{"id":64,"date":"2021-11-29T19:39:36","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/?p=64"},"modified":"2021-11-29T20:37:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T20:37:11","slug":"kavanagh-clan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kavanagh Clan &#8211; A History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Kavanagh or Cavanaugh is one of the great names in Irish history. The clan strongholds were in Leinster. Several generations took the title of King of Leinster through the centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the family names of Kavanagh ancestry. Are you amongst them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Kavanagh, Cavanaugh<\/li><li>Cavan, Caven, Keevan<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This article will tell you about the exploits of Kavanagh warriors including the king of Leinster\u2019s son who gave the clan its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But before we get to Domhnall Caomh\u00e1nach, let\u2019s start at the beginning of this story. That goes back a few generations to a clan known as U\u00ed Cheinnsealaigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One branch would adopt the name of Kavanagh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Diarmaid_Mac_Mael_na_mBo_d_1072\" title=\"Diarmaid Mac M\u00e1el na mB\u00f3 (d. 1072)\">Diarmaid Mac M\u00e1el na mB\u00f3 (d. 1072)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Diarmaid_Mac_Murrough_King_Of_Leinster\" title=\"Diarmaid Mac Murrough, King Of Leinster\">Diarmaid Mac Murrough, King Of Leinster<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Diarmaid_Loses_His_Kingship\" title=\"Diarmaid Loses His Kingship\">Diarmaid Loses His Kingship<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Diarmaid_Brings_The_First_Norman_Invasion_Of_Ireland\" title=\"Diarmaid Brings The First Norman Invasion Of Ireland\">Diarmaid Brings The First Norman Invasion Of Ireland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Diarmaid_Regains_His_Kingship\" title=\"Diarmaid Regains His Kingship\">Diarmaid Regains His Kingship<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Death_of_Diarmaid_Mac_Murrough\" title=\"Death of Diarmaid Mac Murrough\">Death of Diarmaid Mac Murrough<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#The_second_Anglo-Norman_invasion_of_Ireland\" title=\"The second Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland\">The second Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Domhnall_Caomhanach_The_First_Kavanagh\" title=\"Domhnall Caomh\u00e1nach, The First Kavanagh\">Domhnall Caomh\u00e1nach, The First Kavanagh<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Art_Mac_Murragh_Kavanagh_Art_Og_Caomhanach\" title=\"Art Mac Murragh Kavanagh (Art \u00d3g Caomh\u00e1nach)\">Art Mac Murragh Kavanagh (Art \u00d3g Caomh\u00e1nach)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Battle_Of_Kellistown\" title=\"Battle Of Kellistown\">Battle Of Kellistown<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Demise_of_King_Richard_II\" title=\"Demise of King Richard II\">Demise of King Richard II<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Art_Mac_Murroughs_Triumph\" title=\"Art Mac Murrough\u2019s Triumph\">Art Mac Murrough\u2019s Triumph<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Domhnall_Reagh_And_His_Descendents\" title=\"Domhnall Reagh And His Descendents\">Domhnall Reagh And His Descendents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Domhnall_Spainneach\" title=\"Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach\">Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/#Sir_Morgan_And_Sons\" title=\"Sir Morgan And Sons\">Sir Morgan And Sons<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diarmaid_Mac_Mael_na_mBo_d_1072\"><\/span>Diarmaid Mac M\u00e1el na mB\u00f3 (d. 1072)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The U\u00ed Cheinnsealaigh had their strongholds in southeast Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The lands were in what are now the counties of Wexford and Carlow. The territory spilled into parts of&nbsp; Kilkenny, Laois, and Wicklow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This clan had been dominant in previous centuries. But their powers had waned with the ascent of other Leinster clans. The Battle Of Clontarf changed the balance of power back in their favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of their chieftains was known as M\u00e1el na mB\u00f3. \u201cMael\u201d means bald and \u201cb\u00f3\u201d means cows. So, this moniker is \u201cBaldy of the Cattle\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His son was therefore Mac (son of) M\u00e1el na mB\u00f3. It was Diarmaid Mac Maol na mB\u00f3 who expanded the clan\u2019s power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This Diarmaid became king of Leinster in 1032.&nbsp; He also took the kingship of Viking Dublin. His territories expanded to the Isle of Man, with influence in Wales and West Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When King Harold of England was defeated by William the Conqueror, his sons fled for help to Diarmaid Mac Mael na mBo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was the most powerful King in Ireland of his time up until his death in battle in 1072.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diarmaid_Mac_Murrough_King_Of_Leinster\"><\/span>Diarmaid Mac Murrough, King Of Leinster<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some consider Diarmad Mac Murrough (Mac Muchadha) was one of the great kings of Leinster. Some believe that he brought ruination to the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both positions could be true. Read on, and make up your own mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diarmaid Mac Murrough was a great-grandson of Mac Maol na mB\u00f3. It was his older brother who was King of Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this brother died and Diarmad was elected king by the Leinster clans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The High King of Ireland at the time was Turlough O\u2019Connor. Worried about Diarmaid\u2019s power, he sent his ally Tiernan O\u2019Rourke to conquer Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Rourke was King of Breffni, which is what we know now as County Cavan and some lands in neighboring counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His forces used some savage tactics. He didn\u2019t just raid the lands. His tactics included killing livestock to try to starve the local people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But other Leinster clans came to Diarmaid\u2019s aid. He drove O\u2019Rourke away in 1132.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That started a period of twenty years of truce between the King of Leinster and the High King of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diarmaid_Loses_His_Kingship\"><\/span>Diarmaid Loses His Kingship<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There were still many skirmishes and raids between kingships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diarmaid is said to have abducted the wife of his old foe, the King of Breffni. Some say she went willingly into refuge on Diarmaid\u2019s lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By then, Turlough O\u2019Connor\u2019s son Rory was High King of Ireland. In 1166, Rory O\u2019Connor used the abduction of Tiernan\u2019s wife as a reason to march into Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The High King deposed Diarmaid from his kingship of Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diarmaid_Brings_The_First_Norman_Invasion_Of_Ireland\"><\/span>Diarmaid Brings The First Norman Invasion Of Ireland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Diarmad fled to England and asked King Henry II for help. Henry permitted him to recruit Norman soldiers for his cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fitzgerald and Fitzstephen were the first Norman lords to land with mercenary soldiers. Diarmaid had promised them territories in Wexford belonging to rival clans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fitzstephen laid siege to Wexford town in 1169. Wexford surrendered to Norman control after two days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two Norman half-brothers were followed by the Earl of Pembroke with even stronger forces. The Earl was Richard de Clare, later known as Strongbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diarmaid gave his daughter Aoife in marriage to Strongbow. He also gave a promise that Strongbow was the heir to the kingship of Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diarmaid_Regains_His_Kingship\"><\/span>Diarmaid Regains His Kingship<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rory O\u2019Connor, the High King of Ireland,&nbsp; marched his forces once again down to Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Church mediated talks between Diarmaid and Rory. The outcome was that Diarmaid was restored as King of Leinster. In return, he agreed to recognize Rory as High King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there was another part of the agreement. Rory insisted that Diarmaid send the Norman barons away from Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main body of these mercenaries had arrived in 1169. It seems like Diarmad had no intention of halting Norman expansion into wider territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diarmad was on a path to seize the position of High King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Death_of_Diarmaid_Mac_Murrough\"><\/span>Death of Diarmaid Mac Murrough<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the mediation, Diarmaid\u2019s youngest son was killed by Rory\u2019s forces. He is said to have been heartbroken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Diarmaid had regained the kingship of Leinster, he wasn\u2019t to last long with the title, He died through illness in 1171.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strongbow insisted that he was heir to the title and was now King Of Leinster. The other Norman barons continued to seize territories from other clans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_second_Anglo-Norman_invasion_of_Ireland\"><\/span>The second Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>King Henry II, the Norman king of England, was worried about Strongbow\u2019s growing power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Henry II invaded Ireland with a large force in the year of Diarmad\u2019s death. Eventually, all the Irish kings gathered in Dublin to submit to his rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the start of the end of the clans of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domhnall_Caomhanach_The_First_Kavanagh\"><\/span>Domhnall Caomh\u00e1nach, The First Kavanagh<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second son of Domhnall was called \u00c9anna. He took his second name from the clan lands and was the original Kinsella. You can read more in our <a href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/the-kinsella-clan-a-history\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"66\">article about the Kinsella clan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another son took his second name from his foster family. The custom of the times was that children were fostered to other families within a clan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dohmnall, the eldest son of Diarmaid Mac Murrrough, was fostered at the monastery of St Caomh\u00e1n (<em>Kevan<\/em>) in Gorey, County Wexford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Caomh\u00e1n was a popular moniker for Irish saints, with one expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.libraryireland.com\/names\/men\/caomhan-kevan.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">counting fifteen saints with the name<\/a>. It means \u201chandsome\u201d or \u201cmild-mannered\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domhnall took the foster name as an adjective. Caomh\u00e1nach means to be \u201clike Caomh\u00e1n\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve seen that Strongbow had married Diarmad Mac Murrough\u2019s daughter Aoife. Strongbow made claims to be King of Leinster after the death of his father-in-law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the Leinster clans later elected Domhnall Caombh\u00e1nach as King of the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domnhnall Caomh\u00e1nach set out to organize support amongst the clans to go to war with the Normans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He died in 1175. It\u2019s assumed that this was an assassination arranged by his Norman enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The line of Domnhnall Caomh\u00e1nach line continued as the most powerful clan in Leinster for centuries. They claimed the kingship through to the end of the 16<sup>th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kavanagh clan went through centuries of conflict to hold onto their territories. The initial Norman threat was followed by English expansion through Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Art_Mac_Murragh_Kavanagh_Art_Og_Caomhanach\"><\/span>Art Mac Murragh Kavanagh (Art \u00d3g Caomh\u00e1nach)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Art M\u00f3r Caomh\u00e1nach (old Art) was a Kavanagh chief who was taken into English custody in 1377. He died there in mysterious circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His son Art \u00d3g (young Art) succeeded as chief of the clan. Art is also known as Art Mac Murrough Kavanagh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He set about recapturing Caomh\u00e1nach lands that had been taken by English settlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>King Richard II of England set out to put a stop to resistance and raids by Irish clans. The King of England sailed into Waterford City in 1394 at the head of a massive army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art attacked and burned the town of New Ross in Wexford. But then, in a political gambit, he publicly submitted to the Crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>King Richard went back to England, assuming that was the end of his Irish problems. But Art waged war once more in Leinster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battle_Of_Kellistown\"><\/span>Battle Of Kellistown<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Art Mac Murrough Kavanagh had the loyalty of the O\u2019Byrnes and the O\u2019Tooles. Their combined forces fought the Crown at the Battle of Kellistown in 1398.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(You can read more <a href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/o-byrne-clan\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50\">about the O&#8217;Byrne clan here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They killed the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Roger Mortimer. As Richard II was childless, Mortimer was also heir to the throne of England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an extra twist, Mortimer was descended from a daughter of Diarmaid Mac Murrough. In other words, he was Art\u2019s distant cousin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Demise_of_King_Richard_II\"><\/span>Demise of King Richard II<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard was incensed by these events. He sailed once more to Ireland in 1399 at the head of a massive army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the wily Art saw the size of Richard\u2019s army, he switched to guerilla tactics. His forces used the mountains and the bogs to run raids and ambushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supplies were slow to arrive for the English army. They eventually were facing starvation as well as guerrilla war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard was forced to march them back to Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Richard\u2019s enemies in England seized advantage of his absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Henry Bolingbroke sailed his forces from France to England. The pretender to the throne found that much of the King\u2019s armies were elsewhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Bolingbroke overthrew Richard, he became King Henry IV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Art_Mac_Murroughs_Triumph\"><\/span>Art Mac Murrough\u2019s Triumph<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard\u2019s army in Ireland was a powerful force that included three Dukes and three Earls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When they retreated back to Dublin, Art and his loyal clans harried and pursued them all the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a humiliation for a young English king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it was a triumph for Art Mac Murrough. He goes down in Irish history as defeating a King of England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art was the undisputed leader in the traditional U\u00ed Cheinnsealaigh lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He continued to expand his territory until his death in 1417. It\u2019s said that his death was by a poisoned chalice i.e. a poisoned cup of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domhnall_Reagh_And_His_Descendents\"><\/span>Domhnall Reagh And His Descendents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When Art died, the territories were split between two sons. Gerald took the lands in Wexford, while Domhnall took the lands in Carlow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gerald had a son named Domhnall Reagh who later became the chieftain of the Caomh\u00e1nach Clan. The chieftainship remained in the line of Domhnall Reagh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His son Art Bui became chief, as did his grandson Murtagh. However, they had to hold their lands through continuing resistance and war against English settlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These wars led to the deaths of Kavanagh chiefs. Cahir Carach Caomh\u00e1nach was killed in 1538. &nbsp;His son Donnchadh Caomh\u00e1nach was killed in 1583.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Domhnall_Spainneach\"><\/span>Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of Donnchadh\u2019s sons traveled as a boy to Spain. This is how Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach (Donal of Spain) got his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When he returned to Ireland, he became an ally of Fiach McHugh O&#8217;Byrne a famous warring Leinster chieftain. (We cover Fiach in our <a href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/o-byrne-clan\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50\">article on the O&#8217;Byrne clan<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Fiach McHugh died, Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach allied with Hugh O\u2019Neill during the Nine Years War (1594 -1603).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the loss at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 was a disaster for Irish rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domhnall yielded to the Crown after the Battle of Kinsale. In return, he kept his lands and died of old age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sir_Morgan_And_Sons\"><\/span>Sir Morgan And Sons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kavanagh rebellion didn\u2019t stop with Domhnall Sp\u00e1inneach. His son, Sir Morgan, continued to protect his territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sir Morgan was a leader in the 1641 Rebellion. He was killed in battle during this rising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His sons, Charles and Domhnall \u00d3g (young Domhnall), continued the fight with their father&#8217;s armies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oliver Cromwell eventually quashed the rebellion in the 1650s. The brothers were imprisoned for a period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domhnall \u00d3g followed his grandfather\u2019s example and sailed for Spain. He joined the Spanish army to fight for a Catholic monarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Charles stayed in Ireland and took up arms again for the Jacobite cause in 1689. He died in an explosion on a prison ship in 1691.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sir Morgan and his sons were the last of the Caomh\u00e1nach chieftains in Leinster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kavanagh or Cavanaugh is one of the great names in Irish history. The clan strongholds were in Leinster. Several generations took the title of King of Leinster through the centuries. Here are some of the family names of Kavanagh ancestry. Are you amongst them? Kavanagh, Cavanaugh Cavan, Caven, Keevan This article will tell you about &#8230; <a title=\"The Kavanagh Clan &#8211; A History\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/kavanagh-clan\/\" aria-label=\"More on The Kavanagh Clan &#8211; A History\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreirishancestry.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}