Marcach MacDonnell

   Another name for Marcach was Marcus.

  General Notes:

The following argument that Marcach was the son of Somhairle comes from Irish Midlands Ancestry

The true position of Marcus as the son of Somerled is confirmed by, an entry in tile Books of Ballymote and Lecan which is couched in the following terms, "Marcus MacSomerly Mic Alexander Mic Angus Mor MacDonnell.

Marcus assumed tile role of commander of O'Connor's Galloglachs when his brother, Donald Og MacDonnell was slain in 1388. He held this command for nine years. In 1397, hostilities broke out in the province of Connaught between O'Connor Roe and O'Connor Don, both of whose territories were in Rosscommon. Marcus MacDonnell was the Commander of the Galloglachs under O'Connor Roe while MacDonouqh from Sligo went to the assistance of O'Connor Don. The forces of O'Connor Don were defeated with great slaughter. Thereupon O'Connor Don and MacDonough raised another army. Dougal, a son of Marcus, along with Felim O'Connor, son of Cathal Og O'Connor, vlsited Doneqal to solicit the aid of O'Donnell in the fiqht. The O'Donnell and other chiefs of Tiroconnell came to the assistance of O'Connor and MacDonnell helping them to vanquish their foes and waste their country with fire and sword, and compelling them to give hostages in security for their behavior in the future.

The sons of Cathal Og, the people of Durnin and Marcus MacDonnell, Captain of Galloglachs marched to Carberry, and halted at Lissadill in the country of the MacDonough. While engaged in the task of spoliation and division, quarrels over the spoils of victory proved their ruin. O'Donnell the Chief of Donegal, came with a small force of cavalry to settle the dispute, to be followed by a number of Irish clans, who assembled in the interests of the defeated O'Connor Don and MacDonough. The cavalry of the sons of Cathal Og O'Connor advanced toward them on the way to Sliqo. An arm of the sea was on their left hand, the stream of Bun Brenoige was on the riqht. A fierce and bloody battle ensued which resulted in disaster to the sons of Cathal Og O'Connor, in which Marcus MacDonnell, Captain of O'Connor's Galloqlach, and his son Dougall MacDonnell were left dead upon the field with a large number of Galloglach, See "The Four Masters,vol. IV., p.753 for this account.

After the death of Marcus MacDonnell, the last surviving son of Somerled, son of Alisdair Og, his position as head of O'Connor's warriors appears to have been taken by Somhairle Buidhe, son of Marcus. This Somerled accompanied Brian O'Connor on a raid into Tlr Oilella in 1398. Having heen left by their own people with only a few companions, they, were unexpectedly attacked by a superior force, and Somerly was slain at Cnoc-in-Crona. See The Clan Donald of Connaught and Leinster, p. 114.

"We, are not aware that Dougall, son of Marcus, who was slain when his father fell in 1397, or Somhairle Buidhe, another son, who was killed in battle the following year, left any progeny. It is pretty well authenticated, however that the representation of the family was continued by Charles, another son of Marcus, whose name is on record in some Irish Annals. See the Annals of the Four Masters, vol V, p. 1641.


The following argument that Marcach was the son of Oengus Ogh comes from The MacDonnell of Leinster Association - The MacDonnells of Knockancloy

"Marcach" (Horseman - implying nobility since only nobles rode horses), the progenitor of the MacDonnells of Knocknacloy (Cnoc na Cloigh - Hill of Stones), may conceivably have been a grandson of Alasdair Ogh, 5th of the Isles, as asserted by the ancient books of Ballymote and Lecan, which list "Marcus Mac Somerly Mic Alexander Mic Angus Mor." Although the preponderance of the evidence shows otherwise, these authorities are relied upon by Clan Donald Society, controlled by the Sleate MacDonald chieftains, and by Lyon Court, and are barely possible. This genealogy is disputed by other authorities, equally venerable, but suppressed by Lyon Court. First, it should be noted, the judgment of Lyon Court supports the post-Culloden policy of the British Crown, giving supremacy within Clan Donald to the generally Protestant chieftains of the Sleate MacDonalds, supporters of the crown, and conveniently eliminates several large, competitive, independent, generally Catholic segments of the Clan, all, at the time, free of the control of the English Crown, from the feudal line of succession to the high chiefship, in that Alasdair Ogh and his heirs had been deposed and eliminated by Robert Bruce. The prolific progeny of Ian Mhór, Alasdair Ogh, Alan of Moidart, Domhnuil of Glengarry and Marcach otherwise would have all had a superior feudal claim to that of Sleate for the high chiefship. The Sleate MacDonalds were never in the direct line of feudal succession to the lordship of The Isles (The Council Of The Isles chose Iain MacDonnell of Dun Naibhig & The Glens to succeed Donald Dubh as 13th Lord of The Isles). Their only claim to that honor was their allegiance to the King of England, an act of treason against Clan Donald. Even so, feudal rules of primogeniture or forfeiture should have no bearing on the succession to a Gaelic chiefship, where the tradition of election under the Gaelic laws of tanistry should prevail, as exemplified by the career of Domnall Balloch. The Sleate chiefs, like the Campbells, do have a history of promoting their own interests by supporting the crown against the welfare of the Clan and, in this instance, their interests and those of the crown are the same.

The opposing ancient authorities were cited in ÓCléirigh's 17th Century work, "Annála Ríoghachta Éireann" (Annals of the Kingdom Of Ireland, popularly known as The Annals Of The Four Masters). This work was compiled from earlier annals between 1632 and 1636 at Donegal Monastery by a Franciscan monk from the College of St. Anthony at Louvain, Br. Michael ÓCléirigh. He was assisted by three collaborators, Br. Fearfeassa ÓMulchonaire, Br. Cuchoighriche (Peregrine) ÓCléirigh and Br. Cuchoighriche ÓDuignan. A contemporary at Louvain, Fr. Colgan, called them the "Quator Magistni" (The Four Masters). Michael's cousin, Father Hugh Ward, Superior of The Irish College at Louvain and Chaplain of Captain Sorley MacDonnell's Company of the Antrim Regiment in Flanders, commissioned Friar Michael to go to Ireland in the 1620s and find material for a history of Irish Christianity. Sponsored by Lord Brien Roe Maguire, Lord Enniskillen; by Fergal ÓGara, M.P. for Sligo and Lord of Moy, Gara and Coolavin; by Captain MacDonnell; and possibly by others as well; the monks crisscrossed Ireland collecting material, even visiting the library of the Protestant Primate, Archbishop Ussher, in Dublin, and this compilation of the manuscripts they found is the result. A huge collection, it spanned some 3,000 years, from the invasion of Ireland by the Gael, until 1616. ÓDonovan, in his notes to his edition of "The Annals" states in Volume V, on Page 1,641:

"The pedigree of this (The Tighearna Coille) branch of the MacDonnells is given by ÓFarrell in his "Linnea Antiquea," and by Duald MacFirbus in his "The Clan Donald of Leinster, The Posterity of Turlough Oge." They descend from . . . the Lords of the Isles, and through Marcus . . ., a younger son of Aengus Oge (Oengus Ogh), who married a daughter of ÓKane (ÓCahan). The oldest brother of this Marcus was John (7th of The Isles, d.1387), who, by a first alliance, is ancestor of the Chieftan of Clan Raghnaill (or Clanranald) and Glengarry, and by his subsequent marriage with Princess Margaret Stewart of Scotland, daughter of King Robert II, and had: Donald, (8th) Lord of the Isles; John Mor (Ian Mhór, 1st Lord of Dun Naibhig & The Glens) who married Margery Bissett, heiress to the Glinns of Antrim; and, Alexander, the ancestor of Keppoch."

Both ÓDonovan as editor, and ÓCléirigh as author, were quite clear and would have to be completely discredited in order for Lyon Court to be correct. The key would seem to be found in the various dates cited. There is a consensus that Marcach was first recorded as being in Ireland in 1388, by which time the MacDonnells of Ulster had been decimated in battle or by disease and had fallen into obscurity. 1388 was however, shortly after the death of John of Islay and the ascension of Donald, 8th of the Isles as high chief. Under the feudal rules of succession, Marcach would seem to have lost his status as brother of the high chief, had fallen under the authority of his nephew, had found this unacceptable, perhaps because he favored another heir to succeed as high chief (either himself, Alan of Moidart or Ian Mhór), and had gone to Ireland to seek his fortune among his mother's family, the ÓCahans. Whatever his motivation, in Connacht, he eventually became constable of ÓConnor Roe's gallóglaigh (Literally foreigners in green - mercenary warriors whose name was corrupted to gallowglasses by the English). He was followed in that office by all four of his sons of whom we have a record, and all five of these MacDonnells died in battle, including Marcach.

If Somhairle MacAlasdair Ogh were Marcach's father, as alleged by feudal apologists, he would have been, under the feudal rules of succession, 3rd of Ulster and Marcach would have been 4th of Ulster, rather than progenitor of Knocknacloy, unless Somhairle pre-deceased his nephew (Eoin Dubh's son, 2nd of Ulster), in which case Marcach would have been 3rd of Ulster. That Calvach MacAlasdair Ogh inherited the Ulster title, is clear evidence that Marcach was not of that line. Furthermore, the "ÓConchobhair" (ÓConnor) chiefs of Connacht were the hereditary enemies of the ÓNeills of Tyrone. It is unlikely that Marcach would have either inclination or opportunity to enter Connacht's service if his father was of the MacDonalds of Ulster and had been in the service of the ÓNeills. It was more likely, and further evidence that Oengus Ogh was his father, that Marcach sought employment in Connacht because of the remaining alliances of the ÓCahans in the West of Ireland.

All of the genealogical authorities cited contain obvious errors and bias. So much inquiry has been made that it is unlikely that further resolving authorities will be found, unless DNA analysis can help. Another source asserts that Marcach was a brother of Domnall Balloch and therefore of the line of the MacDonnells of Dun Naibhig and the Glens. This is incorrect since Ian Mhór was probably Marcach's nephew and Domnall Balloch died in 1476, 79 years after his great-uncle.

Their father's, (Oengus Ogh's) tombstone bears the images of four lions. Could they represent his four sons - John, Domhnall, Marcach and Iain Fraoch? The genealogical implications of this historical controversy remain relevant, primarily to members of the Clan who seek preferment over their kinsmen. But whichever scenario is correct, the MacDonnells of Knocknacloy and of Leinster are certainly among the most direct uncompromised lineal descendants of the lords of The Isles and the direct Clan succession from the derbfhine of Somhairle MacGillebruide, if not the feudal succession, continues in them.

Like Oengus Ogh before him, Marcach is said to have married a daughter of ÓCahan of Limavady. ÓCléirigh also said he was the ancestor of the MacDonnells of Knocknacloy, a contention that is not disputed and a logical scenario for a younger son, who might seek his fortune among his mother's relatives. According to some authorities, Marcach was the hero of Sir Walter Scott's epic poem "Lord of the Isles," but others claim Oengus Ogh had that honor as well. These contradictory claims are further evidence of confusion by the seannachaidh, but they do show a consensus recognizing Marcach's strong link to Oengus Ogh and his historical significance. He was called a "saiu gallóglaigh" (a gallowglass artist or an excellent gallowglass), although the Annals of Ulster give this honor to his son, Calvach Mhór. Probably due to influence from the ÓCahans, Marcach later became Captain (commander), under the "ÓCeallaigh Ui Maine" (ÓKelly of HyMainy), provincial kings of a region in Roscommon and East Galway near the border of Leitrim and Cavan.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Title: 1st of Knocknacloy.

Marcach married Amy ÓCahan, of Limavady.