Earl O'Neill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Earl O'Neill was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for Charles Henry St John O'Neill, 2nd Viscount O'Neill, along with the courtesy title Viscount Raymond.

The titles Baron O'Neill and Viscount O'Neill had been created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1793 and 1795 respectively for the Earl's father, John O'Neill. On the death of the first Earl the Earldom and Viscountcy of Raymond became extinct, while the Barony and Viscountcy of O'Neill passed to his younger brother. On his death in 1855 these titles became extinct as well. However, his estates were inherited by his cousin Reverend William Chichester, who assumed the surname of O'Neill in lieu of Chichester the same year. In 1868 the O'Neill title was revived when he was created Baron O'Neill, of Shanes Castle in the County of Antrim, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This title is still extant.