Our common ancestors - Fitzgerald - Contents

O'Neill

• References:
  • O'NEILL OF CLANNABOY in [Burkes Peerage]
  • O'NEILL OF SHANE’S CASTLE in [Burkes Peerage]
  • O'NEILL in [Burkes Extinct]

  • Table 2 in [Moncreiffe, 1982]
  • The Great O'Neill, Sean O'Faolain, 1942.

The pagan Niall of the Nine Hostages (see here), High King of Ireland and Tara, reigned 445-53, is generally considered the historical start of the Irish Royal line.
For some discussion, see here. His descent from Milesius is legend.

Niall of the Nine Hostages is ancestor in male line of:

Con Mor O'Neill,
mar Eleanor Fitzgerald [descendant of Edward I and of Aoife Mac Murrough]
and had issue:

Con Baccach O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone, had illegitimate issue:

Matthew O'Neill, had issue:

1. The rebel Hugh O'Neill, 2nd (or 3rd) Earl of Tyrone, born c.1540,
   regarded as the last King of Ulster,
   and hence the last native king in Ireland,
   eloped 1591 with Mabel Bagenal,
   died Rome, 1616.

And Niall of the Nine Hostages is ancestor through female line of:

Hon. Arthur O'Neill,
mar Annabel Crewe-Milnes [descendant of Henry VII] and had issue:

1. Mary O'Neill,
   mar Lt-Col Derick Gascoigne and had issue:
   1. Bamber Gascoigne, born 1935, author and TV presenter,
      educ Magdalene College, Cambridge,
      presenter of University Challenge 1962-87.

2. Terence O'Neill, born 1914,
   liberal (by NI standards) Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, 1963-9,
   famous "live like Protestants" remark in interview, 1969.

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• Earl of Tyrone

• The Ancient and Royal Family of O'Neill
• Apparently there are still male-line descendants living. This makes O'Neill the oldest family in Europe.