O'Doherty family

The '''O'Doherty''' () family of Inishowen in County Donegal is an Irish clan who were a prominent sept of the Northern Uí Néill's Cenél Conaill, and one of the most powerful clans of Tír Connaill.

Originally chiefs of Cenél Eanna, the O'Dohertys became rulers of Inishowen, a large peninsula in what is now County Donegal. They ruled this territory from the beginning of the 15th century until the early 17th century, when their lands and possessions were confiscated following Sir Cahir O'Doherty's rebellion, and as part of the Ulster plantation. The O'Dohertys are kinsmen of the O'Donnells, rulers of Tír Connaill, and the O'Gallaghers, and senior descendants of Conall Gulban, founder of Cenél Conaill and a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Like clans in other cultures, Irish clans such as the O'Dohertys are divided into many septs and regional families. In the modern day, there are over 140 variations in spelling of the name ''Ó Dochartaigh'', of which O'Doherty and Doherty are the most common anglicized forms. Provided by Wikipedia