Fostered in the Pale after his father’s murder on Shane O’Neill’s orders, Hugh O’Neill (1550–1616) 2nd Earl of Tyrone, is portrayed alternately as charismatic, Machiavellian, a ruthless opponent, a skilled negotiator, a power seeker par excellence, an innovator.

This commemorative seminar attracted a capacity attendance of historians, local history experts and members of the public with an interest in the story of Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone. Six speakers treated the gathering of well over a hundred to a discourse on O’Neill’s life, his political and military strategies, the Gaelic and Old-English contexts in which he moved in Ireland, his relationship and encounters with English commanders and administrators, with the Spanish and with the Vatican. The complex historical contexts of the time and O’Neill’s ability to negotiate these were discussed. These insightful contributions to the study of the period shed new light on many aspects of O’Neill’s political manoeuvres, military tactics and on his awareness of innovation and his strategic abilities.

To listen to the seminar papers click here.

Thursday 1 December 

10am – 10.45am: Keynote – Professor Nicholas Canny, MRIA (Emeritus Professor of History, NUI Galway)

‘The several faces of Hugh O’Neill’

10.45am – 11.20am: ‘Hugh O’Neill’s military revolution’ – Dr James O’Neill (UCC)

11.50am – 12.25pm: ‘Hugh O’Neill and the War in the Pale’ – Dr Ruth A. Canning (UCC and Concordia University)

12.25pm – 1.00pm: ‘Hugh O’Neill and his Gaelic cultural context’ – Dr Marc Caball (UCD)

2.00pm – 2.45pm: “Ourselves alone”: winning and losing in 1598′ – Dr Hiram Morgan (UCC)

2.45pm – 3.30pm: ‘Hugh O’Neill and the earl of Essex’ – Professor Ciarán Brady, MRIA (TCD)

3.30pm – 4.00pm: Panel discussion and close of seminar