TIROWEN
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| THE Chiefs and clans of Tir-Owen, and the territories they possessed in the twelfth century, as given by O'Dugan, are as follows: | |
Ó Neill and MacLoghlin | Princes |
O'Gnive or O'Gneeve (Anglicized "Agnew") | Hereditary bards to the Ó Neill. The Ó Neills maintained their independence down to the end of the sixteenth century, as princes of Tyrone; and in the reigns of Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth, bore the titles of Earls of Tyrone and barons of Dungannon. The last celebrated Chiefs of the name were Hugh Ó Neill, the great Earl of Tyrone, famous as the commander of the northern Irish in their wars with Elizabeth; and Owen Roe Ó Neill, the general of the Irish of Ulster in the Cromwellian wars, A.D. 1641. Several of the Ó Neills have been distinguished in the military service of Spain, France, and Austria. In consequence of the adherence of the Ulster Chiefs to Hugh Ó Neill, in the wars with Elizabeth, six counties in Ulster were confiscated, namely: Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Cavan, Armagh--all in the reign of King James the First. A project was then formed of peopling these counties with British colonies; and this project was called the "Plantation of Ulster". |
O'Cahan (Chattan) |
Of the race of Owen, and who was Chief of Cianacht of Glean Geibhin (or Keenaght of Glengiven). The O'Cahans were also Chiefs of the Creeve, now the Barony of Coleraine; and in after times, possessed the greater part of the county Derry, which was called "O'Cahan's Country;" they also, at an early period, possessed part of Antrim, and had their seate at the castle of Dunseverick. The O’Cahans (O Cathain) were a great family in County Derry, sub-kings of the Cenél Eoghain, whose heads were privileged to be one of the hereditary inaugurators of the Ó Neill. They rose to great power during the twelfth century, and were lords of Keenaght, being possessed of the greater part of what is now County Derry until their lands were confiscated by the English in the Ulster Plantation of the sixteenth century. A branch settled in Thomond (northeast Munster). There is a sixteenth-century O’Cahan knight’s effigy at Dungiven in County Derry. The Monros (Mac an Rothaich), derive their name from a place at the foot of the River Roe in Derry, and according to the Clan Donald tradition, they came into Scotland in the train of a daughter of the O’Cahan that became a MacDonald princess. They possessed the vast district of Foulis on the Cromarty Firth in Ross, and also lands in Strathoykell. |
The O'Connors | Chiefs of Cianacta before the O'Cahans, and were descendants of Cian, son of Olioll Olum, King of Munster: hence their territory obtained the name of Cianachta, a name still preserved in the Barony of "Keenaught," county Derry. |
O'Duibhdiorma or O'Dwyorma | Sometimes-Anglicized O'Dermot or O'Dermody, but a distinct clan from MacDermot, prince of Moylurg, in Connaught. The O'Dwyorma were Chiefs of Breadach, which comprised the parishes of Upper and Lower Moville, in the Barony of Innishowen. The name of this district is still preserved in the sl river "Bredagh," which falls into Lough Foyle. O'Gormley or Grimly, Chief of Cenél Moain, now the Barony of Raphoe, county Donegal. |
Moy Ith and Cenél Enda | Partly in the Barony of Raphoe, and partly in the Barony of Tirkeran in Derry. O'Flaherty places Moy Ith in Cinachta or Keenaught. According to O'Dugan, the following were the Chiefs of Moy Ith: O'Boyle, O'Mulbraisil, O'Quinn, and O'Kenny. |
O'Broder, O'Mulhall and O'Hogan | Chiefs of Carruic Bachuighe, still traceable by the name "Carrickbrack," in the Barony of Inishowen. |
O'Hagan | Chief of Tullaghoge in the parish of Desertcreight, Barony of Dungannon, and county Tyrone. The O’Hagans (O hAgain) of the Cenél Eoghain descend from Tighearnach, who was a son of Muireadhach mac Eoghain, and thus a grandson of Eoghain, the eponymous ancestor of the clan. They were divided into two groups: The main being chiefs of Cenél Fearghusa, a territory around Tullaghoge or Tullahogue in County Tyrone (Tir Eoghain), and the other being chiefs of Cenél Tighearnaigh in County Derry, where their presence is recalled by the place called Ballyagan (there is another Ballyhagan in Antrim). It was the hereditary privilege of the O’Hagans to inaugurate The Ó Neill at their seate of Tullahogue (along with the O’Cahans). |
O'Donegan | or Dongan, MacMurchadh or MacMorough, O'Farrell or Freel, and MacRory or MacRogers, Chiefs of Tealach Ainbith and of Muintir Birn, districts in the baronies of Dungannon and Strabane. |
O'Kelly | Chief of Cenél Eachaidh or Corca Eachaidh, probably "Corcaghee," in the Barony of Dungannon. |
O'Tierney, and O'Kieran | Chiefs of Fearnmuigh. |
O'Duvany, Oh-Aghmaill or O'Hamil | Chief of three districts called Teallach Cathalain, Tealach Duibhrailbe, and Tealach Braenain. |
O'Heitigen or Magettigan | |
O'Mulfoharty | and O'Heodhasa or O'Hosey, Chiefs of Cenél Tighearnaigh. |
O'Cooney, and O'Bailey (Bayly, or Bailie) | Chiefs of Clan Fergus. |
O'Murchada, O'Murphy, and O'Mellon | Chiefs of Soil Aodha-Eanaigh. |
MacFetridge | Chief of Cenél Feraidaigh, in the north of Tyrone. In the Annals of the Four Masters, under A.D. 1185, mention is made of Gillchreest MacCathmhaoil (MacCampbell or MacCowell), head Chieftain of the Cenél Fereadaidh, who was slain by O'Negnaidh or O'Neney, aided by Muintir Chaonain or the O'Keenans. That Gillchreest MacCathmhaoil, was also head Chieftain of clan Aongus, clan Dubhinreacht, clan Fogarty O'Ceannfhoda, and clan Colla of Fermanagh-"the Chief of the councils of the north of Ireland." These Cathmhaoils were a powerful clan in Tyrone, and many of them in Monaghan, Louth and Armagh. |
The clans of Maolgeimridh | (Mulgemery, or Montgomery) and of Maolpadraig or Kilpatrick, who possessed the two districts of Cenél Fereadaidh (or Faraday), in the east of Tyrone. |
Muintir Taithligh of Hy-Laoghaire of Lough Lir | a name Anglicized MacTully or Tully. |
O'Hanter or Hunter | Chiefs of Hy-Seaain. The following Chiefs and clans, not given by O'Dugan, are collected in Connellan's Four Masters, from various other sources: |
O'Criochain or O'Crehan | (mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, under A.D. 1200), Chief of Hy-Fiachra, a territory which comprised the parish of Ardstraw, and some adjoining districts in Tyrone. |
O'Quinn | Chief of Moy Lugad and of Siol Cathusaigh (a quo Casey), as given by the Four Masters, under A.D. 1218. Moy Lugad, according to the Books of Lecan and Ballymote, lay in Keenaght of Glengiven, county Derry. |
The O'Cearbhallins | (O'Carolans or Kerlins), a name sometimes Anglicized "Carleton," were Chiefs of clan Diarmaida, now the parish of Clandermod or Glendermod, in Derry. |
The O'Brolachans | By some changed to Bradley, etc., were a branch of the Cineeal Owen. |
MacBlosgaidh or MacClosky | A branch of the O'Cahans, was a numerous clan in the parish of Dungiven and the adjoining localities. |
O'Devlins | Chief of Muintir Dubhlin, near Lough Neagh, on the borders of Derry and Tyrone. |
The O'Looneys | Chiefs of Muintir Loney, a district known as the Monter Loney Mountains in Tyrone. |
O'Connellan | Chief of Crioch Tullach in Tyrone. |
O'Donnelly | Chiefs in Tyrone, at Ballydonnelly and other parts. |
O'Nena | (ean: Irish, a bird), O'Neny or MacNeny were Chiefs of Cenél Naena in Tyrone, bordering on Monaghan; of this family was Count O'Neny of Brussels, in the Austrian service, under the Empress Maria Theresa. |
O'Flaherty | Lord of Cenél Owen, but a branch of the great family of O'Flaherty in Connaught. |
O'Murray | A clan in Derry. |
MacShane | (A name Anglicized "Johnson"), a clan in Tyrone. |
O'Mulligan | Anglicized "Molineux," were also a clan in Tyrone. |