SHANE O'NEILL (c. 1530-1567), rejected overtures from the earl of Sussex, the lord deputy, and refused to help the English against the Scottish settlers on the coast of Antrim, allying himself instead with the MacDonnells, the most powerful of these grants. Nevertheless Queen Elizabeth was disposed to come to terms with Shane, who after his father's death was de facto chief of the O'Neill clan. She recognized his claims to the chieftainship, thus throwing over Brian O'Neill, son of the murdered Matthew, baron of Dungannon, on terms. O'Neill, however, refused to put himself in the power of Sussex without a guarantee for his safety; and his claims were so exacting that Elizabeth determined to restore Brian. An attempt to incite the O'Donnells against him was frustrated by Shane's capture of Calvagh O'Donnell, whom he kept a prisoner for nearly three years. Elizabeth, who was not pre pared to undertake the subjugation of the Irish chieftain, urgently desired peace with him, especially when the devastation of his territory by Sussex brought him no nearer to submission. Sussex was not supported by the queen, who sent the earl of Kildare to arrange terms with O'Neill. The latter agreed to present himself before Elizabeth. Accompanied by Ormonde and Kildare he reached London on Jan. 4, 1562. Elizabeth temporized; but find ing that O'Neill was in danger of becoming a tool in the hands of Spanish intriguers, she permitted him to return to Ireland, recognizing him as "the O'Neil'," and chieftain of Tyrone; though a reservation was made of the rights of Hugh O'Neill, who had succeeded his brother Brian as baron of Dungannon, Brian having been murdered in April 1562 by his kinsman Turlough Luineach O'Neill.
There were at this time three powerful contemporary members of the O'Neill family in Ireland—Shane, Turlough and Hugh, and earl of Tyrone. Turlough had been elected tanist (see
TANISTRY) when his cousin Shane was inaugurated the O'Neill, and he schemed to supplant him during Shane's absence in London. The feud did not long survive Shane's return to Ireland, where he re-established his a uLhority, and renewed his turbulent tribal warfare. Elizabeth at last authorized Sussex to take the field against Shane, but two expeditions failed. Shane now laid the whole blame for his lawless conduct on the lord deputy's repeated alleged attempts on his life. Elizabeth consented to treat, and practically all O'Neill's demands were conceded. O'Neill now turned his hand against the MacDonnells, claiming that he was serving the queen of England in harrying the Scots. He fought an indecisive battle with Sorley Boy MacDonnell near Coleraine in 1564, and in 1565 routed the MacDonnells and took Sorley Boy prisoner near Ballycastle. This victory strengthened Shane O'Neill's position, and preparations were made for his subjugation. O'Neill ravaged the Pale, failed in an attempt on Dundalk, made a truce with the MacDonnells, and sought help from the earl of Desmond. The English, on the other hand, in vaded Donegal and restored O'Donnell. O'Neill was routed by the O'Donnells at Letterkenny; and seeking safety in flight, he threw himself on the mercy of his enemies, the MacDonnells. Attended by a small body of gallowglasses, and taking his prisoner Sorley Boy with him, he presented himself among the MacDon nells near Cushendun, on the Antrim coast. Here, on June 2, 1567, he was slain by the MacDonnells. In his private character Shane O'Neill was a brutal, uneducated savage.