O'Deaghaidh Family/Fall of Conor
The Fall of Conor
Conor O’Dea had been leading the O’Deaghaidh clan for 20 years. Following in the footsteps Deaghaidh, he did his best to make him proud. Conor was known to be the man that killed Victor Devonshire in battle and the Hero of his clan for doing so. Little did he know that blood line of Devonshire was still about. Victor Devonshire’s Grandson Edwin Devonshire was alive and looking for Conor’s head. Edwin Devonshire was honorable unlike his grandfather. He challenged Conor to a duel to the death, the meeting grounds were in the Monagle Highlands. The Duel was heard of round the world. If you were to ask Conor’s son Patrick about the duel he would tell you this.
“It was a cloudy day and the north wind was howling. My father Conor was armed with a long sword. Normally he used a Claymore in battle but this was a duel he had to adapt. Of course he carried his Sgian dubh just in case he lost his sword. Edwin Devonshire was armed a Rapier. The two stared at each other for what seemed to be a life time. Devonshire struck first with a straight jab with the sword. Conor quickly side stepped. It’s really hard to remember all the details of the fight because everything was moving so fast. At one point I know Conor’s hand was cut off by Devonshire. Conor lost his sword in the process. Devonshire grabbed Conor’s detached hand and threw it to one of his men and said “Send it back home to the family as our trophy for my victory here.” Then Conor yelled out “I’m not dead ye bastard!” Conor unsheathed his Sgian Dubh and charged Devonshire. Devonshire was an expert duelist and Conor was no match for him in man to man combat. Devonshire stabbed Conor through the stomach. Conor with his last ounce of strength slammed his Sgian Dubh into the throat of Devonshire. Both men fell to the ground. Devonshire was dead but Conor wasn’t. I ran to him and held up his head. He couldn’t speak, I just held him till he past into the other world.”
Conor would be placed in the family tomb with his Grandfather Deaghaidh and the rest of his fallen kinsmen. Conor wasn’t placed in a casket or laid down on a slab of stone. Conor was tied to a pillar so he was standing. He had asked in his will that he be tied to a pillar so he can face all of his opponents standing even in death. Conor’s Claymore which at a time belonged to Deaghaidh would eventually be given to Seamus Conor’s grandson. The Sgian Dubh which also belonged to Deaghaidh for a time was given to Amish. Both items are relics within the clan.
