Sir Donough O'Brien

He was the son of Conor O'Brien (died 1603) and his wife Slaney O'Brien. He entered Trinity College, Dublin as a ward on 1 December 1614. He was knighted by Charles I.

In 1603 when his father died he left him Dromoland. Donough, whose mother was Slany O'Brien, was then only about eight years old. A legal battle ensued between the Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Slany O'Brien. The dispute was settled by arbitration in 1613. The Earl, by now Lord Thomond, became owner of Dromoland on payment of 132.13.4 pounds in compensation to Slany O'Brien. When Donough was older, he refused to abide by the settlement. By 1614 a William Starkey was leasing Dromoland from Lord Thomond. By 1628 Lord Thomond was dead and Donough continued the dispute through the Court of Wards and Liveries in Dublin. In 1629 Donough was granted entry "on all the manors, lands and tenements of his late father" on payment of a fine. Dromoland was however not listed among the many properties named, and it rested with the Earls of Thomond for another fifty years. The fifth Earl did transfer two other properties to Donough as compensation.

He married Honora (1607 [sic][note 1]-1637), daughter of Richard Wingfield of Robertstown, Limerick. The couple had five sons and one daughter:[1]

• Conor, eldest, married Máire Rua McMahon in 1639
• Donough, lived at Tobermaly
• Murrough, married Amy, the daughter of Turlogh O'Brien of Cluonnan
• Teige, married daughter of William Cuffe
• Margaret, living 1698, married Turlogh O'Brien Fitz Teige of Dromore