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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,
Event 2005 - Remembering the 400th anniversary of the execution of Eoghan Óg Mac Sweeney.
On Sunday, July 10, lineal descendants of the Mac Sweeney Chiefs of Doe and friends attended the annual blessing of the graves of the Chiefs of Doe at Doe Castle and recalled the execution of Eoghan Óg Mac Sweeney at Lifford Castle, May 1605.  On the evening of July 10 the group attended Mass in the Capuchin Monastery, Ards, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Sweeney, P.P., Derrybeg, Gweedore, (Donegal Person of the Year). The Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of Eoghan Óg and the souls of two members of the 'Descendants of Doe' group, Paddy Doohan, Glassan, and Kathleen Gilmore, New Mills.  Afterwards a commemorative dinner was hosted in Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy, followed by a social evening in the Glenveagh room.

Eamon Sweeney, g.g.g. grandson of Eamon Rua Mac Sweeney, Head of
the House of Doe 1834/51, laying a wreath at the Chiefly graves.
Margaret Ann Foran Bartels, N.Y. a great granddaughter of Dan Mór Sweeney (Event 2002) laying a bouquet at the graves of the Chiefs of Doe.

In December 1607 at Louvain (following the Flight of the Earls), Rory O Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnel, itemized in a letter to King James I of England the insults and injustices he had to endure from the King's officials in Ireland. Item 26 of Rory O Donnell's letter recorded the fate of Eoghan Óg Mac Sweeney who chose to die rather than betray Rory O Donnell.

Rory O Donnell's letter stated that Chichester, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, was present at the sessions in Lifford,1605,  when "there was one Owen Mac Swyne to be executed, unto whom, by the appointment of sir Oliver Lambert, who gave a caveat unto sir Henry Folliot from time to time, as often as there should be any persons to be executed, to ensure them of their lives if they informed of any matters to overthrow or prejudice the earl, sir Henry sent privately, promising him (Eoghan Óg) his life and large rewards if he would charge the earl with some detestable crime".

Margaret Ann Foran Bartels, N.Y. at Doe Castle with her cousins the Ball family from Prehen, Derry. All are great grandchildren of Dan Mór Sweeney, Event 2002.
Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, - g.g.g. granddaughter of Eamon Rua Mac Sweeney and Merle O Donnell, Queensland, Australia, attending
the Mac Sweeney Doe, reunion.
Eoghan Óg  Mac Sweeney, executed 1605, was foster brother to Red Hugh O Donnell and he commanded Red Hugh's vanguard at the Battle of the Curlew Mountains, 1599, when an English army was defeated and its commander, Sir Conyers Clifford, slain.  Eoghan Óg was the eldest son of Eoghan Óg, Chief of Doe, 1570 -1596, who gave refuge to the survivors of the Spanish Armada, 1588.  In 1589 he gave protection, for upwards of a year, to Brian (na Múrtha/ of the Bulwarks) O Rourke, Chief of Breiffni who was hanged and beheaded at Tyburn,1591, 'displaying at his execution the most undaunted courage, firmness, and magnaminity'.

                                                                          30 July, 2005