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Event 2007: Flight of the Earls/ Imeacht na nIarlaí.   |   Event 2006, Remembering the 90th anniversary of the death of Tarlagh Mac Sweeney (An Píobaire Mór) c. 1831- July 1916.   |   The Niall Mór Headstone   |   Event 2005 - Remembering the 400th anniversary of the execution of Eoghan Óg Mac Sweeney.   |   Donegal Person of the Year 2004   |   Genealogical Table of the Mac Sweeney Chiefs of Doe   |   Ranald MacDonald of Keppoch, Chief of the Name   |    "AT ARM'S LENGTH  - Aristocrats in the Republic of Ireland"   |    The current Mac Sweeney Doe   |   Doe Castle Graveyard.   |    Event 2004  Remembering the Battle of Knockdoe   |   Great Book of Irish Genealogies   |    Galloglas   |   Remembering  Daniel Mac Sweeney 1830-1893, Event 2003   |   Daniel Mór Sweeney of Derryveagh 1840-1901 - Event 2002   |   Remembering the March to Kinsale  - Event 2001   |   Recalling Myles Mac Sweeney's Swim to Freedom - Event 2000   |   Mac Sweeney Doe   |   Obituary.   |   Related Links   |   Contact us   |   (NEW) Like the Thirteenth Chime,

Remembering  Daniel Mac Sweeney 1830-1893, Event 2003

Bringing "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe" Back Home.

Lineal descendants of the Mac Sweeney Chiefs of Doe from Ireland and the U.S. gathered at Doe Castle on Sunday 22nd June for the annual blessing of the graves of the Chiefs of Doe and to commemorate a fellow "Descendant of Doe", Daniel Mac Sweeney, Chairman of the Cloghaneely Branch of the Land League 1881 and holder of the post of Special Treasury Agent in San Francisco under U.S. President Grover Cleaveland.

Daniel Mac Sweeney was born in Dunlewy 1830.  His father, Edward, was a 1st cousin of Eamon Rua Mac Sweeney "Head of the House of Doe and Lord of Tuath Tory" - as recognized by the eminent Gaelic scholar and genealogist, Dr. John O Donovan, 1835.  In 1850 Daniel Mac Sweeney went to America to seek his fortune and settled in San Francisco where he became prosperous in the cattle/ stockyard business.  In 1876 he took a trip to the Centennial in Philadelphia and from there to his old home in Donegal.  He purchased Carrowcannon House and farm near Falcarragh and took his wife and family of eight children to Donegal. He changed the family name, by deed pole, from Sweeney back to the original Mac Sweeney.

Daniel organized a branch of the Land League in Cloghaneely and became its chairman and his brother, James, who lived at Calabber Bridge near Glenveagh became its Secretary.  In June 1881, Daniel was arrested and interned without trial in Kilmainham Jail - with his leader Charles Stewert Parnell.  During his time in jail Daniel appealed to the U.S Secretary of State, James C. Blaine, to exert political pressure on the British Government for his release.  Blaine turned down Daniel's appeal  because Daniel was a naturalized American citizen and not native born.  (James C. Blaine's roots were in County Clare!)  

On his release from jail eighteen months later Daniel and his family returned to Philadelphia.  In 1884, James C. Blaine and Grover Cleveland were running for the U.S. Presidency.  Daniel campaigned in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York on behalf of Grover Cleveland and he used the opportunity to pay back Blaine for refusing to help him while he was in jail.  During the campaign he explained to the electorate how Blaine had differentiated between a native born citizen and a naturalized citizen and had refused the protection of the United States to the latter category.  Daniel's speeches won the Irish vote and Pennsylvania went Democratic for the first time and Grover Cleveland won the Presidency.  He rewarded Daniel by appointing him U.S. Special Treasury Agent for the City of San Francisco.  Daniel died in San Francisco in 1893 and was reported in newspapers as a rich man.

The 4th reunion of the "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe" at Doe Castle attracted descendants of Daniel Mac Sweeney from various parts of the U.S.  Diane Bader, a great granddaughter of Daniel and her husband, John, travelled from Wilton, Sacramento Valley, CA.  Their son Wayne and his wife, Mary, and their children travelled from Virginia.  Marci Rae and Walter Scott Binns III, (grandson of CA  Judge Walter Scott Binns I and Peggy Mac Sweeney - granddaughter of Daniel's brother, James) arrived earlier in the month.

After dinner lectures and entertainment.

Diane Bader, a great granddaughter of Daniel Mac Sweeney gave a lecture on Daniel's career in Ireland and in the U.S.

An illustrated lecture (entitled "From Doe to Derryveagh") re the fate and fortunes of the Mac Sweeney Chiefly family of Doe was given by Tomás Mac Suibhne,  the current Mac Sweeney Doe.

Classical music and traditional Irish music and singing were provided by a number of talented "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe".

The "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe" group was formed in July 2000 to commemorate the daring escape of their direct ancestor, Maolmhuire/ Sir Myles Mac Sweeney, Chief of Doe, 1596 - 1630, from an English ship in the Foyle when he was being taken to Dublin for trail and for what seemed like a certain hanging. "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe" reunions are planned for June 2004 and June 2005.  Sweeneys/ descendants of Sweeneys and colleagues are more than  welcome to join us.

Programme - Sunday, June 22, 2003.

3.00 p.m. visit Doe Castle near Creeslough.

Doe Castle, the ancestral home of the Chiefly family of Mac Sweeney Doe, will be open for the occasion.

4.30 p.m. Blessing of the Graves of the Mac Sweeney Chiefs of Doe in the graveyard beside Doe Castle. Further refurbishment was undertaken, 2002, by "Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe".  Additional work is planned.

5.30 p.m. Commemorative Mass in the Capuchin Monastery, Ards, Creeslough, Guardian, Fr, Eustace Mac Sweeney, O.F.M. Cap.

7.00 p.m.  Descendants of Mac Sweeney Doe Commemorative Dinner, Arnold's Hotel, Dunfanaghy.