Castledonovan Castle, County Cork
Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007
Castledonovan Castle, County Cork
Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007
Castledonovan Castle, County Cork
Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007
Castledonovan Castle, County Cork Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007 |
Castledonovan Castle, County Cork Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007 |
Castledonovan Castle, County Cork Photo © Mike Searle, 7 July 2007 |
Previously in a precarious state of preservation having suffered severe damage by Cromwell's army in 1650, the castle is currently undergoing repair and restoration. What was the chief seat of the O'Donovan clan, stands on a rocky outcrop on the eastern bank of the River Ilen. No definitive date can be given for the building of Castledonovan, but it is reputed to have been in about 1560 by Domhnall a'Croichinn.
O'Donovan (Irish: Ó Donnabháin [o:'d̪ˠɔn̪ˠəˌvˠɑ:nʲ]) or simply Donovan is an Irish surname, as well as a hereditary Gaelic title. It is also written Dhonnabháin in certain grammatical contexts, and Donndubháin, being originally composed of the elements donn, meaning lord or dark brown, dubh, meaning dark or black, and the diminutive suffix án. Ó derives from the earlier Ua, meaning grandson or descendant. Compare O'Donoghue and O'Sullivan, containing the same elements.
A royal race in Munster, with their main fortress at Bruree, the O'Donovans were Cairbre Eva (or Uí Chairpri, see map) princes of the ancient petty kingdom of the Uí Fidgenti (Wood People), once approximately co-extensive with the modern County Limerick, and were for many centuries allies of the Eóganachta, to whom they may be related by common descent from Ailill Flann Bec (or Ailill Aulom), or possibly by marriage, or both. Their extensive territory followed Limerick's River Maigue, before the O'Briens and FitzGeralds, by political pressure, forced them south into County Cork in the 13th century. Here they acquired more possessions, some at the expense of the powerful O'Driscolls, and are still very numerous. In this move the O'Donovans were greatly aided by their ancient allies the O'Mahonys.
Undisputed cousins of the O'Donovans by patrilineal descent appear to be the MacEnirys, also of the Uí Cairbre kindred. They remained in Co. Limerick as Lords of Connello, holding considerable estates until the Cromwellian Settlement. Many Traceys belong to the Uí Cairbre as well.
However, at times more powerful was the competing and likely somewhat larger sub-kingdom of Uí Chonaill Gabra within Uí Fidgenti, and it is possible that the Uí Cairbre, in the new form of the O'Donovans, owed their increasingly greater local position in the later period to more extensive interaction with the nearby Norse of Limerick City. Uí Conaill Gabra did not survive the Norman Invasion of Ireland, but modern representatives include many O'Collins, who joined the O'Donovans in their move to Co. Cork, and Kenneallys and Flannerys. Not much more distantly related are many Lyons and Lehanes, from the Gaelic Ó Liatháin, of Uí Liatháin, a once powerful kingdom of Co. Cork sharing early ancestors with the Uí Fidgenti (see below).
The O'Connells of Kerry are arguably the most famous modern sept of the Uí Fidgenti. Their pedigree can be found in O'Hart and Cronnelly.
Over the long course of their alliance and friendship with the Eóganachta, the O'Donovans have been closest to the O'Mahonys and to the MacCarthy Reaghs. The so-called Ivernian or Érainn families with whom they have been associated are the O'Driscolls and especially the O'Learys, both descending from Lugaid mac Con, an early High King of Ireland.
Later, the title Prince of Carbery (Cairbre) would be adopted by the MacCarthy Reaghs, as the O'Donovans ceased to be a prominent political force and came to be seen as subjects of the Desmond dynasty, although they were treated with honour and were entitled to receive the White Wand in recognition of their former status. The MacCarthy Reaghs came to be known by this former title of the O'Donovans even as far as France, where Justin MacCarthy Reagh of Spring House, Bansha, County Tipperary was made Count of Toulouse. The O'Donovans enjoyed a privileged status under their new princes and they would eventually intermarry to some extent.
Sadly, out of all their relations and allies just mentioned, by strange accident, only the O'Donovans still retain a hereditary title.
From their association with the Limerick and Waterford branches of the Dublin based Uí Ímair dynasty, the O'Donovans are possibly descended from the Danish sea-king and dynast Ivar the Boneless Ragnarsson, through a daughter of Ivar of Limerick, married to the family's eponymous founder, Donndubhán mac Cathail, prince of Uí Fidgenti. In fact for a number of generations after this marriage the ethnicity of the early O'Donovans is in question, and during this period they are perhaps better described as Dano-Irish or even Norse-Gaels, if the number given Scandinavian names such as Røgnvald and Óláf is evidence. See O'Donovan, Cronnelly, O'Hart, and Todd, for their pedigrees.
Donndubhán mac Cathail is a major figure and opponent of Mathgamain mac Cennétig and his brother Brian Boru in the Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib. He was (possibly) in large part responsible for the death of Mathgamain, and was slain for it, together with his brother-in-law Harald Ivarsson (Aralt mac Imair), newly elected king of the Danes and Norse of Munster, by Brian in or around the year 978.
Another figure was Donndubhán mac Ímhair (Ivarsson) of Waterford, a son of Ivar of Waterford, presumably by a daughter of Donndubhán mac Cathail. Mentioned twice in the Annals for his involvement in slayings, he was slain himself in or around the year 996.
It is also worth noting that according to the Caithreim Cellachain Caisil and the Annals, Uainidhe mac Cathail, king of Uí Cairbre, and grandfather of Donndubhán mac Cathail, was slain at the Battle of Cromadh (Croom) by the forces of that king, ancestor of both the O'Callaghans and the MacCarthys. At this point, what would become the O'Donovan family does not yet appear to be allied with the Norse, although contacts with Limerick should have gone back to at least this time.
Finally, Óláf Mór Ua Donndubháin, king of Uí Cairbre, was slain by the O'Briens and De Burghs around the year 1201. Olaf Mor may be the last O'Donovan, Prince of Carbery. The line of Clan Cathail comes through the contemporary Røgnvald (Raghnall) Ua Donnubháin, Mael Ruanaidh mac Raghnaill, and Crom mac Mael Ruanaidh, father of Cathal Ua Donnubháin, from whom Clan Cathail. The O'Donovans had tried to make greater territorial gains than they had the resources for, contesting with the better situated and fresher Dál gCais, and it would be many generations before they would recover some of their former status.
Rev. John Begley, of St. Munchin's, gives an account of the Christianization of the Danes of Limerick by the O'Donovans, and their long intermarriage.
After their move south the O'Donovans fell into relative obscurity for several centuries, fragmenting into several smaller-sized lordships. Clan Cathail, with its main seat at Castle Donovan or Castledonovan (Caisleán Uí Dhonnabháin), and Clan Loughlin (Lochlainn) both survived into the Early Modern Period. Clan Aneislis and Clan Ivar (or Gilla-Reagh) are less well documented. Notably, the names of two out of these four known septs, Lochlainn and Ivar, after their founders, are evidence the O'Donovans brought some amount of their acquired Scandinavian heritage with them from Co. Limerick to the southern shores of Co. Cork.
In the 16th century, the O'Donovans once again appear on the Irish landscape with the celebrated Domhnall na gCroiceann, or Donnell of the Hides, Lord of Clan Cathail, and his descendants. Through his and for several generations after, the O'Donovans were able to maintain intelligent, adaptable control over their small territories and so take advantage of occasional good fortunes, thus preserving their dynasty in a time when many others were failing. The second great factor was their status as vassals of the enormously wealthy and prudent MacCarthy Reaghs. It can be said they were very fortunate and could not have done better for overlords in Ireland. The MacCarthy Reaghs were beloved to many. Finally, Clan Cathail specifically owe their dominance to the O'Learys of Carrignacurra. Approaching the 20th century, the O'Donovan family was one of very few Munster dynasties remaining.
In the early 19th century all was almost lost in the strange failure of the senior line, that of General Richard O'Donovan of Bawnlahan, but was ably saved by the recent cadet branch of Reverend Morgan O'Donovan of Montpelier, ancestor of the current Lord of Clan Cathail (for whom see below).
Castle Donovan has become the peculiar focus, and obsession, of what has become known as the "O'Donovan Clan". This frightfully decrepit but still imposing "monument", rising to six or seven stories in height, has recently been taken over by the Irish State for restoration. In 2000 a stone plaque was unveiled close to the ruin "by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera T.D., on the occasion of the O'Donovan Millennium Clan Gathering".
The early O'Donovans of Limerick are also believed to have had a fortress at Croom, and another named Cathair Cuan, believed to have been near Bruff. It was at this latter that Brian Bórumha slew Donndubhán mac Cathail and his brother-in-law Harald Ivarsson. They may also have been seated at Adare, but this has not been proved.
For some of the castles the O'Donovans have built or occupied in Co. Cork, see the work of Carroll and Langford. A couple have interesting histories but none are of great importance and so should not be dwelled upon. O'Donovan's Seat close by Castle Donovan is of more cultural importance than the castle itself. Ireland and Scotland are covered with thousands of such towers and tower houses, which are of Norman inspiration.
Castle Donovan itself is said to be cursed and haunted by a Braon Sinnsear or "constant drop", caused by the family of Dorothy Ford, whom Daniel O'Donovan and Teige-an-Duna MacCarthy hanged from the tower "to deprive her and her family of debts lawfully due unto them", and it "will never cease to flow until the last of the race of the said Daniel O'Donovan is extinct". Perhaps his line will at some point have to change their name. The constant drip of water from the ceiling of the lower chamber, or from the arch, is said to be her tears.
One son of Donnell of the Hides, Dermot or Diarmaid O'Donovan, was hanged by Dónall Cam Ó Súilleabháin Béirre in 1581 at Lathach-na n-Damh, and the oak tree, called Dairiheen Diarmada, was still standing in the mid-19th century. It is said he was encouraged by Elizabeth I to mount an expedition into O'Sullivan Beare's territory.
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