Hunt for Red O'Donnell: does Spain chapel house Irish rebel remains?
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Saturday, November 2, 2024


Hunt for Red O'Donnell: does Spain chapel house Irish rebel remains?
An archaeologist works in an excavation carried out by the Hispano-Irish Association in a ruined chapel in Valladolid, that expects to identify the remains of the Irish lord rebel "Red" Hugh O'Donnell, on May 28, 2020. Forensic experts will begin testing 15 skeletons uncovered at an ancient Spanish chapel this week to see if any belong to 16th-century Irish rebel chief Red Hugh O'Donnell. Known as Red Hugh, the young Irishman led a rebellion that nearly ousted Elizabeth I's English troops from Ireland, sparking a nine-year war which the rebels ultimately lost, despite help from the Spanish crown. CESAR MANSO / AFP.

by Hazel Ward



MADRID (AFP).- Forensic experts will begin testing 15 skeletons uncovered at an ancient Spanish chapel this week to see if any belong to 16th-century Irish rebel chief Red Hugh O'Donnell.

The discovery of the chapel in the northwestern town of Valladolid where O'Donnell was buried with full honours in 1602 has sparked a wave of interest among historians in Spain, Ireland and beyond.

Known as Red Hugh, the young Irishman led a rebellion that nearly ousted Elizabeth I's English troops from Ireland, sparking a nine-year war which the rebels ultimately lost, despite help from the Spanish crown.

Just 29 at the time, O'Donnell quickly sailed to Spain to seek further support for their cause but died en route to Valladolid, the capital at the time.

He was buried in St Francis' monastery in the prestigious Chapel of Wonders.

But for centuries, the location of the chapel -- where Christopher Columbus was initially buried 100 years earlier before being moved to Seville -- has remained a mystery, until archaeologists began excavating a site in the town centre in mid-May.

"It's been confirmed that this is the chapel where Christopher Columbus and Red Hugh were buried," said Carlos Burgos, head of the Hispano-Irish association and spokesman for the dig.

"What hasn't been confirmed is whether any of the 15 bodies that have been found are Red Hugh O'Donnell," he told AFP.

"There is one body which is bigger and stronger than the rest and seems to be a foreigner because it's taller than normal and may have been a fighter."

Although O'Donnell's remains might have quickly been identified by the fact he lost both big toes to frostbite during a winter escape from prison in Dublin Castle, Burgos said most of the corpses did not have feet.

"There was only one with the feet intact, and that had its big toes," he told AFP, saying the experts would run DNA testing.

'Emblematic place'
To date, only around half of the chapel has been excavated -- around 50 square metres -- with another 40 square metres extending underneath the nearby Santander bank.

Burgos said talks were under way with the bank to secure access to the rest of the site. Ana Redondo, who is responsible for culture and tourism in Valladolid, described the chapel as "an emblematic place", writing on Twitter at the weekend that it would become "a place of pilgrimage and an important place for the history of Ireland".

If the chapel was confirmed as O'Donnell's last resting place, it would be "very important" for both Spain and Ireland, Burgos said.

For Ireland, he was "a very important leader" and for Spain it would reinforce its historic alliance with the Irish people.

"Many Irish come to Valladolid asking about Red Hugh and until now, there's been nothing except for a plaque that was put up a few years ago," he said.

"It's important that we try and create a respectful and visible memorial for those who want to know more about his history."


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

June 3, 2020

ARTBnk to Provide Free Fine Art Valuations to Support Nonprofits

Hitler's birthplace to be 'neutralised' with redesign

Holy smoke! Israelites used weed in ancient rituals

Hunt for Red O'Donnell: does Spain chapel house Irish rebel remains?

Christo's billowy visions, fleeting but unforgettable

Hauser & Wirth opens online exhibition 'Annie Leibovitz. Still Life'

Kiasma reopens exhibiting an excellent selection of Finnish paintings from the first decades of the 2000s

Stedelijk Museum store offers limited edition face masks by Carlos Amorales

The sacrosanct endowment? Not anymore for some arts groups

Elsa Dorfman, who made art with giant Polaroids, dies at 83

Tunisia seeks to block online auction of royal artefacts

Creative studio AllRightsReserved curates Sotheby's charity auction

Hindman Auctions announces inaugural Antiquities & Islamic Art auction

A London home goes from Georgian to Modern, with a detour

These times call for Stephen Petronio's coiled energy

How 'Phantom of the Opera' survived the pandemic

Nailya Alexander Gallery opens an online exhibition of works by Angel Albarrán and Anna Cabrera

Missoula Art Park exhibit showcases large sculptures from salvaged materials

Christie's announces online sale 'Face Time: People in Art Through the Ages'

Arc de Triomphe to get posthumous Christo wrap in 2021

Turner Auctions + Appraisals announces a sale of maps, books & illustrations

Summer exhibition 'Textiles from Egypt' opens at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden

Federico Acerri, who answered students' questions, dies at 81

Robb Forman Dew, novelist who wrote of families, dies at 73

Buy Facebook Likes Your Profile Reputation

Custom Canvas Paintings: A Gift Any Architect Will Love!

Why Artists & Graphic Designers are Shifting to Digital

Best place to store garbage cans

Tips for Cleaning Museums

How do I manage my medical bills after a car accident in California?




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful