Saving Irish Chieftain- Red Hugh O'Donnell

Set in Ireland in 1592, this is the sad story of how two young men were imprisoned by the English without trail and held for literally years as hostages. They made their escape from captivity in Dublin Castle to an independent chieftain in the Wicklow Mountains (Fiach McHugh O'Byrne). Their names were Red Hugh O'Donnell and Art O'Neill. Hugh O'Donnell would go on to become a leader of the Ulster Irish along with the great Hugh O'Neill to conduct the Nine Years (1593-1603) war with the English forces in Ireland. In these years the Ulstermen had great victories against the English forces but would ultimately fail when their great Northern armies we forced to march to the very South of Ireland to help a besieged Spanish military force, resulting in the Battle of Kinsale in 1601. The result of the loss of their army would give rise to the Flight of the Earls in 1607 where the last great vestige of Gaelic control in Ireland was lost to England.

#redhughodonnell #nineyearswar #valladoloid #artoneill #artoneillchallenge

Some Notes to the Video

The death of Red Hugh; in Valladolid the old capital of Spain, was thought to have been poisoned by the English by an Irishman -James Blake. Red Hugh's Irish (& correct name) is Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill.

Arts Cross is a well known landmark to hikers in the Wicklow hills. The large cross was originally placed there in 1932 but was replaced in 1993 by the ESB (Electrical supply board) hiking club and a helicopter was used to carry the wood to the top of the hill.

Picture Credits
Hugh Rua O Donnell - Vonda LaVoie
Arts Cross - Rob Hurson
Bermingham Tower - Dicklyon
Procesión de Paz y Reconciliación. Cofradía de las Siete Palabras (Valladolid) - Lourdes Cardenal


Welcome to my channel, that is dedicated to the history and culture of Ireland.This is not set out to be a history lesson, but a ramble through some stories you might find interesting about Ireland. Ireland has so many connections throughout the world from the emigration from this country over so many centuries, but those with Irish blood in their families always have a yearning to know more about their "old country", this is my attempt to bring some of the history and culture they left behind. So if you fancy some tales about horsemen and highwaymen, banshee's and fairies, soldiers and rebels, legends and folklore, saints and scholars, please like and subscribe. Thank you for watching. Ronan.