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 The ÓGallagher's are consistently
mentioned as one of the leading septs of the Tír Chonaill, along with
the Ó Baoighill (Boyle), the ÓDochartaigh (Doherty) and Mac Suibhne (MacSweeny)
families as being the pillars on which the lords of Tír Chonaill built
their military strength, in particular the ruling Ó Domhnaill (Donnell)
dynasty. The clan's territory extended over a wide area in the
northern baronies of Raphoe and Tirhugh, Co. Donegal. The
principle branch of the sept were seated at Ballyneit and Ballynaglack.
Their chiefs were notable as marshals of O'Donnell's military
forces in the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, and took a
prominent part in all the military movements of Cenél Conaill, though
some "renegade" O'Gallaghers are known to have helped Seán
O'Neill escape after the battle of Fearsaid Suili in 1567. Hart
lists them as the O'Donnell's cavalry. True to the often
contradictory nature of Irish history, ÓGallagher's were often
mentioned as confidants to kings of the Ó Domhnaill and other leading
clans such as the ÓDesmond, but almost as often became bitter enemies
of the same (The O'Donnells were one of the two major clans of
northern Ireland, the other being the O'Neils).
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