Naas [HY- KINSELLAGH AND CUALAN]

Dál Chormaic  The Dál Chormaic, along with the Dál Messin Corb, were anciently claimed to hold the important plains of Kildare up to the 5th century. In later years their Chief center was located in the southernmost barony of County Kildare, that is the barony of Kilkea and Moone. 

Non-Laiginian Tribes The Loígis (O'More), the Benntraige (O'Coskry), the Fotharta Fea (O'Nolan), the Fotharta in Chairn (O'Larkin), are considered to have non-Laigin origins. In the 9thcentury the Chief dynasties which controlled all of the southern and central regions of Laigen were the Uí Cheinnselaig, the Uí Dega, and the Uí Dróna. Enna Nia, son of Bressal Bélach, son of Fiachu Baicced, son of Cathir Mor, was the progenitor of the northern Leinster septs of the Uí Dúnlainge, the Uí Briúin Cuallan (e.g. Cosgrave), and the Uí Fergusa.  

Fothaírt  Wexford, Carlow
The Fothaírt, or Fotharta, were mercenary tribes of the Laigin and possibly of Cruithin (Pict) origin. They were likely allies of the Uí Bairrche, explaining why they were also split into two major groups: the Fothaírt in Chairn (alias Fothar Tíre, barony of Forth, Co. Wexford) and the Fothaírt of Mag Fea (barony of Forth, Co. Carlow).

Uí Briúin Cualand (e.g. Cosgrave) Dublin, Wicklow
Descended from Brian, son of Enna Nia, son of Bressal Bélach, son of Fiachu Baicced, son of Cathir Mor. Traditional lands of this sub-sept of the Úí Dúnlainge were in southeast County Dublin and into northern co, Wicklow.The sept of Cosgrave, or Cosgrove, were cited as Lords of Úí Briúin Cuallan, with their power center at Powerscourt in County Wicklow prior to the Anglo-Norman invasion.The Uí Ceallaig Cualand (O'Kelly), descended from Maine Mail, were noted either between Tallaght and Britas in the Dublin hills (Hogan and Mills), or in co. Wicklow ( Henessy and O'Donovan).The O'Tooles and O'Byrnes became dominant in this area after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans.  The historian O'Donovan (Four Masters) says Crích Cualu was included in the present co. of Wicklow, and coextensive with the half barony of Rathdown in northern Wicklow, and adjoining county of Dublin. He also describes the territory of Uí Einechlais Cualann in the barony of Arklow, co. Wicklow. MacCarthy (Annals of Ulster) says Cualand is coextensive with the baronies of Ballinacor North and Rathdown, in co. Wick., and the south half of the barony of Rathdown, in co. Dublin.

Uí Ceallaig Cualann (e.g. O'Kelly) Dublin, Wicklow
Related to the Úí Máil, the traditional lands of the Úí Ceallaig Cualann were on the Dublin/Wicklow border in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains. The region of Cuala was applied frequently to the foot-hills of southern Dublin.

Uí Crimthainn Áin  
From Cathaír Mór's son Crimthann Án descended the Úí Crimthainn Áin (aka Cremthannáin). Dún Masc (the rock of Dunamase) was the center of Úí Crimthainn Áin power, as Alfred Smyth describes, in the Dark Ages. Dunamase passed under the control of the kings of Loígis by the 10th century.

Uí Dróna Carlow
Claiming descent from Labraid Laidech, son of Bressal Bélach, son of Fiachu Baicced, son of Cathaír Mór, the sept of O'Ryan were later Lords of Úí Dróna.The name Úí Dróna is preserved in the baronies of Idrone East and West in county Carlow. Much of Idrone country belonged early to the Úí Bairrche. An early Úí Dróna genealogy displays their descent from Drón, a brother of Enna Cennseach (progenitor of the Úí Chennselaig).10th century, the territory of the Úí Dróna was ruled by a branch of the Úí Chennselaig who later took the name Ua Riain (O'Ryan). The name originates from Rián, who was of the 10th century. The original Úí Dróna, like the original Úí Dega, were likely genealogically independent of the Úí Chennselaig. The sept of Úí Rethe was noted south of Lethglenn (Leighlin, co. Carlow), in Úi Dróna, according to Félire of Gorman, (ed. by Stokes).

Dál Cairpre Arad Lore of the Non-Free Tribes of Laigin, Tipperary, Limerick
From Cú Corb's son Cairpre descend the Dál Cairpre Arad of Munster. However the location of Dál Cairbre Ara Cliach is disputed, and has been placed in modern co. Carlow by Hogan. Just as the regions names Clíu and Ara Cliach appear in the Tipperary/Limerick of Munster, they are also placed, by the historians O'Donovan and Hennessy in the county of Carlow, in or near the barony of Idrone.

Dál Messin Corb  Wicklow
The Dál Messin Corb were once a dominant dynasty of Leinster along with the Dál Chormaic prior to the ascendancy of the Úí Dúnlainge (5th and 6th centuries) and the Úí Cheinnselaig. The Dál Messin Corb were driven across the Wicklow mountains, to north of Arklow in county Wicklow, from their original holdings on the plains of the river Liffey. A similar fate appears to have transpired for the Úí Enechglaiss who moved to an area just south of the Dál Messin Corb about this same time

Sil Chormaic 

The Síl Chormaic had held the richest land in the River Slaney basin in County Wexford prior to being usurped by the Mac Murchadha (Mac Murrough) sept by the middle of the 11th century. The area included the MacMurrough royal demesne around Ferns, as well as the barony of Scarawalsh. Mac Firbis cites the parts of Leinster belonging to the Clann Cormaic are Cuthraighe, Ua Trena, Uí Cruinn or Uí Cuinn, Ua Gabla Fine and Ua Gabla Roireann.

Síl Fáelchán
The Mac Murchadha sept (MacMurrough, Kinsella) of Síl Fáelchán came into prominence in the middle of the 11th century. As kings of Leinster they were descended from the Síl Mella, a clan founded by Éogan Cáech, son of Nath Í, and great-grandson of Énna Ceinnselach the namesake for the Ua Ceinnselaigh. The Ua Finntighearn (Finneran) sept were also descended from Síl Mella and occupied north-east Wexford when the Normans arrived in the late 12th century. The Gahan's of Síl Ealaig are descended from the Síl Fáelchán, and gave their tribal name to the barony of Shillelagh in County Wicklow.

 

Uí Briúin Cualand (e.g. Cosgrave)  Wicklow
Descended from Brian, son of Enna Nia, son of Bressal Bélach, son of Fiachu Baicced, son of Cathir Mor. Traditional lands of this sub-sept of the Úí Dúnlainge were in southeast County Dublin and into northern co, Wicklow. The sept of Cosgrave, or Cosgrove, were cited as Lords of Úí Briúin Cuallan, with their power center at Powerscourt in County Wicklow prior to the Anglo-Norman invasion. The Uí Ceallaig Cualand (O'Kelly), descended from Maine Mail, were noted either between Tallaght and Britas in the Dublin hills ( Hogan and Mills), or in co. Wicklow ( Henessy and O'Donovan). The O'Tooles and O'Byrnes became dominant in this area after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans
The historian O'Donovan ( Four Masters) says Crích Cualu was included in the present co. of Wicklow, and coextensive with the half barony of Rathdown in northern Wicklow, and adjoining county of Dublin. He also describes the territory of Uí Einechlais Cualann in the barony of Arklow, co. Wicklow. MacCarthy ( Annals of Ulster) says Cualand is coextensive with the baronies of Ballinacor North and Rathdown, in co. Wick., and the south half of the barony of Rathdown, in co. Dublin  

Uí Felmeda Thes  - included the ÚaMurchadha (O'Murroughe, or Murphy) sept of Offelimy, now the barony of Ballaghkeen, in County Wexford. O'Hart ( Pedigrees) cites the septs of O'Murchada or O'Murphy, Chiefs of Crioch O'Felme or Hy-Feidhlme [Hy-Felimy], and of the same race as the MacMurroughs, kings of Leinster. Hy-Felimy extended along the sea coast, and was commonly called the "Murrowes;" and comprised the baronies of Ballagheen in the county Wexford.

 


 

O'h-Airtghoile

(O'h-Airtghaol: Irish, "the kindred of O'Hart"), anglicised "Hartly" and "Hartilly," Chiefs of Crioch-na-gCenél (the country of the clans) or Criochnageneal, a territory "O'Larkin's Country," The Four Tribes of Tara 

O'Brain, O'Broin, or O'Byrne

Chiefs of Hy-Briuin Cualan (which comprised the greater part of the Barony of Ballinacor, called "O'Byrne's Country"), and also the Ranelagh: hence the O'Byrnes were styled Lords of Ranelagh

O'Ceallaigh or O'Kelly, and O'Taidhg

Chiefs of Hy-Maile [Imaile] and of Hy-Teigh. This ancient family of O'Teigh have anglicised the name "Tighe;" and the O'Kellys here mentioned were of the same race as the MacMurroghs, OTooles, O'Byrnes, etc. The territory of Hy-Teigh was also called Crioch Cualan or "Cualan's Country," which comprised the baronies of Rathdown, Newcastle, and Arklow. The Four Tribes of Tara 

O'Cosgraidh or O'Cosgrave

and O'Fiachraidh, other Chiefs in Cualan

O'Cosgraidh or O'CosgraveChiefs of Beantraidhe, now the Barony of "Bantry," county Wexford

O'Duibhgin

probably O'Dugan, Chiefs in Shelbourne, a Barony in Wexford

O'Gaithin, and O'Dunlaing or Dowling(some of this family have anglicised the name "Laing"), Chiefs of Siol Elaigh and the Lagan; this territory of Siol Elaigh is now the Barony of "Shilelagh," in the south of the county Wicklow

O'Gairbidh or O'Garvey

other Chiefs in Hy-Felimy

MacGiollamocholmog

Chiefs of Cualan

O'Kinsellagh, O'Cahill, O'Doyle, O'Bulger, and MacCoskleywere powerful clans and had large possessions in the counties of Wexford and Carlow. O'Brien or MacBrien, and O'Moore, were also respectable families in Wexford. O'Doran held the high office of hereditary Brehons of Leinster; and, being the judges of that province, had extensive possessions under its ancient kings. Donald Caombanach [Cavanagh], a son of King Dermod Mac-Murrough, succeeded partly to the inheritance of the kingdom of Leinster; and from him some of his descendants took the name of Kavanagh or Cavanagh, or MacMurrough-Kavanagh

O'Lorcain or O'Larkin

Chiefs of Fothart, the territory of the Foharta, now the Barony of "Forth," in the county Wexford; the O'Larkins had their fortress at Carn, now the headland called Carnsore Point

O'Murchada or O'Murphy

Chiefs of Crioch O'Felme or Hy-Feidhlme [Hy-Felimy], and of the same race as the MacMurroughs, kings of Leinster. Hy-Felimy extended along the seacoast, and was commonly called the "Murrowes;" and comprised the baronies of Ballagheen in the county Wexford

O'Nuallain, O'Nolan, or O'Nowlan

Chiefs of Fotharta Feadha, now the Barony of "Forth," in the county Carlow.  

O'Riaghain or O'Ryan

Lord of Hy-Drona, a territory, which comprised the present baronies of "Idrone," in the county Carlow. The O'Ryans were styled princes of Hy-Drona and were the stock of the O'Ryans who had extensive possessions in Tipperay

O'Tuathail or O'Toole

Chiefs of Hy-Murray, an extensive territory comprising the greater part of the baronies of Talbotstown and Shilelagh in the county Wicklow, and extending as far as Almain, now the Hill of Allen, in the county Kildare; thus containing a great portion of the baronies of Naas, Kilcullen, Kilkea and Moone, and Connell, in that county. The O'Tooles were princes of Imaile; of the same race as the MacMurroughs; and like them eligible to be kings of the province of Leinster. The celebrated St. Lawrence O'Toole was of this family

 

Ancient Surnames index