Domhnall Spáinneach mac Murchadha Caomhánach

Domhnall Spáinneach Mac Murrough Caomhánach (died 1632) was the last King of Leinster.

A descendant of Diarmait Mac Murchada (died 1171), Domhnall was the eldest of the two sons of Donnchadh Caomhánach, lord of the Art Buihde Caomhánach sept, who were reckoned the least powerful of the dynasty. Their lands lay north of Enniscorthy in the Blackstairs Mountains. It appears that at Donnchadh's death, Domhnall was taken into the care of the seneschal of Wexford, Thomas Stukeley. When Stukeley left for Spain in 1568 Domhnall went with him, which explains the origin of his nickname, Spáinneach (Irish for Spaniard).

He returned to Ireland in the mid-1570s and became a leading member of his sept. He became a firm ally of Fiach McHugh O'Byrne with whom he intrigued until the latter's death in 1597. After O'Byrne's death, he intrigued with Hugh O'Neill. When the Nine Years' War ended in 1603, Domhnall submitted and was awarded a pension, as well as recognition of title to his lands.

Domhnall was married to Elizabeth O'Byrne (died in or after 1608), and Eleanor Kavanagh (died in, or after, 1633), and had a total of six children. He successfully conveyed his property to his son, Sir Morgan Kavanagh (d. 1643). His only known brother was Cathaoir.

References

• "MacMurrough Kavanagh, Domhnall", Emmett O'Byrne, pp. 131–133, Dictionary of Irish Biography, 2010.