The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-17

Charles O'Donueii, Duke or Tetuas. and
His Ancestor, Mai Gary O'DonneI.

us Ancestor, MAJ Snrv oDonneu.
To the EDITOR or The ~sus-Sir: In The
srS OF Ian. ~ Charles o'Donncll. Duke OF
Tetuan. Is represented ms claiming to be heir
TO the earldom Of Tyrconnell, on the plea that he
IL the lineal descendant OF Mai GARY O'Don-
nell. the last Prince Of Tyrconnell and chief OF
his name Permit me to say that Mai Gary
O'Donneii never was Earl of Tyrconnell; that
the last reigning Prince and Enrl OF Tyrcon-
nell was Rory o'Donnell, who died an exile at
Rome in 1908; that Rory's sou. Hugh O'Dou.
nell. who died at sea in the Spanish service at
the age OF 20. in the year 1912. succeeded to
the title; and that with the latter's death tho
noble race Of the house OF Tyrconnell became
extinct IN the direct male line.
A short sketch Of the career Of Nal Gary
O'Donnell. of whom the Duke Of Tetuan so
proudly boasts. may he of interest to your read
ers rs well AS instructive to the Duke. He was,
TO use the words of his biographer. "a false
knave that combined the venom OF an asp with
the daring OF n lion" At an early part Of the
struggle against the English invaders Mai GARY
O'Donncil. like another Benedict Arnold. allied
himself with the forces OF King James !. against
his own brother-in-l law, Red Hugh O'Donnc,i,
the recognized and lawful Earl OF Tvrconnell.
and Hugh o'Neill. Earl OF Tyrone. expecting
that by helping to crush these brave and faith
full chleftains the English would reward him
with the title which he 50 much coveted. Nor
did his perhdy and villainy END here; he even
manifold crimes, for when the brave Red Hugh
wns fighting the Invaders In the mountain fast
n-Sses of Donegal and Tyrone. Nal Gary. taking
advantage uf lis absence. placed himself ut the
head or some English troops. marched to Done.
a.. and Win nnh1iy hand. buried to the ground
which tor nearly two hundred years had been
the glory and pride ot that quaint old town.
Feeling that lie had rendered sufficient ser
vice To the English TO warrant his obtaining tho
cnridom uf .Tyrconnell, Nal Gary's next step
English troops. and there, Notwithstanding the
protest, Of clergy and laity, h. had the SIdeSiity
proceeding on his part without any authority
whatsoever from either the Irish or the English
LieutcnWnt Of Ireland. that he ordered his arrest
on the double charge OF treason and usurpatlon.
lm%.p Sn, ,S rs se dared 20 % E assume a cd ,ltls c which iS1
Mai, however, evnded arrest for the time and
eseaped TO London, where he ingrntia!ed him
risy and cunning, bestowed upon him certain
grants, Of lands in Donegal. but without tho
After this event Nal Gary acted the part Of
spy and informer for the, English, Turing his
English and afterward berrayinr them into tho
hands OF tho enemy. But Just retribution was
While formnlatinr one OF his dark plots he was
caught ted'handed In the &C, by, Sir Richard
treasonaGle prneticrs' Willie awaiting trial at
Dublin he tried 10 escane. and was transferred
Tor snfer kerning TO tle Tower or iondon, where
Such Is u brief sketch Of the life Of the infa-
nous Nal Gary O'Donnell, II were impossible
In so small a. space 10 do fun Justice to his
checkered aud iRlOble career. II may, however,
he briefly stated that he was the incarnation OF
all that was dark, bloody, and dlabollcal. His
name Is execrated throughout tho length and
breadth OF Ireland. In his time his very name
inspired terror; even to tho present day the
Catholic women OF Ulster can frIghten their
children into obedience Sy simply saying:
There comes Nal Gary"
l would. in conclusion. respectfully Inform
the Duke Of Tetuan that while he Is. as he
claim. the l,neal descendant Of Nal Gary
O'Donnell, no one envies him his pedigree. hut
] would have his Grace to understand that he Il
not the lineal descendant of the Earl Of Tyr
council There are others o, the Dukes name,
both In Ireland and IN exile, who have an equal
claim 10 the title 10 which the worthy Duke as.
pireS, each Of whom, like the Duke himself, Is
but a scion oi q collateral branch Of that once
noble and historic name.
For further particulars about his ancestor I
wsuld refer the Duke to Tho Annals OF the