Domhnall na g-Croiceann

Donal married his foster father's daughter, Ellen O'Leary, and upon coming of age, pronounced himself as an O'Donovan, and seized the chieftainship by force of arms.

By his marriage to Ellen, his foster sister, he had Diarmaid O'Donovan, who was hanged for raiding in their territory by the forces of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare in 1581, Teige and "other sons", who in 1592 were declared illegitimate (i.e., not bastards) by the Lord Chancellor Adam Loftus.

Donal's epithet na g-Croiceann or "of the Skins" is believed to come from his being, when a child, wrapped by his mother in cow hides to protect him from the enemies of his father.

Donal of the hides (or Domhnall Na-g-Croiceann), so called from having been wrapped in a cow-hide when an infant by his mother [Helena] to escape from the claimants to the chieftainship of Clan-Cathal, who conspired to murder him.

Helena and the infant were taken to O'Leary Castle ‘Masters’ in the parish of Inchageelah, in Ibh-Leary, after Teige O’Donovan, his father, was murdered.