In 1245, O'Donnell ravaged north Connacht. The following year,
Maurice FitzGerald invaded
Tyrconnell, seizing several hostages and secured them within
Sligo Castle. The year afterwards, O'Donnell counter-attacked FitzGerald, and the hostages were killed in retaliation. In 1247, FitzGerald invaded Tyrconnell again, and was halted at Ballyshannon by the combined forces of
Cenél Conaill and
Cenél nEógain. When Cormac O'Connor (
Ó Conchobhair) forded the
River Erne and came upon O'Donnell's combined forces from the rear, and O'Donnell fell in the resulting
battle of Ballyshannon. Following O'Donnell's death, FitzGerald installed Rory O'Cannon (
Ruaidhrí Ó Cannanáin) as king of Tyrconnell. The latter, however, was later repulsed and slain by Goffraid O'Donnell. O'Donnell is the subject of a contemporary elegy composed by
Giolla Brighde Mac Con Midhe (died c. 1272). ==Citations==