Death for The Little Band of Irish Exiles

Above : Picture Of Hugh O’Neill

In Rome death was soon busy amongst the little band of Irish exiles. In 1608, Rory and Caffir O’Donnell died within three months of each other, and in 1609 Hugh O’Neill’s eldest son followed them. The old chief himself lingered on till 1616, buoyed up almost to the last with the hope that mercifully seems to accompany an exile such as his, that some favourable combination of events might enable him to return to his native land and lay his bones amongst those of his ancestors For some time previous to his death he was blind. On July 20th, 1616 he died, and with pomp and ceremony his body was laid to rest, beside those of Hugh his son, and of the two O’Donnells, in the Church of St. Peter in Montorio, on the Janiculum Hill in Rome.

Hugh O’Neill was, whether we consider him as a soldier, a statesman or a patriot, undoubtedly a great man, and of Irishmen one of the greatest. Cautious and reserved, he seems to have taken few even partially, and perhaps no one completely into his confidence, but to have calculated and planned alone. Self-controlled and far-seeing, he appears to have weighed the probable consequences of his every action beforehand, and scarcely ever to have been swayed, even in the slightest degree, by anger or envy, personal vanity or private hate.

Though, when he deemed it advantageous for the furthering of his cause, he never hesitated to resort to double-dealing and deceit, yet no darker stain, as of cruelty to the weak and helpless in war time, of assassination or of violation of a word pledged to friend or foe, tarnishes his memory.