Career
The name literally means Dark Daughter in the Irish language. She bore The O"Donnell four sons, including the last two Kings of Tyrconnell: Aodh and Rudhraighe. She is described in the Annals of the Four Masters as "like the mother of Machabees who joined a man"s heart to a woman"s thought".
In 1591 a son by her husband"s first marriage, Domhnall Dubh O"Donnell, attempted to seize power but was defeated and killed in battle at Lug na Cnamh.
Throughout this period she made repeated attempts to secure Red Hugh"s release or escape from Dublin Castle. Historian Hiram Morgan notes that the election of Red Hugh as The O"Donnell in 1592 was "a stage managed affair in which the influence of his mother was paramount".
She retired to Kilmacrennan. Her date of death is unknown.
She also, in her later years, maintained Mongavlin Castle, a small fortress on the banks of the River Foyle, as a residence just south of Street Johnston in The Laggan of East Donegal.
Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill (Sir Hugh O"Donnell), died 1600. = 1stly, an unnamed Irish wife = 2ndly, Fionnuala "Iníon Dubh" MacDonnell (married Aodh c1570)
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Donnchadh Domhnall Ruaidhri Siobhán daughter Nuala Aodh Ruadh Rudhraighe Maghnus Mairghead Máire Cathbarr
(Scaite) d.1590 d.1575 daughter 1591 fl.1579 fl.1592 1571-1602 d.1608 alive 1608 died 1662 d.1608
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Domhnall Óg.
