The Flight of the Earls (1607) saw Hugh O’Neill of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell of Tyrconnell leave Ireland with their followers, never to return. This event cleared the way for the Plantation of Ulster, transforming Ireland politically, socially, and demographically forever.
After the Nine Years’ War (1594–1603), the leading Gaelic lords of Ulster, Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell (brother of Red Hugh O’Donnell), submitted to King James I of England (also James VI of Scotland).
Hugh O’Neill went to London to meet the new King, James I but the English regime continued to take over O’Neill and O’Donnell estates. Though pardoned and confirmed in their titles, they remained under suspicion by the Crown. English officials in Dublin (notably Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy) were eager to undermine them and confiscate their lands. Rumours of treasonous plots gave the lords reason to fear arrest and execution.
Red Hugh’s successor, his younger brother Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnel, decided to go to mainland Europe. O’Neill feared that the English would see this as him plotting another uprising and decided he must leave as well.
14 September 1607: Hugh O’Neill, Rory O’Donnell, and about 90 followers (including family, allies, and retainers — a miniature Gaelic court in exile.) sailed from Rathmullan, Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal, known as ‘The Fight of the Earls’. They intended to reach Spain, seeking aid from King Philip III, but storms drove them to France instead and they landed in Normandy, went on to the Spanish Netherlands and then to Italy, where the pope provided them with a house in Rome paid for by Philip of Spain. Although they tried to get support from the Spanish it wasn’t given.
The Earls spent the rest of their lives in Rome, living in relative poverty but treated with respect by the Papal court.
O’Donnell died, in 1608, only a year after arriving, and was buried in the church of San Pietro di Montorio.
Hugh O’Neill died, of fever in 1616, aged about 66, and was interred beside O’Donnell.
Their descendants lived in exile, especially in Spain and the Spanish Netherlands, serving in Catholic armies.
The sudden absence of the Gaelic leadership allowed the Crown to declare their lands forfeit. This opened the way for the Plantation of Ulster (1609): large-scale confiscation of Gaelic lands and settlement by English and Scottish Protestants. The social, cultural, and political order of Gaelic Ulster was shattered.
The Flight of the Earls symbolized the end of Gaelic Ireland.
For centuries, it was remembered as both a tragedy (loss of sovereignty) and a romantic exile (Irish lords continuing the fight abroad).
The departure point at Rathmullan is today marked by a monument and heritage site.
