Ó Domhnaill, Maghnus

Concise Oxford Companion to Irish Literature, The, January, 2000 by ROBERT WELCH

Ó Domhnaill, Maghnus (?–1563), poet and hagiographer. Inaugurated as lord of Donegal in 1537 at Kilmacrenan, he was married to Eleanor Fitzgerald. In 1555 he was deposed by his son Calbhach, who held him prisoner. Though not a professional scholar, Maghnus was deeply interested in literary affairs and composed a life of Colum Cille , Betha Colaim Chille , which was written under his direction at his castle in Lifford in 1532.

Maghnus composed a number of poems of the dánta grádha type, including a lament for his wife (‘Cridhe lán do smuaintighthibh’). Betha Cholaim Cille was translated into Latin by John Colgan (in Acta Sanctorum , 1645) and translated into English by Brian Lacey (1998). Seán Ó...

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