Clandeboye

Clandeboye
Clann Aodha Buidhe  (Irish)
1283–1574
Coat of arms
O'Neill of Clandeboye c. 15th century.
Capital		Not specified
Languages		Irish
Government		Monarchy
King
•	1283-1295	Brian mac Aodha Buidhe Ó Néill (first)
•	1574	Brian Ó Néill (last)
History
•	Established	1283
•	Disestablished	1574
Preceded by Succeeded by Earldom of Ulster Tyrone Kingdom of Ireland

Coat of arms

Clandeboye (from the Irish Clann Aodha Buí; the family of Hugh with the blonde hair), was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day south County Antrim and north County Down. The entity was relatively late in appearance and is associated partly with the Gaelic resurgence of the High Middle Ages. The Ó Néill Clann Aodha Buidhe who reigned in the territory descended from Aodh Buidhe Ó Néill, a King of Tír Eoghain. His descendants managed to move east and retrieve territories back from the Normans; the de Burgh's Earldom of Ulster.

The kingdom came to an end in ignominious circumstances in 1574; as the Kingdom of Ireland during the Elizabethan period was strengthening its grip on the island, the New English had begun to create settler-colonies within Ireland. The Ó Néill naturally opposed this and Brian Ó Néill met with the Earl of Essex to discuss matters. Subsequently, Essex had his men massacre up to 500 of the unsuspecting Gaels present; men, women and children; in what is known as the Betrayal of Clannabuidhe. Brian, his wife and brother-in-law were taken away and executed, Clandeboye was subsequently partitioned and later privately colonised under the Plantation of Ulster.