Hugh MacEdegany, (Irish: Aodh mac an Deaganaigh; before 1567 – May 1588),[1] also known as Hugh MacCalvagh,[2] and referred to as Hugh O'Gallagher by modern historians,[3] was a sixteenth-century Irishman who was a challenger to the Gaelic kingdom Tyrconnell.
Hugh MacEdegany was an illegitimate son of Calvagh O'Donnell, raised as the son of the Dean of Raphoe ("the Deacon O'Gallagher"). At some point, he changed his patronymic to MacCalvagh ("son of Calvagh")—possibly due to fosterage—making him a competitor to the O'Donnells, Tyrconnell's ruling family.
Hugh MacEdegany challenged Hugh McManus O'Donnell's claim to the lordship of Tyrconnell since the beginning of Hugh McManus's reign in 1566, and had also killed Iníon Dubh's brother Alasdrann in 1586.[4] [5] MacEdegany was assassinated on Iníon Dubh's orders in May 1588. The Annals of the Four Masters describes his death:
[Hugh MacEdegany] one time happened to be coming up, in pride, vigour, and high spirits (without remembering the spite or the enmity against him) towards the place where she was, at Magh-gaibhlin. When he had come to the town, she addressed her faithful people, i.e. the Scots; and begged and requested of them to fulfil their promise. This was accordingly done for her, for they rushed to the place where Hugh was, and proceeded to shoot at him with darts and bullets, until they left him lifeless; and there were also slain along with him the dearest to him of his faithful people.