Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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and Neal McArt O’Nial rising in arms to avenge his
death, the Earl of Kildare marched into Ulster to
oppose him, took the fortress of Dungannon by storm,
and soon reduced O’Nial to obedience. In 1501, the
Albanian Scots attacked the fortress on St. Patrick’s
day, but were driven back with great slaughter by
O’Nial, who then held it for the English government.
In 1517, O’Nial was found again in rebellion against the
English, but the Earl of Kildare having reduced Dun-
drum and taken Maginnis prisoner, marched against
Dungannon, stormed the fort and burnt the town, both
of which were restored by O’Nial after his submission.
Con O’Nial, in 1538, took up arms against Henry VIII.,
in favour of the see of Rome, marched from this place
with a powerful army into the English pale, and laid
waste the country as far as Meath, where he was met by
the Lord-Deputy Grey, who defeated him at Bellahoe,
and compelled him again to retreat to his strong hold of
Dungannon; he soon after submitted to the English
authority, and in 1542 took the oaths of allegiance.
After this battle Henry assumed the title of King, in-
stead of Lord of Ireland; and O’Nial covenanted to re-
nounce the name of O’Nial, to adopt the English habit
and language, and to build houses and farm the lands
after the English mode. For this submission he was
created Earl of Tyrone, and his illegitimate son Matthew
was made Baron of Dungannon, and received the estate
of the O’Nials by patent. In 1552, Shane O’Nial, son of
the Earl of Tyrone, appeared in arms against his father,
and destroyed the fortress of Dungannon, and com-
mitted other depredations; but in 1556, Fitzwalter,
then lord-deputy, inarched against him, expelled him
from the territory, and replaced the Earl in his posses-
sions. Shane again revolted in 1559, and in the fol-
lowing year burst into the English pale, but was reduced
to submission by the Lord-Deputy Sussex. From Dun-
gannon he proceeded to England, accompanied by his
body-guard, consisting of 600 soldiers, who marched
through the streets of London, armed with their
battle-axes, and dressed in the costume of their country.
He was graciously received by Elizabeth, pardoned,
and loaded with favours; but shortly after his re-
turn to Dungannon, he again appeared in arms, de-
stroyed the city of Armagh with its venerable cathedral
and monasteries, and left only a few mud cabins re-
maining: he also destroyed the city of Derry and laid
waste the whole county; but in 1567 he was treacherously
murdered in the Scottish camp. Hugh O’Nial, who by
the favour of Elizabeth had been raised to the earldom
of Tyrone, commenced building a magnificent castle at
Dungannon, and imported large quantities of lead for its
roof; in 1587 he obtained from Elizabeth the grant of
a weekly market and fairs, and in 1591 the lordship of
Tyrone was formed into a county, subdivided into eight
baronies, and this place made the county town and a
gaol built in it accordingly. In 1595, the Earl of Ty-
rone rebelled against the English government, and,
placing himself at the head of 14,000 men, took and
destroyed several forts, burnt Portmore bridge, laid
siege to Monaghan, and having melted into bullets the
lead which he had imported under pretence of roofing
his castle, ultimately made himself master of the whole
of that county. Having defeated the English in many
engagements, particularly at Benburb, he was univer-
sally hailed as the champion of Ireland, and received in
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his fortress here the envoy of the Pope, who brought him
valuable presents. The Lord-Deputy Mountjoy marched
against this powerful chieftain and defeated him in se-
veral battles; and in June 1602, having secured Armagh
and Charlemont, advanced towards Dungannon. Ty-
rone, aware of his approach, set fire to the place and
retreated northward; but being thus driven from the
venerable seat of his ancestors, he never regained his
lost power. In the following year he made his submis-
sion at Mellifont and was pardoned; he was restored
to his earldom, and obtained a grant of his lands by
letters patent; but meditating new designs against the
state, he was discovered, and dreading the power of
Jas. I., fled to the Continent in 1607, leaving the whole
of his extensive possessions to the king, who, in 1610,
granted the castle and manor of Dungannon, with all
their dependencies, to Sir Arthur Chi Chester. In 1612,
Sir Arthur obtained from the king a charter of incorpo-
ration for the town which he was about to build, a grant
of 1140 acres of land, and of 500 acres more for the site
of the intended town; upon the former he built a bawn
of limestone, 120 feet square, with bulwarks and a deep
fosse; and upon the latter, previously to 1619, six large
stone houses, six strong houses of frame-work timber,
and a spacious church, which, with the exception of the
roof, was completed at that time, whence may be dated
the origin of the present town. On the breaking out of
the war in 1641, Sir Phelim O’Nial, having taken the
fort of Charlemont by stratagem, and made the governor
prisoner, seized the castle, town, and fort of Dungannon
on the same night; and having put many of the inha-
bitants to death, kept possession of it till after the battle
of Benburb, in 1646, after which the town and church
were burnt, and soon after the castle was dismantled by
order of the parliament. The castle was rebuilt soon
after the Restoration, and in 1688 the Rev. George
Walker, rector of Donaghmore, raised a regiment in
his parish and marched with it to Dungannon, to secure
that garrison for the Protestants; it was entrusted to
the care of Col. Lundy, who deserted his post on the
13th of March, and the inhabitants fled to Strabane.
It was garrisoned in 1689 by the troops of Jas. II., who,
on the 13th of April, in that year, visited this town and
inspected the garrison, whence he marched to Omagh
and Strabane; but his forces occupied the town and
neighbourhood during the whole of that important
struggle. From this period the only event of historical
importance connected with the place is the meeting of
delegates from 269 corps of Ulster volunteers, who, in
1782, assembled at Dungannon, and passed 20 resolu-
tions, declaratory of the independence of the parliament
of Ireland.
The town, situated about three miles from the
south shore of Lough Neagh, is spacious, handsome, and
well built; and consists of a square, and four principal
and several smaller streets. Improvements upon a very
extensive scale have been recently made, and are still in
progress; handsome houses have been built within and
around the town, several lines of road have been con-
structed, and gas-works are now being erected for light-
ing it. The surrounding country is richly diversified,
and the situation of the town on a lofty hill of limestone,
commanding interesting and extensive prospects on.
every side, renders it both a healthy and a pleasant
place of residence. It is second only to Omagh in extent,