Red Hugh O´Donnell 420th Commemoration

“ O'Donnell Abú “

A war cry which we, the diaspora and ‘all and sundry’ identify with, with a passion for old Ireland, linking us to Red Hugh O'Donnell (Aodh Ruadh Ò Domhnaill), King of Tyrconnell (Fighting Prince of Donegal). A timeless Irish national hero whose battle cry echoes across the centuries since his passing, 420 years ago. His dream of freedom for his homeland unfulfilled but bequeathed to the Irish people in his Last Will and Testament, while still railing against English Protestant rule over Gaelic Catholic Ireland.

Who we are

We are The Red Hugh O’Donnell 420 Group (RHO 420), an international collective of Irish, Spanish, UK, and Portuguese-based volunteers (operating under the auspices of the Hispano-Irish Association) who aspire to reawaken interest in Red Hugh’s legacy and restore him to his proper place in History, on the 420th anniversary of his death in Simancas Castle and funeral in Valladolid, Spain.

In the summer of 2019, a retired Irish army Commandant, Brendan Rohan, Chairman of this new collective, visited Valladolid searching for the tomb of Red Hugh. He engaged and inspired a Valladolid City Hall official to assist him in locating the burial site, believed to have been located at the site of the former San Francisco Monastery. Subsequent research and the archeological excavation that followed, garnered widespread international TV news and media publicity.

Proposal

Our festival will comprise Irish and Spanish music, dance, historical presentations, and a colorful re-enactment of the iconic funeral procession on the evening of 12th September 2022, which will coincide with the Mayoral unveiling of a special plaque at the site of the interment of Red Hugh O’Donnell and Christopher Columbus, in Valladolid.

It begins in Simancas, where he died in the King’s Chapel on 10 th Sptember 1602 and ends in Valladolid, the 16th century capital of Spain, where he was buried with great dignity at the insistence of King Felipe III, in recognition of his loyalty and that of his Gaelic allies. This State Funeral followed his untimely demise when he was in the process of seeking further military aid to continue the fight against the English Crown and Protestant domination of Ireland.

Challenge and Opportunity

Our personal commitment, expenses and participation are voluntary and free of charge but, we have identified a requirement for approx. € 25,000 to cover the cost of publicity, insurance, hire of professional re-enactors, and other logistical expenses.

We invite you to participate and help make this a meaningful, memorable, dignified, and enjoyable commemorative event in Spain, which will be followed by a 450th celebration of his birth, planned for Lifford, Donegal on the 30th of October next.

You can share in our dream by joining us or, by helping with your contribution in our fundraising campaign via the not-for-profit Hispano-Irish Association.

Please feel free to contact us at the Hispano-Irish Association Website and check out the Red Hugh O’Donnell Facebook group postings on Red Hugh O Donnell The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Thank you!

The RHO420 Group