THE
following chiefs and clans in Roscommon and Galway,
and the territories possessed by them in the twelfth
century, have been collected from O'Dugan's Topography
and other sources:--
MacDiarmada, or MacDermott, princes of
Moylurg, Tir-Oilill, Tir-Tuathail, Arteach, and Clan
Cuain. Moylurg comprised the plains of Boyle, in the
county Roscommon; Tir-Oilill, now the barony of
"Tirerill" in Sligo; Arteach, a district in
Roscommon near Lough Gara, on the borders of Sligo and
Mayo; Clan Cuain was a district in the barony of Carra,
near Castlebar, comprising the present parishes of
Islandeady, Turlough, and Breaffy. The MacDermotts were
hereditary marshals of Connaught, the duties attached to
which were to raise and regulate the military forces, and
to prepare them for battle, as commanders-in-chief; also
to preside at the inauguration of the O'Connors as kings
of Connaught, and to proclaim their election. The
MacDermotts derive their descent from Teige of the White
Steed, king of Connaught in the eleventh century; and are
a branch of the O'Connors. This Teige had a son named
Maolruanaidh, the progenitor of the MacDermotts: hence
their tribe name was Clan Maolruanaidh or Clan Mulrooney.
Diarmaid (dia: Irish, "a god," and
"armaid," of "arms," and signifying a
great warrior), grandson of Mulrooney, who died, A.D.
1165, was the head of the clan; and from him they took
the name of "MacDermott." The MacDermotts had
their chief fortress at the Rock of Lough Key, on an
island in Lough Key, near Boyle; and are the only
Milesian family who have preserved their title of Prince,
namely, "Hereditary Prince of Coolavin" a title
by which the MacDermott is to this day recognised in the
county Sligo.
The principal
families of the MacDermotts in Connaught are --
The MacDermott of Coolavin, and
MacDermott Roe of Alderford in the county Roscommon. The
following were, according to O'Dugan, the ancient chiefs
of Moylurg before the time of the MacDermotts:
"The ancient chiefs of Moylurg of
abundance:
MacEoach (or MacKeogh); MacMaoin (or MacMaine), the
great.
And MacRiabhaidh (or Magreevy) the efficient
forces."
- O'Ceallaigh or O'Kelly. This name is derived from
Ceallach, a celebrated chief of the ninth
century, who is the ancestor of the O'Kellys,
princes of Hy-Maine. These O'Kellys are a branch
of the Clan Colla of Orgiall in Ulster, and of
the same descent as the MacMahons, lords of
Monaghan; Maguires, lords of Fermanagh;
O'Hanlons, lords of Orior in Armagh, etc. In the
fourth century. Main Mór or Main the Great,
chief of the Clan Colla, conquered a colony of
the Firbolgs in Connaught; and the territory so
conquered, which was possessed by his posterity,
was after him called Hy-Maine (signifying the
territory possessed by the descendants of Main),
which has been Latinized "Hy-Mania" and
"I-Mania." This extensive territory
comprised, according to O'Flaherty and others, a
great part of South Connaught in the present
county Galway, and was afterwards extended beyond
the river Suck to the Shannon, in the south of
Roscommon. It included the baronies of Ballymoe,
Tiaquin, Killian, and Kilcollan, with part of
Clonmacnoon, in Galway; and the barony of Athlone
in Roscommon. The O'Kellys were styled princes of
Hy-Maine, and their territory was called
"O'Kelly's Country."
According to the
"Dissertations" of Charles O'Connor,
the O'Kellys held the office of high treasurers
of Connaught, and the MacDermotts that of
marshals. Tadhg or Teige O'Kelly, one of the
commanders of the Connaught contingent of Brian
Boru's army at the battle of Clontarf, was of
this ancient family. The O'Kellys had castles at
Aughrim, Garbally, Gallagh, Monivea, Moylough,
Mullaghmore, and Aghrane (now Castlekelly), in
the county Galway; and at Athlone, Athleague,
Corbeg, Galy, and Skrine, in the county
Roscommon. The chiefs of the O'Kellys, according
to some accounts, were inaugurated at
Clontuskert, about five miles from Eyrecourt in
the county Galway, and held their rank as princes
of Hy-Maine down to the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
- MacOireachtaigh or MacGeraghty, of the same stock
as the O'Connors of Connaught. In the Annals of
the Four Masters, at A.D. 1278, MacOiraghty is
mentioned as head chief of Siol Murray, a term
applied to the central parts of the county
Roscommon; and, in the sixteenth century, when
deprived of their territories, some of the clan
Geraghty settled in Mayo and Sligo, and gave
their name to the island of Innis Murray, off the
coast of Sligo, on account of their former title
as head chiefs of Siol Murray, as in the Annals
above mentioned.
- O'Fionnachta or O'Finaghty, chiefs of Clan
Conmaigh, and of Clan Murchada, districts in the
two half baronies of Ballymoe in the counties of
Galway and Roscommon, in O'Kelly's principality
of Hy-Maine. The O'Finaghtys here mentioned were
of the Clan Colla; and two distinct chiefs of
them are given by O'Dugan: one of them, Finaghty
of "Clan Murrogh of the Champions;" and
the other, Finaghty of the "Clan
Conway." O'Finaghty (modernized
"Finnerty"), chiefs of Clan Conway, had
their castle at Dunamon, near the river Suck, in
the county Roscommon. It is stated in some old
authorities, that the O'Finaghtys had the
privilege of drinking the first cup at every
royal feast.
- O'Fallamhain or O'Fallon were chiefs of Clan
Uadach, a district in the barony of Athlone, in
the county Roscommon, comprising the parishes of
Cam and Dysart, and had a castle at Miltown. The
O'Fallons were originally chiefs in Westmeath,
near Athlone.
- O'Birn or O'Beirne, chiefs of Muintir
O'Mannachain, a territory along the Shannon in
the parish of Ballintobber, in Roscommon,
extending nearly to Elphin.
- O'Mannachain or O'Monaghan, was also chief on the
same territory as O'Beirne. These O'Beirnes are
of a distinct race from the O'Byrnes of Wicklow.
- O'Hainlidhe, O'Hanley, or Henley, chiefs of
Cineal Dobhtha, a large district in the barony of
Ballintobber, along the Shannon. It formed part
of the Three Tuatha or the Three Districts.
- MacBranain or MacBrennan, sometimes anglicised
O'Brennan; and O'Mailmichil, anglicised
"Mitchell." The O'Brennans and
Mitchells were chiefs of Corca Achlann, a large
district adjoining Cineal-Dobtha, in the barony
of Roscommon. This district formed part of the
"Tuatha" in which was situated the
Slieve Baun Mountain.
- O'Flannagain or Flanagan, chiefs of Clan Cathail,
a territory in the barony of Roscommon, north of
Elphin. O'Maolmordha, O'Morra, or O'Moore,
O'Carthaidh or O'Carthy, and O'Mughroin or
O'Moran, were also subordinate chiefs of Clan
Cathail (Cathal and Serlus; Irish, Charles: Span.
Carlos), or Clan Charles.
- O'Maolbrennain, anglicised "Mulrenan,"
chiefs of Clan Conchobhair or Clan Connor, a
district near Cruachan or Croaghan, in the barony
and county of Roscommon.
- O'Cathalain, chief of Clan Fogartaigh [Fogarty];
and O'Maonaigh or O'Mooney, chiefs of Clan
Murthuile. Clan Fogarty and Clan Murthuile were
districts in Ballintubber, county Roscommon.
- O'Conceannain or O'Concannon, chiefs of
Hy-Diarmada, a district on the borders of
Roscommon and Galway, in the baronies of Athlone
and Ballymoe.
- MacMurchada, MacMurrough or Murphy, chiefs of
Tomaltaigh in Roscommon, of which MacOiraghta was
head chief.
- O'Floinn or O'Flynn, chiefs of Siol Maolruain, a
large district in the barony of Ballintubber,
county Roscommon; in which lay Slieve Ui Fhloinn
or O'Flynn's Mountain, which comprised the
parishes of Kilkeeran and Kiltullagh, and part of
the parish of Ballynakill, in the barony of
Ballymoe, county Galway. O'Maolmuaidh or
O'Mulmay, was a subordinate chief over Clan
Taidhg or Clan Teige in the same district.
- O'Rothlain (O'Rowland, O'Roland, and O'Rollin),
chiefs of Coill Fothaidh, a district on the
borders of Roscommon and Mayo.
- O'Sgaithgil or Scahil, chiefs of Corca Mogha, a
district which comprised the parish of Kilkeeran,
in the barony of Killian, county Galway. O'Broin,
angliciaed "Burns," was chief of Lough
Gealgosa, a district adjoining Corca Mogha.
- O'Talcharain (Taleran or Taleyrand), chiefs of
Conmaicne Cuile, a district in the barony of
Clare, county Galway.
- O'Cadhla, O'Cawley, or Kealy, chiefs of Conmaicne
Mara (or Connemara), now the barony of
Ballynahinch, in the county Galway.
- MacConroi, anglicised "King," chiefs of
Gno Mór; and O'Haidhnidh or O'Heany, chiefs of
Gno Beag, districts which lay along the western
banks of Lough Corrib, in the barony of
Moycullen, and county of Galway, in the direction
of Galway Bay.
- MacAodha or MacHugh, chiefs of Clan Cosgraidh, a
district on the eastern side of Lough Corrib.
- O'Flaithbheartaigh or O'Flaherty, chiefs of
Muintir Murchadha, now the barony of Clare,
county Galway. In the thirteenth century the
O'Flahertys were expelled from this territory by
the English; and, having settled on the other
side of Lough Corrib, they got extensive
possessions there in the barony of Moycullen, and
were styled lords of Iar Conacht or West
Connaught. They also had the chief naval command
about Lough Corrib, on some of the islands of
which they had castles.
- O'Heidhin or O'Heyne, anglicised
"Hynes," was styled Prince of South
Hy-Fiachra, a district co-extensive with the
diocese of Kilmacduagh; and comprised the barony
of Kiltartan, and parts of the baronies of
Dunkellin and Loughrea, in the county Galway.
- O'Seachnasaigh, Cineal-Aodha O'Shaugnessey,
O'Shannesy, chiefs of Cineal- Aodha (or
Cineal-Hugh), a district in the barony of
Kiltartan, county Galway. Cineal-Hugh was
sometimes called Cineal-Hugh of Echty, a
mountainous district on the borders of Galway and
Clare. O'Cathail or O'Cahil was also a chief of
Cineal-Hugh.
- MacGiolla Ceallaigh or MacGilkelly, anglicised
"Kilkelly," chiefs in South Fiachra.
- O'Cleirigh or O'Clery, anglicised
"Clarke," chiefs in Hy-Fiachra Aidhne,
same as MacGilkelly. This family took the name
"Cleirigh" from Cleireach, one of their
celebrated chiefs in the tenth century; and a
branch of them having settled in Donegal, became
bards and historians to the O'Donnells, princes
of Tirconnell, and were the authors of the Annals
of the Four Masters, etc. Other branches of the
O'Clerys settled in Brefney O'Reilly or the
county Cavan.
- O'Dulbhgiolla or O'Diffely, chiefs of
Cineal-Cinngamhna [Cean Gamhna]; MacFiachra,
chiefs of Oga Peathra; O'Cathain or O'Cahan,
chiefs of Cineal-Sedna; and O'Maghna, chiefs of
Ceanridhe, all chiefs in Aidhne or South
Hy-Fiachra: all these chiefs were descended from
Guaire Aidhne, a king of Connaught in the seventh
century.
- O'Madagain or O'Madadhain, anglicised
"Madden," chief of Siol Anmchadha or
Silancha; a name derived from
"Anmchadh," a descendant of
Colla-da-Chrioch. This territory comprised the
present barony of Longford in the county Galway,
and the parish of Lusmagh, on the Leinster side
of the river Shannon, in the King's County. The
O'Maddens are a branch of the Clan Colla, and of
the same descent as the O'Kellys, princes of
Hy-Maine; and took their name from Madudan Mór,
one of their ancient chiefs.
- O'Hullachain or O'Hoolaghan, sometimes anglicised
"O'Coolaghan" and MacCoolaghan, chiefs
of Siol Anmchadha. 30. O'Maolalaidh or
O'Mullally, anglicised "Lally."
- O'Neachtain or O'Naghten, anglicised
"Norton." The O'Naghtens and
O'Mullallys are given by O'Dugan as the two
chiefs of Maonmuighe or Maenmoy: an extensive
plain comprising a great part of the present
baronies of Loughrea and Leitrim in the county
Galway. The O'Naughtens and O'Mullallys are
branches of the Clan Colla. When disposessed of
their territories, the O'Mullallys settled at
Tullach-na-Dala near Tuam, where they had a
castle: and the head of the family having
afterwards removed to France, a descendant of his
became celebrated as an orator and a statesman,
at the time of the French Revolution, and was
known as "Count Lally Tolendal:" taking
his title from the ancient territory in Ireland,
Tullach-na-Dala, above mentioned. Several of the
O'Lallys were celebrated commanders in the Irish
Brigade in France; and one of them was created
"Marquis de Lally Tollendal," and a
peer of France, by Napoleon the First.
- O'Connaill or O'Connell, chiefs of the territory
from the river Grian, on the borders of Clare, to
the plain of Maenmoy: comprising parts of the
barony of Leitrim in Galway, and of Tullagh in
Clare. These O'Connells and the MacEgans were
marshals of the forces to the O'Kellys, princes
of Hy-Maine; and of the same descent as the
O'Kellys, namely that of the Clan Colla.
- MacEideadhain or MacAodhagain (anglicised
"MacEgan") were chiefs of Clan
Diarmada, district in the barony of Leitrim,
county Galway; and had a castle at Dun Doighre,
now "Duniry." The MacEgans were Brehons
in Connaught, and also in Ormond; and many of
them eminent literary men.
- MacGiolla Fionnagain or O'Finnegan, sometimes
rendered "Finncaine;" and O'Cionaoith
or O'Kenny, chiefs of Clan Iaitheamhaim or
Flaitheamhain [or Fleming], called also Muintir
Cionaith, a district in the barony of Moycarnon,
county Roscommon. Of the O'Finnegan family was
Mathias Finucane, one of the Judges of the Common
Pleas in Ireland, who died A.D. 1814.
- O'Domhnallain or O'Donnelan, chiefs of Clan
Breasail, a district in the barony of Leitrim,
and county Galway.
- 36. O'Donchadha or O'Donoghoe, chiefs of Clan
Cormaic, a district in Maenmoy in Galway, already
defined.
- O'Duibhghind, chiefs of the Twelve Ballys or
Townlands of Duibhghind, a district near
Loughrea, in the county Galway.
- O'Docomlain, chiefs of Eidhnigh; and O'Gabhrain
or O'Gauran, chiefs of Dal Druithne, districts
about Loughrea.
- O'Maolbrighde or O'Mulbride, chiefs of Magh Finn
and of Bredagh, a district in the barony of
Athlone, county Roscommon, east of the river
Suck.
- O'Mainnin, O'Mannin, O'Mannion, or O'Manning,
chiefs of Sodhan: a large territory in the barony
of Tiaquin, made into six divisions, called
"The Six Sodhans." The O'Mannins or
O'Mannings had their chief residence at the
castle of Clogher, barony of Tiaquin, county
Galway, and afterwards, at Menlough, in the
parish of Killascobe in the same barony. The
other chiefs given by O'Dugan on the "Six
Sodhans" were Mac-an-Bhaird, MacWard or
Ward; O'Sgurra or Scurry; O'Lennain or Lennon;
O'Casain or Cashin; O'Gialla or O'Giallain,
rendered Gilly, and Geallan; and O'Maigin or
Magin.
- O'Cathail, or Cahill, O'Mughroin or Moran,
O'Maolruanaidh, Mulrooney, or Rooney, the three
chiefs of Crumthan or Cruffan, a district
comprising the barony of Killian, and part of
Ballymoe in the county Galway.
- O'Laodog or O'Laodhaigh, anglicised
"O'Leahy," chiefs of Caladh, a district
in the barony of Kilconnell, county Galway.
The following chiefs and clans not
given by O'Dugan are collected from other sources:--
- O'Daly (who were a branch of the O'Donnells,
princes of Tirconnell) had large possessions in
the counties of Galway and Roscommon. The
O'Dalys, it appears, settled in Connaught as
early as the twelfth century.
- O'Coindealbhain, O'Conniallain, O'Connollain,
O'Connellan, princes of Hy-Leary in the tenth and
eleventh centuries; but branches of this family
in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, settled
in the counties of Roscomnon, Galway, and Mayo.
Pedigrees of this ancient clan are given in the
"Books" of Leacan and Ballymote; and
also in the "Genealogical Book" of the
O'Clerys.
- O'Halloran, chiefs of Clan Fargal, a large
district on the east side of the river of Galway,
near Lough Corrib.
- O'Callanan and O'Canavan, whom O'Dugan mentions
as hereditary physicians in Galway. 47.
O'Dubhthaigh or O'Duffy, families of note in
Galway and Roscommon.
- O'Brien, a branch of the O'Briens of Thomond in
the county Clare, and lords of the lsles of
Arran, off the coast of Galway.
- MacCnaimhin or MacNevin, according to the
"Book of Leacan," chiefs of a district
called Crannog MacCnaimhin or Crannagh MacNevin,
in the parish of Tynagh, barony of Leitrim, and
county of Galway. This name
"MacCnaimhin" [cnaimh: Irish, a bone),
has been anglicised "Bone" and
"Bonas."
- MacEochaidh, MacKeogh, or Keogh (a branch of the
O'Kellys, princes of Hy-Maine), chiefs of
Omhanach, now "Onagh," in the parish of
Taghmaconnell, in the barony of Athlone, county
Roscommon.
- MacGiolladuibh or MacGillduff, anglicised
"Kilduff," chiefs of Caladh, along with
the O'Leahys, in the barony of Kilconnell, county
Galway.
- O'Lorcan or O'Larkin; O'Gebenaigh or Gevenny,
Gebney, and Gibney; O'Aireachtain, anglicised
"Harrington;" O'Fahy, O'Fay or O'Foy;
O'Laidins or Laydon, and O'Horan or Horan, all
clans in Hy-Maine, in the county Galway.
- O'Cobthaigh or O'Coffey, a branch of the
O'Kellys, princes of Hy-Maine; and chiefs of a
large district in the barony of Clonmacnoon,
county Galway.
- MacManus; Keon, MacKeon, or MacEwen; O'Common or
Cummins, and O'Ronan or Ronayne, clans in the
county Roscommon.
IN
the 12th century John de Courcy made some
attempts with his Anglo-Norman forces towards the
conquest of Connaught, but did not succeed to any extent.
The De Burgos or Bourkes, in the reign of King John,
obtained grants in various parts of Connaught; and, for a
long period, carried on fierce contests with the
O'Connors, kings of Connaught, and various chiefs. They
made considerable conquests in the country, and were
styled lords of Connaught; but it appears that in the
fourteenth century, several chiefs of the Bourkes
renounced their allegiance to the English Government, and
some of them took the sirname of "MacWilliam;"
and, adopting the Irish language and dress, identified
themselves with the ancient Irish in customs and manners.
One of them took the name of Mac William Oughter or Mac
William the Upper, who was located in Galway, the upper
part of Connaught; and another, Mac William Eighter, or
Mac William the Lower, who was located in Mayo, or the
lower part. Some branches of the Bourkes took the
sirnames of MacDavid, MacPhilbin, MacGibbon, from their
respective ancestors. (See the "Bourke"
pedigree.) From Richard or Rickard de Burgo, a great
portion of the county Galway got the name of Glanrickard,
which, according to Ware, comprised the baronies of
Clare, Dunkellin, Loughrea, Kiltartan, Athenry, and
Leitrim. The De Burgos became the most powerful family in
Connaught, and were its chief governors under the kings
of England. They were styled lords of Connaught, and also
became earls of Ulster; but, on the death of William de
Burgo, earl of Ulster, in the fourteenth century, and the
marriage of his daughter Elizabeth, to Lionel, Duke of
Clarence, son of King Edward the Third, his titles passed
into the Royal Family of England. Ulick Burke, the
progenitor of the marquises of Clanrickard, had great
possessions in Galway and Roscommon; and Sir Edmund
Bourke, called "Albanach," had large
possessions in Mayo, and was ancestor of the earls of
Mayo. Mayo: The other families who settled in Mayo, were
the following: De Angulo or Nangle, who took the Irish
surname "MacCostello," and from whom the barony
of "Costello" derived its name. De Exter, who
took the name of "MacJordan," and were styled
lords of Athleathan, in the barony of Gallen. Barrett,
some of whom took the sirname of "MacWatten;"
and "MacAndrew." Staunton, in Carra some of
whom took the name of "MacAveely." Lawless,
Cusack, Lynot, Prendergast, and Fitzmaurice; Bermingham,
who changed their name to "MacFeorais;" Blake,
Dillon, Bingham, etc. The MacPhilips are placed on the
map of Ortelius in the barony of Costello; their
principal seat is at Cloonmore, and they are a branch of
the Bourkes who took the name of "MacPhilip."
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