Baron Rathcavan

Baron Rathcavan, of The Braid in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 February 1953 for the Unionist politician Sir Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a baronet, of Cleggan in the County of Antrim, on 17 June 1929 (see O'Neill baronets). O'Neill was the third son of Edward O'Neill, 2nd Baron O'Neill (see the Baron O'Neill for earlier history of the family) and the uncle of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Terence O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine. Lord Rathcavan was also a male-line descendant of Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester (see the Marquess of Donegall). He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, the second Baron. He succeeded his father as Unionist Member of Parliament for Antrim in 1952, a seat he held until 1959, and was later a member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. As of 2025 the titles are held by his grandson, the fourth Baron, who succeeded in 2025.

The Honourable Sir Con O'Neill, second son of the first Baron, was a diplomat. His daughter Onora O'Neill, Baroness O'Neill of Bengarve, is a philosopher.

The family seat is Cleggan Lodge, near Ballymena, County Antrim.

Barons Rathcavan (1953)

• (Robert William) Hugh O'Neill, 1st Baron Rathcavan (1883–1982)
• Phelim Robert Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Baron Rathcavan (1909–1994)
• Hugh Detmar Torrens O'Neill, 3rd Baron Rathcavan (1939–2025)
• François Hugh Nial O'Neill, 4th Baron Rathcavan (born 1984)

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son, the Hon. Tyrone Hugh Richard O'Neill (b. 2023).

Title succession chart

Title succession chart, Barons Chichester (both creations), Templemore, O'Neill and Rathcavan, Viscounts Chichester, Earls of Donegall, and Marquesses of Donegall.

Sir John Chichester died 1569 Baron Chichester (1613) Baron Chichester Viscount Chichester (both 1625) Arthur Chichester 1st Baron Chichester 1563–1625 Edward Chichester 1st Viscount Chichester 1st Baron Chichester 1568–1648 1613 barony extinct Earl of Donegall (1647) Arthur Chichester 1st Earl of Donegall 1606–1675 Lt. Col. John Chichester 1609–1647 Hon. Williaṃ Chichester died 1660 Arthur Chichester 2nd Earl of Donegall died 1678 Hon. John Chichester Arthur Chichester 3rd Earl of Donegall 1666–1706 Rev. William Chichester Arthur Chichester 4th Earl of Donegall 1695–1757 Hon. John Chichester 1700–1746 Rev. Arthur Chichester Baron Fisherwick (1790, GB) Marquess of Donegall (1791) Arthur Chichester 1st Marquess of Donegall 5th Earl of Donegall 1739–1799 Rev. William Chichester died 1815 Chichester baronetcy (1821, UK) George Chichester 2nd Marquess of Donegall 1769–1844 Hon. Arthur Chichester 1771–1788 Lord Spencer Chichester 1775–1819 Sir Arthur Chichester 1st Baronet c. 1769 – 1847 Rev. Edward Chichester died 1840 Baronetcy extinct Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus (1841, UK) Baron Templemore (1831, UK) Baron O'Neill (1868, UK) George Chichester 3rd Marquess of Donegall 1797–1883 Edward Chichester 4th Marquess of Donegall 1799–1889 Lord Spencer Chichester 1805–1825 Lord Arthur Chichester 1808–1840 Lord Haṃilton Chichester 1810–1854 Lord John Chichester 1811–1873 Lord Stephen Chichester 1814–1890 Arthur Chichester 1st Baron Templemore 1797–1837 William O'Neill 1st Baron O'Neill (né Chichester) 1813–1883 Ennishowen and Carrickfergus barony extinct George Chichester Viscount Chichester 1826–1827 Frederick Chichester Earl of Belfast 1827–1853 George Chichester 5th Marquess of Donegall 1822–1904 Lord Henry Chichester 1834–1928 Lord Adolphus Chichester 1836–1901 Harry Chichester 2nd Baron Templemore 1821–1906 Edward O'Neill 2nd Baron O'Neill 1839–1928 O'Neill baronetcy (1929, UK) Baron Rathcavan (1953, UK) Edward Chichester 6th Marquess of Donegall 1903–1975 Severne Chichester 1861–1951 Forester Chichester 1864–1865 Robert Chichester 1873–1921 Augustus Chichester 1878–1902 Arthur Chichester 3rd Baron Templemore 1854–1924 William O'Neill 1874–1882 Capt. Hon. Arthur O'Neill 1876–1914 Hugh O'Neill 1st Baron Rathcavan 1st Baronet 1883–1982 Titles inherited by the 5th Baron Templemore Robert Chichester 1902–1920 Arthur Chichester 4th Baron Templemore 1880–1953 Shane O'Neill 3rd Baron O'Neill 1907–1944 Phelim O'Neill 2nd Baron Rathcavan 1909–1994 Maj. Hon. Arthur Chichester 1914–1942 Dermot Chichester 7th Marquess of Donegall 5th Baron Templemore 1916–2007 Raymond O'Neill 4th Baron O'Neill born 1933 Hugh O'Neill 3rd Baron Rathcavan 1939–2025 Patrick Chichester 8th Marquess of Donegall born 1952 Hon. Shane O'Neill born 1965 François O'Neill 4th Baron Rathcavan born 1984 James Chichester Earl of Belfast born 1990 Con O'Neill born 2000 Hon. Tyrone O'Neill born 2023

Arms

Coat of arms of Baron Rathcavan

File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg File:Arms of O'Neill, Baron Rathcavan.svg

Crest 1st an arm embowed in armour the hand grasping a sword all Proper 2nd a stork rising with a snake in its beak all Proper. Escutcheon Quarterly 1st & 4th per fess wavy the chief Argent and the base representing the waves of the sea in chief a dexter hand couped at the wrist Gules in base a salmon naiant Proper 2nd & 3rd chequy Or and Gules a chief Vair a mullet for difference. Supporters On either side a heron Proper standing on a billet fesswise wavy Argent charged with a bar wavy Azure. Motto Invitum Sequitur Honor; Lamh Dearg Eirin

See also

• Baron O'Neill
• Earl O'Neill
• Baron O'Neill of the Maine
• List of Northern Ireland members of the House of Lords
• Marquess of Donegall
• O'Neill dynasty

Sources

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

External links

• Cleggan Lodge