Thousands of people have lined the streets of a Spanish city to pay tribute to the Irish war hero Red Hugh O’Donnell.

The Gaelic chieftain from Donegal died in Spain in 1602 and last night the city of Valladolid came to a standstill as Red Hugh’s royal funeral was re-enacted.

A horse-drawn carriage, flanked by torch bearers, carried Red Hugh’s coffin through the winding streets of the medieval city.

The colourful cortege featured armed soldiers in 16th century costume, Franciscan friars, soldiers on horseback, Irish wolfhounds, King Philip and Queen Margaret.

Former members of the Irish army also marched in the funeral, as well as Spanish and Irish pipers.

Known as Aodh Rua to his own people in Irish-speaking Tír Chonaill, O’Donnell was a clan chieftain who fought with Hugh O’Neill and the Irish confederacy during the Nine Years’ War.

Following the defeat of the Irish by the English at the Battle of Kinsale, Red Hugh departed for Spain to seek military assistance from King Philip III.

However, on his journey to Valladolid, which was then the capital of Spain, Red Hugh took ill and died. The Spanish King granted him a royal funeral and O’Donnell was laid to rest in Valladolid.

There were moving scenes last night when the funeral cortege paused at the site of the Chapel of Marvels, the Gaelic chieftain’s final resting place.

The Mayor of Valladolid addressed the large crowds and wreaths were laid beneath a commemorative plaque, before a lone Irish piper sent Amhrán na bhFiann echoing through the Spanish city’s streets.

The funeral re-enactment is the centre-piece of a three-day celebration of longstanding Spanish-Irish relations. Organised by the Irish-Hispano Association in Valladolid the festival also features history talks, film screenings, music sessions and other cultural events.

The Irish Government is represented by Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran. The newly appointed Irish Ambassador to Spain, Brian Glynn, is also attending, as is former Lord Mayor of Dublin and current TD, Paul McAuliffe.

This is the fourth year that Valladolid has witnessed the re-enactment of O’Donnell’s funeral.

Organiser, Carlos Burgos, said that the funeral has become a source of great pride for the people of the Spanish city.

“There is something very powerful about the connection the Spanish feel with the Irish. It is a very special relationship that goes back a long way. It carries a sense of brotherhood,” he said.

“Red Hugh O’Donnell is a true hero, a man of great bravery, and it is an honour for us that our city is associated with him,” he added.

The 7th Duke of Tetuan, Hugo O’Donnell is a respected historian in Spain and a direct descendant of Red Hugh’s cousin. He said he was very proud that O’Donnell was receiving such recognition on Spanish soil.

“Hugh O’Donnell was an international protagonist of the history of Europe. He was a military man of his time. He was very sincere and very loyal to his feelings and in that way he is a teacher for many people, especially for me as I share the same blood,” he said.

The funeral re-enactment brings together various Irish and Red Hugh O’Donnell associations from Ireland, Spain, the United States, Argentina and Portugal.

The Irish-Hispano Association was established 17 years ago. The association has erected a number of plaques in honour of the Tír Chonaill chieftain, and was the driving force behind an archaeological dig for the remains of Red Hugh on the site of the Chapel of the Marvels in 2020.

The city of Valladolid and the town of Lifford, O’Donnell’s birthplace, have been twinned, highlighting the historical link between the two places.

The voluntary committee also hopes to have a commemorative plaque installed at Dublin Castle, where a 15-year-old Red Hugh was incarcerated and remained there for four years before his dramatic escape.

The events in Valladolid are supported by the local university and the city council. This afternoon the Irish delegation will visit the nearby town of Simancas.

While on route to Valladolid, Red Hugh died in the castle of Simancas.

The visitors will view important historical documents held in the castle’s extensive archive, including Red Hugh’s last will and testament which he dictated in Irish on his deathbed.

The precious collection also contains a number of letters sent by Hugh O’Neill and O’Donnell, as well as a document which details the questioning by Spanish authorities of James Blake, a Galway merchant who was visiting Spain at the time of O’Donnell’s death.

Blake was suspected of being an English spy and of poisoning O’Donnell.

Former Irish soldier and chairman of the Red Hugh O’Donnell Association in Ireland, Eddie Crawford, led last night’s funeral procession carrying the Irish tri-colour.

He said the level of respect and admiration displayed by the Spanish towards Red Hugh O’Donnell has surprised many of the Irish visitors to Valladolid this weekend.

“I was born and reared in Lifford, Red Hugh was born in Lifford. I’m here representing my former battalion, the 28th camp in Finner Camp in Donegal,” he said.

“I feel so proud wearing my uniform and carrying my country’s colours through this beautiful city of Valladolid to honour a true Irish hero,” he added.