O'Doherty's Rebellion

The severed heads of O'Doherty and MacDavitt on display on the gates of Dublin, a common punishment for treason.

Date	1608
Location	Ulster, Kingdom of Ireland
Result	Crown victory

Belligerents

Ireland

O'Doherty's rebels

Commanders and leaders

Sir Arthur Chichester
Sir Richard Wingfield

Sir Cahir O'Doherty
Phelim MacDavitt

O'Doherty's Rebellion took place in 1608 when the landowner Sir Cahir O'Doherty began an uprising against the authorities in the north-west of Ireland. O'Doherty had been a long-standing supporter of the Crown, but having been angered at his treatment by local officials he launched an attack on Derry, burning the town. O'Doherty may have hoped to negotiate a settlement with the government, but after his death in a skirmish at Kilmacrennan the rebellion collapsed with the last survivors being besieged on Tory Island.

Cahir O'Doherty ruled the Inishowen peninsula in northern County Donegal. The Gaelic O'Dohertys had traditionally accepted the overlordship of the O'Donnells, but had ambitions to become freeholders under the English Crown instead. In 1600, at the age of 15, Cahir joined the forces of the English Governor of Derry, Henry Docwra who were fighting to defeat Tyrone's Rebellion. With the assistance of O'Doherty and other Gaelic lords, Docwra advanced from Derry into the heart of Gaelic territory. Docwra praised his courage under fire, and recommended him for a knighthood.

The two of the principal leaders of the northern rebellion Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell were restored to their lands by the Treaty of Mellifont in 1603, after publicly submitting to the new King James I but the English still suspected them of being involved with fresh plots. Summoned to London in 1607 they instead sailed for the Continent with a group of their followers, in the Flight of the Earls.

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