Mabel Bagenal
Mabel Bagenal ( – December 1595) was an Anglo-Irish noblewoman and Countess of Tyrone, often referred to as the "Helen of the Elizabethan Wars". Life Mabel Bagenal was born around 1571 in Newry. She was the youngest child of Sir Nicholas Bagenal, a prominent Staffordshire soldier, and his wife Eleanor Griffith of Penrhyn, Wales. When her father died in 1590 he charged his son, Henry, with the "careful disposing" of Bagenal through a judicious marriage. Turlough Luineach O'Neill had previously expressed interest in marrying her. The recently widowed Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, declared his love for Bagenal and asked to marry her. The Bagenals refused. She was sent to live at Turvey House, County Dublin with her sister Lady Mary Barnewall. Her brother referred the decision to the queen and privy council of England, claiming that his sister was not prepared to live in what he termed an uncivil Gaelic household. A number of prominent officials, including Archbishop Loftus and Sir Geoffrey Fenton, believed that the match could be in the public interest. Bagenal and O'Neill preempted the decision, pledging to marry when he visited her in Turvey in July after which they eloped. They were married in an