Agnes Campbell

Lady Agnes Campbell (1526 – ) was a Scottish noblewoman and queen consort of Tír Eoghain. She was the mother of Iníon Dubh and the maternal grandmother of Red Hugh O'Donnell.

Campbell was a skilled diplomat and political leader. Her influence over the reign of her second husband, Sir Turlough Luineach O'Neill, Lord of Tír Eoghain, is noted by both contemporary and modern sources. Many, including Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney, viewed her as Tír Eoghain's primary leader.

Family background Agnes Campbell was born in 1526, probably at Inveraray Castle. According to Connolly, she was a half-brother of the Earl of Argyll. She was raised at the Scottish royal court. forming an alliance with the MacDonalds. They had six sons and one daughter - Finola O'Donnell, more famously known as Iníon Dubh, who married Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell, a prominent Ulster chieftain, around 1569.

James MacDonald died on 5 July 1565 while being held prisoner by the Irish chieftain Shane O'Neill. At that time Shane had been supporting the English.

Now a widow, Campbell commanded the loyalty of a substantial number of Scots mercenaries, who were drawn to Ireland due to changes in Scotland. She wielded significant influence in Ulster, which she used to advance her children's interests. Turlough hoped to use his connections to the MacDonalds' to recruit Redshank mercenaries to his own armies. They married in July 1569 on Rathlin Island.

She took with her a dowry of 1,200 Highland troops, However, she did not always comply with Turlough's wishes. She came to Scotland in May 1580 with her son Angus O'Neill.

In 1583, Campbell was suspected of intriguing with the Scottish court. She claimed her sole reason for visiting Scotland was to securing land for her eldest son Angus. That November, on behalf of herself and Sir Turlough, she swore fealty to Elizabeth I on behalf of herself and Sir Turlough. though this is unlikely as Shane died in 1567. It is known that Turlough sought Mabel Bagenal's hand in marriage at some point before August 1591.

Character Campbell was fluent in English and Latin, which greatly impressed the English. She was praised by Sir Henry Sidney, as "a grave, wise, well-spoken lady in Scottish, English, and French". Sir Geoffrey Fenton described her as a skilled negotiator; "eager and sharp".

Children Her children with James MacDonald include:

Archibald MacDonald, 7th of Dunnyveg, died without issue in 1569. Angus MacDonald, 8th of Dunnyveg, died circa 1613. Ranald MacDonald of Smerby, married a daughter of Bannatyne of Kames, died 1616. Coll MacDonald, died at Eilean Mor Cormac. Donald Gorm MacDonald of Carey, killed during the Battle of Ardnaree, County Mayo, in 1586. Alexander Carragh MacDonald of Glenarm, also killed during the Battle of Ardnaree in 1586. Finola MacDonald (Iníon Dubh), married Sir Hugh McManus O'Donnell as his second wife Catherine MacDonald, married Shane O'Neill.

Her children with Sir Turlough Lynagh O'Neill include:

Art O'Neill, married a daughter of Cuconnacht Maguire