Capt. Marcus MacDonald

The true position of Marcus as the son of Somerled is confirmed by, an entry in tile Books of Ballymote and Lecan which is couched in the following terms, "Marcus MacSomerly Mic Alexander Mic Angus Mor MacDonnell

Marcus assumed tile role of commander of O'Connor's Galloglachs when his brother, Donald Og MacDonnell was slain in 1388. He held this command for nine years. In 1397, hostilities broke out in the province of Connaught between O'Connor Roe and O'Connor Don, both of whose territories were in Rosscommon. Marcus MacDonnell was the Commander of the Galloglachs under O'Connor Roe while MacDonouqh from Sligo went to the assistance of O'Connor Don. The forces of O'Connor Don were defeated with great slaughter. Thereupon O'Connor Don and MacDonough raised another army. Dougal, a son of Marcus, along with Felim O'Connor, son of Cathal Og O'Connor, vlsited Doneqal to solicit the aid of O'Donnell in the fiqht. The O'Donnell and other chiefs of Tiroconnell came to the assistance of O'Connor and MacDonnell helping them to vanquish their foes and waste their country with fire and sword, and compelling them to give hostages in security for their behavior in the future.

The sons of Cathal Og, the people of Durnin and Marcus MacDonnell, Captain of Galloglachs marched to Carberry, and halted at Lissadill in the country of the MacDonough. While engaged in the task of spoliation and division, quarrels over the spoils of victory proved their ruin. O'Donnell the Chief of Donegal, came with a small force of cavalry to settle the dispute, to be followed by a number of Irish clans, who assembled in the interests of the defeated O'Connor Don and MacDonough. The cavalry of the sons of Cathal Og O'Connor advanced toward them on the way to Sliqo. An arm of the sea was on their left hand, the stream of Bun Brenoige was on the riqht. A fierce and bloody battle ensued which resulted in disaster to the sons of Cathal Og O'Connor, in which Marcus MacDonnell, Captain of O'Connor's Galloqlach, and his son Dougall MacDonnell were left dead upon the field with a large number of Galloglach, See "The Four Masters,vol. IV., p.753 for this account.

After the death of Marcus MacDonnell, the last surviving son of Somerled, son of Alisdair Og, his position as head of O'Connor's warriors appears to have been taken by Somhairle Buidhe, son of Marcus. This Somerled accompanied Brian O'Connor on a raid into Tlr Oilella in 1398. Having heen left by their own people with only a few companions, they, were unexpectedly attacked by a superior force, and Somerly was slain at Cnoc-in-Crona. See The Clan Donald of Connaught and Leinster, p. 114.

"We, are not aware that Dougall, son of Marcus, who was slain when his father fell in 1397, or Somhairle Buidhe, another son, who was killed in battle the following year, left any progeny. It is pretty well authenticated, however that the representation of the family was continued by Charles, another son of Marcus, whose name is on record in some Irish Annals. See the Annals of the Four Masters, vol V, p. 1641.