Page 186 - Demo

186 Stephen Dunford: The Journey of The IrIsh
To cut a long story short, Shane acknowledged the queen’s supremacy, and was in turn recognised as chief of Tyrone. He further agreed to reduce the Scots of Antrim, to assist the Earl of Sussex, the Viceroy, in his wars, and to allow a queen’s garrison to occupy Armagh.
On his return to Ireland, Shane declined to admit the validity of this treaty, alleging that he accepted some of its terms under compulsion. It is told that when confronted by Elizabeth’s Commissioners Shane informed them: ‘The peace I made with her was of her seeking, not mine. My ancestors were Kings of Ulster, and Ulster is mine, and shall be mine. By this sword I won it back, and by this sword I shall maintain it.’
Accordingly, further negotiations were entered into, and in 1563, Shane was “officially”confirmed in the title of “The O’Neill.” He had, however, no compunction about attacking the Scots, and in 1565, at Glenshesk, County Antrim, he defeated them with great slaughter. Yet, in spite of what had been treatised, the English still regarded the defi- ant Shane, who was more than likely plotting against them with both Spain and France, as the greatest threat to their authority in Ireland and did all in their power to bring about his demise.
Referred to on one occasion by the Viceroy as ‘being more puffed up with pride and ambition than Lucifer,’ it is told that the authorities twice tried to capture him by treachery, but failed on both occasions; they also tried and failed with ‘the poisoner’s cup.’ But Shane’s success and haughtiness also made enemies for him amongst his neighbouring chiefs in Ulster, and when Sussex was replaced in 1565 by an abler Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, it was evident that the beginning of the end had come. Sidney shrewdly lost no opportunity of fan- ning the flames of jealousy and hatred throughout Ulster, but most especially with Shane’s principal opponents, the O’Donnells of Donegal.
In 1567, Shane, at the head of a large army crossed into O’Donnell’s territory by way of Lough Swilly. The O’Donnells, commanded by their leader Aodh Dubh O Domhnaill– ‘Black Hugh O’ Donnell,’ met Shane’s forces near present-day Lifford and utterly routed them- those who escaped the sword being drowned by the rising tide. The mighty castle and stronghold which he had built upon Lough Neagh and which he named Fuaith na Gall- ‘Hatred of the Stranger’ meaning the English, was then taken. Shane was now a ruined man. Curiously enough, in this the hour of his greatest humiliation he sought and obtained refuge with the Scots of Antrim, whom he had so recently defeated, and among whom he was received with apparent courtesy and goodwill. During the banquet which followed his reception, the victor of Glenhesk was hacked to pieces and beheaded, some say at the bid-
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