Spanish experts believe they may have found the remains of Red Hugh O’Donnell in Valladolid

Excavations are underway on the ruins of a Franciscan monastery where the O’Donnell chieftain was interred in Valladolid in September 1602.

A dig at Calle Constitución in the centre of the city in northwestern Spain has convinced the team that they could be on the verge of a monumental historic discovery.

The Mayor of Valladolid, Óscar Puente, posting an image of the dig this week, said: “In the Chapel of Marvels, in the exact place where Red Hugh O’Donnell is believed to have been buried, as well as Christopher Columbus, some remains and two coffins have appeared.”

Carlos Burgos, president of the Hispano-Irish Association, said: “Everybody is very excited about this. This is very important for the Irish in Ireland and the Irish in America. All this is related to Spanish history and the relationship between Ireland and Spain against the same enemy at the time.”

Red Hugh was born in Lifford in 1572 and, along with his father-in-law Hugh O’Neill, is most famous for waging the Nine Years’ War against English rule in Ireland from 1593 to 1602. After defeat at Kinsale in January 1602, O’Donnell went to Spain to ask Philip III for arms to continue the war. He died in Simancas castle on September 10, 1602.

Some believe he was poisoned by an English agent called James Blake. Others contend that he died of natural causes. He was afforded a state funeral and buried in the chapter of the monastery of St. Francis in Valladolid which was destroyed in the 1800s.

Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney to make contact with the Spanish Government and to offer assistance to Valladolid City Council and the team undertaking works to locate the resting place of Red Hugh O’ Donnell, who was buried there, having taken ill, after seeking further assistance from the Spanish King in the aftermath of the Battle of Kinsale in 1602.

He has also asked the Minister if he will pursue the objective of returning the remains of Red Hugh O’ Donnell back to his native Donegal.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “I heartily commend Vallodolid City Council and the archaeological team, currently searching for the resting place of the legendary Donegal Chieftain Red Hugh O’ Donnell.

“This is a tremendous initiative but the team involved have noted that their resources are limited. The Irish Government should offer financial and any other assistance to them.

“It is incumbent that no financial barrier is put in the way of DNA testing the mixed remains that are being uncovered at this site to hopefully pinpoint the remains of this great man in Irish history.

“It must also be an objective of the Irish government to not just locate these remains but to return them to his beloved homeland of Donegal. The very thought of this achievement will be of great excitement and importance to so many Irish people, and of course, Donegal people”.