In pictures: Event to mark birthday of Red Hugh O'Donnell

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Joe Boland of North West Newspix

A special celebration was held in Lifford to mark the birthday of Red Hugh O’Donnell, one of Donegal’s most historically significant figures.

The Red Hugh O'Donnell Association and Dúiche O’ Neill, the O'Neill Country Association from Tyrone, organised a very special reunion to honour two of Ireland's greatest Chieftains, Red Hugh O'Donnell and Hugh O'Neill, who fought side by side for Ireland's freedom in what became known in Irish history as 'The Nine Years War'.

Piper Jim O’Hagan led the groups to the courthouse in Lifford for a ceremony. 

Onwards from there, the attendance headed to the ruins of Mongavlin Castle outside St Johnston, once the residence of the O’Donnells before retreating to Maggie’s Tavern for refreshments.

Red Hugh left Ireland after the defeat of the Spanish at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 to seek the help of King Phillip 11 of Spain to field an army to attempt to remove the British from Ireland. He died, aged 29, in Simancas Castle, was given a state funeral and buried in a chapel in a former monastery in Valladolid.