House of O'Neill

THE KING OR CHIEF OF THE O'NEILLS OF TYRONE, CONN BACACH O'NEILL, WENT TO GREENWICH AND SUBMITTED TO HENRY VIII IN 1542. HIS MAJESTY CREATED O'NEILL EARL OF TYRONE FOR LIFE. 

O'NEILL RENOUNCED HIS CHIEFTAINSHIP, THE STYLE OF "THE O'NEILL" AND HIS INDEPENDENCE.

The house of O'Neill boasts of royal descent, and deduces its pedigree from CONN BACACH O'NEILL, Prince of Tyrone, who, upon relinquishing his royalty, was created Earl of Tyrone in 1542.

From this personage we pass to,

BRIAN MacPHELIM O'NEILL ESQ, of Edenduffcarrick, who married, firstly, a daughter of Sir Arthur Magennis, Viscount Iveagh; and, secondly, Anne O'Neill. His eldest son,

SIR HENRY O'NEILL, knight, of Edenduffcarrick, Lord of Clanaboy, and chief of his name; who died in 1637 and was succeeded by his brother,

ARTHUR O'NEILL ESQ, of Edenduffcarrick, or Shane's Castle, who was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES O'NEILL ESQ, at whose decease without issue in 1736, the estates passed to his brother,

JOHN O'NEILL ESQ, of Shane's Castle, who dying in 1739, left a numerous family; of which the eldest daughter Catharine married Richard, 7th Viscount Mountgarret.

The eldest son, CHARLES O'NEILL ESQ, having married and left issue,

JOHN O'NEILL ESQ, of Shane's Castle, who was MP for County Antrim for some years; and was elevated to the peerage in 1793, as Baron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle; and advanced to the dignity of Viscount O'Neill, in 1795. His Lordship had issue,

CHARLES HENRY ST JOHN O'NEILL, of Shane's Castle, born 1779, 2nd Viscount. This nobleman was further advanced to the dignities of Viscount Raymond and EARL O'NEILL, in 1800.

His lordship was a Knight of St Patrick, Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, and Colonel of the Antrim Militia.

When the 1st Earl died, the Earldom of O'Neill became extinct and the viscountcy passed to his brother, 

JOHN BRUCE RICHARD, 3rd Viscount.

On the death of the 3rd Viscount, the Viscountcy of O'Neill became extinct. The O'Neill estates passed to his second cousin twice removed, the Rev William Chichester, later O'Neill, who, in 1868, was created Baron O'Neill.

Arms of 1st Earl O'Neill courtesy of European Heraldry.