'Red' Hugh O'Donnell: our roots, your legacy

Nothing unites us more than a common enemy. As long as England exists, Ireland and Spain will remain united «in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, until death do us part», as the catholic wedding vow goes. The vow works well, unless you're Henry VIII - in which case you can get divorced as many times as you want, even using decapitation if you see fit. And while you're at it, you can even set up your own Church with the same ease as opening up a Gentleman's Club on St. James's Street.

Henry VIII is a Tudor, a dynasty that, back then, meant nothing when measured against the almighty and brilliant House of Trastámara. The Catholic Kings, both Trastámaras, wed in Valladolid (Spain) in 1469. Their third daughter, Catalina, who was also educated in Valladolid, reigned in England and brought class, intelligence and lineage to the Tudors. Catalina had a daughter, who also became Queen of England - Bloody Mary - and brought her mother's Castilian elegance to the English crown. Mary wed Felipe II who, of course, was born in Valladolid and fought hard against Elizabeth I.

Another one who fought against Elizabeth I was the Gaelic leader, «Red» Hugh O'Donnell, who found great support for Ireland in Felipe II. After a series of victories in The Nine Years' War, sometimes called Tyrone's Rebellion, The Spanish and Irish troops were defeated by England in the Battle of Kinsale. Despite losing the battle, they held on to the dream of an Ireland without the English. When Felipe II passed away, his son, Felipe III, inherited the greatest empire ever seen, «the empire on which the sun never sets», as the saying goes. But he didn't just inherit his father's empire but also his hatred.

Felipe III resided, of course, in Valladolid - the capital of Spain at the time. O'Donnell decided to travel to Valladolid to ask the Spanish monarchy for its support in another attempt to rid Ireland of the English. After many attempts and a long waiting, 'Red' Hugh died suddenly and the meeting never took place.

The Irish hero was honoured with a royal funeral in the most solemn manner ever seen for a Gael. His body rests in the now gone convent of St. Francis, which stretched over a space of 3 football fields, and in which Christopher Columbus was also buried 100 years earlier. Now the council of Valladolid, led by its mayor Oscar Puente, has embarked on an excavation on the site the chapel stood, trying to discover the Gael's remains. Various sets of remains have been discovered which will now await DNA analysis. One of these bodies just may be that of Hugh, or maybe not. In any case, an Irish hero will forever lie in Valladolid after having made his defining journey to the capital of the world to lobby for support, gather allies and fight for the freedom of his people. Subsequently, thousands of Gaels continued their fight in the Irish corps alongside the Hispanic monarchy. Catholicism is a nation.

Today, Valladolid is a medium-sized city in the so called «Empty Spain» and yes, it is crazy about rugby union. So, let me suggest the «Red» Hugh O'Donnell Cup between the two Valladolid rugby clubs and two Irish representatives. It's time to drink a toast with their Guinness and our wine. This city is no longer the capital of the world, which ended when Madrid took the baton after 4 centuries of dominance. However, our historic importance is undisputed and this project, beyond the importance of O'Donnell's grave, helps remind us of the importance of a legacy, the sublimity of the ground on which we tread, and the need to continue looking into who we are in order to understand where we want to go.

But this way, above all else, we will be able to hear the roaring murmur of a history – Europe's- shared by all its people. Not just Ireland, not just Spain. It is also the history of those who have chosen to 'exit' and turn their back on their roots, that today in Valladolid, are being lifted from the 'underground'.

Twitter: @MagfcoMargarito

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