Sir Neil O'Neill
Irish Catholic nobleman and soldier
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Biography
Sir Neil O'Neill, 2nd Baronet of Killeleagh (Irish: Niall Ua Néill) of Shane's Castle, Killyleagh, County Antrim. (1658–1690) was an Irish army officer.
Life
An Irish Catholic noble (chieftain) and military leader, he was born January 1658, the son of Sir Henry O'Neill, 1st Baronet of Killeleagh and Eleanor, daughter of Sir William Talbot, 1st Baronet. His genealogy is Neil son of Henry son of Niall Oge son of Niall son of Hugh son of Felim Baccach son of Niall Mor son of Conn son of Aodh Buidhe son of Brian Ballach son of Muircheartach Cennfhada, Chief of Clandeboy son of Henry, King of Tír Eóghain County Tyrone.
O'Neill was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Armagh by King James II of England in 1689. He led 800 Jacobite dragoons at the Battle of the Boyne against English troops under Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg and fell in this attack. He was wounded in the battle, near Slane. He was carried first to Dublin and thence to Waterford where he died of his wounds due to the negligence of his surgeons. His grave is in the cemetery of the French Church in Waterford; the grave stone reads- "Here lyes the body of S. Neal O'Neill, Baronet of Killelag in the County of Antrim, who dyed ye 8th of July, in the year 1690, at the age of 32 years and six months. He married the second daughter of Lord Viscount Molyneux, of Sefton, in Lancashire, in England. Reguiescant in Pace." &
Portrait
O'Neill's portrait from 1680 by John Michael Wright is historically significant because it is the only surviving contemporary presentation of the traditional costume of an Irish chieftain. At his feet is the armour of a Japanese samurai as a symbol of victory over oppression of Catholics; next to him is a wolfhound as a symbol of Ireland.
Family
O'Neill married in 1677 or 1683 Frances Molyneux, the daughter of Caryll Molyneux, 3rd Viscount Molyneux, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire.
With her he had daughters Rose, Mary, Elizabeth and Ann. His wife and daughters were painted by the Irish painter Garret Murphy c.1700. [1] [2] [3]