Ó Neill Dynasty Today
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Today there are three ancient O’Neill dynasties or principalities. The current head of the Clanaboy O’Neill dynasty is Dr. Hugo Ricciardi O'Neill, son of Jorge Maria O'Neill, whose family has been in Portugal since the 18th century. He is officially recognized by the offices of arms throughout Europe as titular Prince and Count of Clanaboy, but he refuses to use this title, using instead the style O'Neill of Clannaboy. There is also the O'Neill of the Fews dynasty, led by a Spanish nobleman, Don Carlos O'Neill the 12th Marquis of Granja. Lastly there is the dynasty of O’Neill of Tyrone, the dominant dynasty at the fall of the O’Neill lordship in 1609.
Today there is no recognized head of the O’Neills of Tyrone, thus no O’Neill Mór. There are a few families that may, and some do, claim the rights of O’Neill of Tyrone. These claimants are made up of descendants of the first Earl’s (Conn Bacach O’Neill) (Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone) sons: Shane Diomas (Shane O'Neill) and Phelim Caoch O’Neill (Phelim Caoch O'Neill). These include O’Neill of Corab, O’Neill of Waterford, McShane-O’Neill of Killetragh, and O’Neill of Dundalk. All descend from the Chiefs of O’Neill of Tyrone.
In addition to the chiefships, there are numerous Continental titles held by descendants and ancestors of the 3rd Earl, Hugh. His title was recognized in two separate fashions at Hugh’s death by the Spanish crown in 1616. The title “Earl of Tyrone” passed to his son John as 3rd Earl, then to his son Hugh Eugene (4th Earl Tyrone), then Hugh Dubh (5th Earl), then Hugo (6th Earl), and finally Brian Roe (7th Earl). The title “Comte d’ Tyrone” or “Count of Tyrone” was granted to the 3rd Earl’s son, Patrick O’Neill of Holland in 1623. He was recognized as such by the Spanish governor in the Netherlands, the Infanta Isabella for King Philip VI of Spain. The line of Counts of Tyrone through Patrick is continuous today. Jaques d' Tyrone is the 9th Count of Tyrone of the Spanish Netherlands creation of the title.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Sir William Johnson was descended from O'Neill of the Fews.
- Portuguese poet Alexandre O'Neill descends through a paternal grandmother from the Portuguese Clanaboy O’Neill branch.
