mallow in Cork. | Árd Rúnaí of the O'Higgins is greeted by the Chief of the O'Dowds of Sligo. | The O'Higgins Clan is welcomed by local woman Geraldine Murphy. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| The Chief of the O'Lalor Clan looks on as the piper laments the leaving of the Chiefs in 1607. | The O'Higgins Flag is carried in the Walk of the Chiefs alongside the O'Lalor and O'Donnell Clans. | Chief Herald of Ireland, Fergus Gillespie addresses the Chiefs and Clans of Ireland. | His Excellency, Don Hugo O'Neill, Prince of Clanaboy and Chief of the Name addresses the Chiefs and Clans of Ireland. | |
Among the thousands of visitors and media who attended the various celebrations in Rathmullen were many who's ancestors left Ireland for a better life without any hope of return. So in many ways the commemoration of the Flight of the Earls also commemorated all those who left Ireland to settle in other countries around the globe.
External Links: President McAleese Speach Flight of the Earls 400th Official Website Full Account of the Flight of the Earls