Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg

Profile

Region

Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg has no chief, and is an armigerous clan

Historic seat

Clan branches
MacDonnell of Antrim Clan MacDonald of Largie

Rival clans
Clan MacLean Clan Campbell of Cawdor

Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, also known as Clan Donald South, Clan Iain Mor, Clan MacDonald of Islay and Kintyre,^[2] MacDonalds of the Glens (Antrim) and sometimes referred to as MacDonnells, is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. The founder of the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg is Iain Mhoir Tanistear Mac Dòmhnaill (John Mor Tanister MacDonald), a son of Iain Mic Dhòmhnaill (John of Islay, Lord of the Isles) and Margaret Stewart.^[3]

History

Origins of the clan

The founder of Clan Donald of Dunnyveg and the Glens was John Mor Tanister MacDonald who was the second son of John MacDonald also known as Good John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, 6th chief of Clan Donald and 1st Lord of the Isles through his marriage to Margaret Stewart.^[3] John Mor Tanister MacDonald married Margaret Bissett of the Glens of Antrim. From his marriage he claimed, but did not possess, this territory in Ireland, along with those he already possessed in Islay and Kintyre in Scotland. He and his descendants became known as Lords of Dunnyvaig and the Glens, although they did not possess the latter until the 16th century. Their seat in Dunnyvaig was on the Island of Islay and in the Glens they were seated in Antrim.

15th, 16th and 17th centuries

John Mor was assassinated by James Campbell in 1427. His son Donald Balloch MacDonald the 2nd chief led the clan when they fought and won at the first Battle of Inverlochy (1431). This was in support of their cousin Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross and chief of Clan Donald, 3rd Lord of the Isles.

The third Chief, Sir John Mor with his heir John Cathanach and three grandsons were apprehended through the treachery of MacIain of Ardnamurchan and were executed in Edinburgh for treason. However, MacIain of Ardnamurchan, who had also betrayed Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh, was himself killed in 1518 by those whom he had betrayed.

On the death of James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg and Antrim, the Antrim Glens were seized by one of his younger brothers called Somerled or Sorley Boy MacDonnell known also as Sorley Buy. In 1565 under Sorley Boy MacDonnell the Clan Donald of Antrim and Dunnyveg fought the Battle of Glentasie against Shane O'Neill in Ireland. Sorley Buy swore allegiance to James IV of Scotland and his fourth son Ranald was made Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim by Queen Elizabeth.

Much quarrelling took place between Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg and his eldest son, Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg this was largely due to the intrigues of the Clan Campbell. Sir James MacDonald led the clan who fought and won at the Battle of Gruinart Strand on the Isle of Islay in 1598 against an invasion force of the Clan MacLean who were led by Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean of Duart Castle who was killed.^[4]

Further intrigue by the Clan Campbell brought the downfall of the Clan Donald of Dunnyveg and by 1620 Sir James MacDonald had lost control of Islay and Kintyre. However, during the Civil War the lands were back in the hands of the MacDonalds briefly when they were supporters of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. A notable member of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg is Alasdair Mac Colla who is famed for his victories with the Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose during Scottish Civil War of the 1640s.^[5]

The last chief, Sir James MacDonald, 9th of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg or Clan Donald South died in London in 1626.

Chiefs

John Mor Tanister MacDonald, 1st of Dunnyveg killed 1427
Donald Balloch MacDonald, 2nd of Dunnyveg died 1476
John Mor MacDonald, 3rd of Dunnyveg executed 1499
John Cathanach MacDonald, 4th of Dunnyveg executed 1499
Alexander MacDonald, 5th of Dunnyveg died 1538
James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg died 5 July 1565
Archibald MacDonald, 7th of Dunnyveg died circa 1569
Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg died 21 October 1614
Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg died 1626

Castles

The ruins of Dunyvaig Castle, historic seat of the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg

Dunyvaig Castle, three miles east of Port Ellen on the south of the Isle of Islay was the seat of the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg.^[1] There are now only ruins of what was a strong castle.^[1] There was a small tower or keep that was surrounded by an inner and outer courtyard.^[1] The last MacDonald of Dunnvaig defeated the Clan MacLean at the Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart, but MacDonald was however ordered to surrender the castle and was forfeited in 1608.^[1] The castle was then put under the stewardship of the Bishop of the Isles for the king, but Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald retook it in 1612.^[1] In 1615 the castle passed to the Clan Campbell of Cawdor and while Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald escaped, many of his men were killed.^[1] It was re-taken by Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald in 1647, but after a siege by David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark, the castle was forced to surrender when the water supply failed and Alasdair Colkitto MacDonald was finally hanged from the walls.^[1] The castle was held by the Campbells of Cawdor until 1677 and the island remained with branches of the Clan Campbell.^[1] The castle has mostly crumbled away but the ruins have been consolidated and can be visited.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
↑ Adams, Frank (Eighth edition 1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Johnston and Bacon. ISBN 0-7179-4500-6. Check date values in: |date= (help)
1 2 The Family Tree of the Lords of the Isles finlaggan.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
↑ William Anderson (1862). The Scottish nation: or The surnames, families, literature ...
↑ Buchan, John (1928). Montrose: A History. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin: The Riverside Press. p. 247

External links

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