Everything about Clan Sweeney totally explained
Clan Sweeney is an
Irish clan of
Scottish origin. The clan didn't permanently settle in
Ireland before the beginning of the
fourteenth century, when they became
Gallowglass soldiers for the
Ó Domhnaill kings of Tír Conaill.]]
In the
thirteenth century the MacSweens controlled lands across central Argyll, extending as far north as
Loch Awe and as far south as
Loch Fyne. Their principal seats included
Lochranza Castle on the
Isle of Arran,
Skipness Castle and
Castle Sween at
Knapdale, which may be Scotland's oldest surviving stone-built castle.
The MacSweens held this lordship of Knapdale and lands in
Kintyre until 1262. in Kintyre. Following this the Earl granted several churches in Knapdale to the
monastery of Kilwinning, showing that he now had control of both North and South Knapdale.
In 1263
Haakon IV of Norway sailed down the western coast of Scotland with an invasion fleet from
Norway. With the arrival of the royal fleet Norse control in the
Western Isles and Argyll was re-established, and the Norwegian king's force was strengthened by Islesmen. Among those pressed into his service were the disposed MacSweens of Knapdale, under Murchadh MacSween. Haakon had 'given' Arran to Murchadh, It was then that John MacSween approached
Edward I of England, asserting that one of the king's enemies, Sir John Menteith, had deprived MacSween of his inheritance.
During the
Great Cause, which led to the
First War of Scottish Independence, the MacSweens were supporters of the powerful
MacDougall Lords of Lorne who supported
John Balliol as patriots, as long as John was king of Scotland. After the murder of
John Comyn, the nephew of Balliol, by Bruce in 1306, the First War of Scottish Independence became at one and the same time a civil war. The Balliol and Comyn parties taking the side of the English in opposition to Bruce, crowned
Robert I of Scotland on
March 25, 1306.
This was an era of constantly shifting alliances, and in 1301 John MacSween was in alliance with
Angus Og against the MacDougalls of Lorne. In 1307 the MacDougalls were the bitterest of
Robert the Bruce's enemies, and the man in command of the rebellion against Bruce was Sir John Menteith, who had previously removed the MacSweens from Knapdale. MacDougall was aided in part by the MacSweens, including John and his brothers Toirdelbach and Murdoch. provided they could recover it from Sir John Menteith. Murchadh was made prisoner by Domnall Ó Conchobair and handed over to the
Earl of Ulster, in whose prison Murchadh was to have died in. At a seat of theirs,
Clodach Castle, there was a stone set near the highway which was inscribed with an open invitation to travellers to make for Clodach for refreshment.
Branches
Mac Suibhne Fánad (Mac Sweeney Fanad)
Fánad, is the peninsula between
Lough Swilly and
Mulroy Bay, on the north coast of
County Donegal.
The first Mac Suibhne to settle in
Tír Conaill was Eoin, grandson of Máel Muire. It was Eoin who expelled the ruling Ó Breisléins from Fánad after
1263, and whose daughter married the Ó Domnaill, king of
Tír Conaill. The male line of the ruling Mac Suibhnes soon failed after Eoin, when both his son, Suibne, and his brother, Toirdelbach, died without heirs.
Following the
Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 Murchad Mear, great-grandson of Máel Muire an Sparáin and grandson of the Murchadh who died while a prisoner of the Earl of Ulster, arrived at Lough Swilly with his followers.
Donnchadh Mór, who was son of Murchad Óc, and grandson of Murchad Mear, was the first Suibhne na d'Tuath. Donnchadh's father and grandfather had conquered large tracts of land in
Tír Conaill in about 1314. In 1359 when Ó Conchobhair defeated Séan Ó Domhnaill, Donnchadh Mór's son, Eoghan Connachtach, was held captive by the son of Ó Conchobhair Shligigh. Later Eoghan was able to help Séan Ó Domhnaill defeat Toirdhealbhach an Fhíona Ó Domhnaill in battle, at Sliabh Malair. Eoghan died as they plundered
Glencolumkille "as a result of his violating the monastery there".
There are contradictory sources for early history of Mac Suibhne Boghaineach. In the
Book of Ballymote (c. 1400), six of Dubhghall's grandsons are said to belong to the Mac Suibhne of
Connacht. The eldest of the grandsons, Toirdhealbhach was also listed as the
High Constable of Connacht and was killed with two of his brothers, Donn Sléibhe and Donnchadh in
1397.
The chiefly line of Doe (Mac Suibhne na d'Tuath) » The chiefly line of Doe is thought to descend from the chiefly line of Fanad. In 1999 Sweeney petitioned the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland to be recognized as Chief of the Name of the Mac Sweeneys of Doe. in light of the MacCarthy Mór Scandal, the Genealogical Office discontinued the practice of recognising Chiefs, with Sweeneys petition still pending investigation.]]
Related surnames » Today there are numerous surnames that are Anglicisations of the Gaelic Mac Suibhne, a patronymic name meaning "son of Suibhne". Suibne was a Gaelic epithet meaning "well-disposed" or "pleasant". Related names may include: MacSweeney, MacSweeny, MacSwiney, MacSwiny, McSweeney, McSweeny, McSwiney, McSwiny, Sweeney, Sweeny, Sweny, Swiney. The MacQueen's also derive their name from the Gaelic MacSuibhne. The claims of the 'Sobieski Stuarts' were attacked and have been proved to be a forgery.
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