Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim
| The Earl of Antrim | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1636 Ireland |
| Residence | Dunluce Castle |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Chief of Clan MacDonnell |
| Spouse(s) | Alice O'Neill |
| Children | Randal, Alexander |
Randal Macsorley MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (died 10 December 1636) was called "Arranach" in Irish/Scottish Gaelic (meaning "of Arran") having been fostered in the Gaelic manner on the Scottish island of Arran.
He was the fourth son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell, and of his first wife Mary, daughter of Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone. He succeeded on the death of his brother Sir James MacDonnell in April 1601 to the lordship of the Glynns and Route in Ireland.
In 1597, he gave offence to the English Crown by assisting Sir James to fortify Dunluce Castle and took part in the defeat which the MacDonnells inflicted that year upon Sir John Chichester and the garrison of Carrickfergus. He joined O'Neill in his rebellion, and accompanied him on his expedition into Munster early in 1600, but, becoming by his brother's death head of his house, and foreseeing the failure of the rebellion, he in August 1602 made a timely submission to the lord deputy, Lord Mountjoy, at Tullaghoge, offering to serve against O'Neill in Fermanagh with five hundred foot and forty horse at his own expense. His example exercised a good effect in the north, and he was knighted by Lord Mountjoy.
On the accession of James I, MacDonnell, on 28 May 1603, received a grant of the entire district of the Route and the Glynns, extending from Larne to Coleraine, and containing 333,907 acres. To this in the following year was added the island of Rathlin. In 1606, Dunluce Castle, the priory of Coleraine, three-parts of the fishing of the river Bann, the castle of Olderfleet (Larne), and all lands belonging to the Diocese of Down and Connor were for different reasons excepted out of his grant; but on 21 June 1615 Dunluce Castle was restored to him. His fourth part of the fishing of the River Bann, which he regarded as 'the best stay of his living,' involved him in a long and profitless controversy with James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye. In 1607, probably on account of his old connection with O'Neill, and because he had about 1604 married O'Neill's daughter Elice, he was charged by Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth with being concerned in the events which culminated in the flight of the two northern earls. He appeared voluntarily before the Lord Deputy of Ireland , Sir Arthur Chichester, denied the truth of the charge, and experienced no further trouble.
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