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: |
MacAodha or MacHugh | Chiefs of
Clan Cosgraidh, a district on the eastern side of Lough Corrib. |
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. |
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 Cenél-Dobtha, in the
Barony of Roscommon. This district formed part of the "Tuatha" in which
was situated the Slieve Baun Mountain. |
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. |
O'Cadhla,
O'Cawley, or Kealy | Chiefs of Conmaicne Mara (or Connemara),
now the Barony of Ballynahinch, in the county Galway. |
O'Callanan
and O'Canavan | whom O'Dugan mentions as hereditary
physicians in Galway. |
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'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'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. |
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'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. |
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'Conceannain or O'Concannon | Chiefs
of Hy-Diarmada, a district on the borders of Roscommon and Galway, in the baronies
of Athlone and Ballymoe. |
O'Connaill or
O'Connell | Chiefs of the territory fr om 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 | The Seven Septs
of Leix | The Four Tribes
of Tara |
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. |
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'Docomlain | Chiefs
of Eidhnigh; and O'Gabhrainor O'Gauran, Chiefs of Dál Druithne, districts
about Loughrea. |
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 families who have preserved their title of Prince, namely,
"Hereditary Prince of Coolavin" a title by which the MacDermott is to
this day recognized 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'Domhnallain
or O'Donnelan | Chiefs of Clan Breasail, a district
in the Barony of Leitrim, and county Galway |
O'Donchadha
or O'Donoghoe | Chiefs of Clan Cormaic, a district
in Maenmoy in Galway, already defined |
O'Dubhthaigh
or O'Duffy | families of note in Galway and Roscommon |
O'Duibhghind | Chiefs
of the Twelve Ballys or Townlands of Duibhghind, a district near Loughrea, in
the county Galway |
O'Dulbhgiolla
or O'Diffely | Chiefs of Cenél-Cinngamhna [Cean
Gamhna]; MacFiachra, Chiefs of Oga Peathra; O'Cathain or O'Cahan, Chiefs of Cenél-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 |
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 |
O'Fallamhain or O'Fallon | 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'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'Flaithbheartaigh or O'Flaherty | Chiefs
of Muintir Murchadha, now the Barony of Clare, county Galway. In the thirteenth
century the English expelled the O'Flahertys from this territory; 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'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'Floinn or O'Flynn | Chiefs
of Siol Maolruain, a large district in the Barony of Ballintubber, county Roscommon;
in which lay Slieve Uí 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 |
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 |
MacGiolladuibh or MacGillduff | Anglicised
"Kilduff," Chiefs of Caladh, along with the O'Leahys, in the Barony
of Kilconnell, county Galway |
MacGiolla
Ceallaigh or MacGilkelly | Anglicised "Kilkelly,"
Chiefs in South Fiachra |
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'Hainlidhe , O'Hanley, or Henley | Chiefs
of Cenél Dobhtha, a large district in the Barony of Ballintobber, along
the Shannon. It formed part of the Three Tuatha or the Three Districts |
O'Halloran | Chiefs
of Clan Fargal, a large district on the east side of the river of Galway, near
Lough Corrib |
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'Hullachain
or O'Hoolaghan | Sometimes Anglicised "O'Coolaghan"
and MacCoolaghan, Chiefs of Siol Anmchadha |
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 |
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'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'Horanor
Horan, all clans in Hy-Maine, in the county Galway |
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'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'Mannachain
or O'Monaghan | Chief on the same territory
as O'Beirne. These O'Beirnes are of a distinct race from the O'Byrnes of Wicklow |
MacManus; Keon, MacKeon | or
MacEwen; O'Common or Cummins, and O'Ronan or Ronayne, clans in the county Roscommon |
O'Maolbrennain | Anglicised
"Mulrenan," Chiefs of Clan Conchobhair or Clan Connor, a district near
Cruachan or Croaghan, in the Baronyand county of Roscommon |
O'Maolalaidh or O'Mullally | Anglicised
"Lally." |
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 |
MacMurchada, MacMurrough or Murphy | Chiefs
of Totaigh in Roscommon, of which MacOiraghta was head Chief |
O'Neachtain or O'Naghten | Anglicised
"Norton." O'Dugan gives the O'Naghtens and O'Mullallys 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 |
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." |
O'Rothlain | (O'Rowland,
O'Roland, and O'Rollin), Chiefs of Coill Fothaidh, a district on the borders of
Roscommon and Mayo |
O'Seachnasaigh
, Cenél-Aodha O'Shaugnessey, O'Shannesy | Chiefs
of Cenél- Aodha (or Cenél-Hugh), a district in the Barony of Kiltartan,
county Galway. Cenél-Hugh was sometimes called Cenél-Hugh of Echty,
a mountainous district on the borders of Galway and Clare. O'Cathail or O'Cahil
was also a Chief of Cenél-Hugh |
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,
Anglicized "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 |
