Henry MacShane O'Neill
| Anraí MacSéan Ó Néill | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Tyrone, The MacShane of Orior | |
| Born | est. 1545-1550 |
| Died | 1622 |
| Family | O'Neill / MacShane |
| Father | Shane O'Neill |
| Mother | Catherine MacDonnell |
| Occupation | Prince |
Henry MacShane O'Neill or Anraí MacSéan Ó Néill was an Irish flaith, a son of Shane O'Neill who was named "Seán-an-Diomais" by the Saxons – "Shane the Proud". In Shane's lifetime he went by Sean Donnellach O'Neill, as he was fostered by the Donnelly clan. Henry was the leader of the MacShane in the late 16th century and early 17th century, he also fought for control of the O'Neill Clan, helping his father against Hugh O'Neill.
Henry was born to the ruling family of Ulster at the time. It is believed his mother was Catherine MacDonnell, Shane's first wife, which makes him one of Shane's oldest and legitimate children. He had many half brothers, but his only full brother was Shane Og, Shane O'Neill's oldest son.
He was fostered in the households of the O'Cahan's, the O'Quinn's and possibly MacDonnell Gallowglass, due to the danger posed by other O'Neill family members. Henry led his half brothers Hugh Gaveloch and Con MacShane O'Neill. Collectively the brothers were known as the "Mac Shanes", and waged a continual war from 1583 to 1591 for domination of Ulster with the backing of a Scottish army made up of Macleans and MacDonnells.
Henry and Con made a push for power in the summer of 1584; their actions precipitated the temporary collapse of the authority of Turlough Luineach O'Neill. Hugh and Art spent two years in Scotland looking for help from their kinsman Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean. Maclean landed with a force of 3,000 men in Lough Foyle and travelled to free Henry and Con from the custody of Turlough.
Although Henry and Con remained with Turlough, the O'Donelly's and O'Cahan's defected to Mclean's side. When Turlough was thought to have died, the brothers were freed. But Con left, and without his presence western Tyrone was exposed to a direct attack from Hugh Roe O'Donnell, the Rí of Tyrconnell. Although after the death of Turlough, Henry was the strongest candidate for becoming the O'Neill, Hugh O'Neill made a direct bid for leadership and mustered a large force, marching toward the inaugural stone in Tullyhogue.
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