of the Parliamentarians, joined them — re- solved to destroy O'Neill and turn Einuc- cini out of Ireland. On 28th May 1648, the Nuncio, from Maryborough, excom- municated the abettors of the peace, and put under interdict all towns that should receive it ; 2,000 of Preston's troops there- upon joined O'Neill, and the approach of a force under Inchiquin alone prevented him from sacking Kilkenny. O'Neill then turned aside into Thomond, stormed the castle of Nenagh and the fortresses gar- risoned by Inchiquin's soldiery, and occu- pied a fortified position at Ballaghmore. Einuccini left Ireland in March 1649, and it became O'Neill's only object to keep his army together, in the hope of Continental assistance. At one time he even entered into a treaty with General Jones, and in return for a herd of 2,000 cattle, raised the siege of Londonderry, where Coote, who held that city for the Parliament, was shut up. After Ormond's defeat at Eathmines, and in the face of Cromwell's arrival, all the principal Irish parties sank their dif- ferences and showed willingness to com- bine against the common enemy. Owen Eoe detached 6,000 men to join Ormond, in the vain effort to withstand the Parlia- mentary army before Wexford, and was himself hastening south, when he was attacked with an old complaint — acute gout — at Londonderry. For some days he was carried in a horse-litter at the head of his army ; but at length resigned the command to his nephew Major-General Hugh O'Neill, and getting worse and worse, died at Cloughouter Castle, the residence of his brother-in-law, Philip O'Eeilly, 6th November 1649, aged about 50. He was interred in the abbey of Cavan. Carte says, Owen Eoe O'Neill was " a man of few words, cautious and phleg- matic in his operations, a gi-eat adept in concealing his feelings . . the imitator of Fabiup" His widow, Eosa, survived until ist November 1660. She died at Brussels, and was buried in the convent of the Franciscans at Louvain, where her tomb may still be seen. His son Henry was taken prisoner by Coote at the battle of Scarriffholles [See MacMahon, He- ber], 2ist June 1650, and notwithstanding promise of quarter, was executed in cold blood. His other sons — Bryan, Con, and John (a priest)— ultimately reached the Continent ; but no further record remains of them. 161 170* 174 186† 269 295 340
O'Neill, Hugh, Major-General, served with distinction in the War of 1641-'52. in the autumn of 1649 he succeeded his uncle, Owen Roe O'Neill, in the command of his army, and took part in some of the
minor operations of the ensuing winter. In May 1650, with 1,500 Ulstermen he stubbornly defended Clonmel against Cromwell. He ultimately drew off se- cretly, after the Parliamentarians had lost some 2,500 before the place. One of Crom- well's officers admitted in a letter that they " found in Clonmel the stoutest enemy this army had ever met in Ireland. . There was never so hot a storm of so long a continuance, and so gallantly defended, either in Ireland or England." In the autumn of the same year (1650) he was appointed Governor of Limerick, and for weeks sustained a siege against Ireton and Ludlow. The latter, in his Memoirs, gives a fearful account of the sufferings endured by the inhabitants. Upon one occasion at least, a crowd of famine-stricken wretches, endeavouring to leave the city, were beaten back. Limerick capitulated on the 27th October, on the humiliating con- dition that O'Neill, the Mayor, the Bishops of Limerick and Emly, Major-General Purcell, and some twelve of the principal inhabitants should be exempted from pardon. As the garrison marched out several dropped dead of the plague. The Bishop of Emly, Major-General Purcell, and others of the exempted persons were executed. Hugh O'Neill, after giving Ireton the keys of the place, and showing him round the fortifications, was con- demned to die. But Ireton, resolving to hear him, demanded of him what he had to say for himself. His defence, according to Ludlow, was " That the war had been long on foot before he came over ; that he came upon the invitation of his country- men ; that he had always demeaned him- self as a fair enemy ; and that the ground of his exception from the articles, being his encouraging to hold out, though there was no hope of relief, was not applicable to him, who had always moved them to a timely surrender ; as indeed he made it appear; and therefore hoped that he should enjoy the benefit of the articles; in confidence of which he had faithfully delivered up the keys of the town, with all the arms, ammunition, and provisions without imbezzlement, and his own person also, to the Deputy. But the blood for- merly shed at Clonmel . . had made such an impression on the Deputy, that his judgment, which was of great weight with the court, moved them a second time to vote him to die ; though some of us earnestly opposed it." Ireton having car- ried his point, a third time remitted the case to the consideration of his officers, reserving his own opinion, and O'Neill's life was spared. That he lived ten years
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