Irish chiefs and clans of ancient Ormond (and Ely)
Excerpts from "Irish Pedigrees; or The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation", by John O'Hart (1892).
(County Tipperary)
O'Carroll, Prince of Ely, ruled according to O'Heerin, over eight subordinate chiefs; and had their castle at Birr, now Parsonstown, in the King's County. The territory of "Ely" got its name from Eile, one of its princes, in the fifth century; and from being possessed by the O'Carrolls, was called "Ely O'Carroll;" The part of Ely in the King's County belonged to the ancient province of Munster. Also Éile. This sept derives its name from Cearbhal who sided with Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014. Their territory covered modern South Offaly and North Tipperary and was called Ely. Following the Anglo-Norman invasion they lost the Tipperary portion and were confined to the baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt in modern Offaly. It was regarded as belonging to the province of Munster and to the present day that area is in the Diocese of Killaloe, with the exception of Seir Kieran parish which is in Ossory diocese. When King's County was enlarged in 1605 it took in this area.
O'Kennedy, of Munster, chief of Gleann Omra; were of the Dalcassian race; and possessed the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county Tipperary. Notes: Gleann Omra was co-extensive with the parish of Killokennedy in county Clare, originally held by O'Kennedy prior to moving across the river Shannon into Muscraighe Tire (Ormond). Also see Síl Cennétich
O'Shanahan (or O'Shannon), descended from Lorcan, a king of Munster, who was grandfather of Brian Boru: hence, the O'Shanahans or Shannons are a branch of the Dalcassians, who were also designated Clan Tail. The O'Shannons were chiefs of a territory called Feadha Hy Rongaile or the Woods of Hy-Rongaile comprising the country about Eibhline; and, as Slieve Eibhline is stated in the old writers to be near Cashel, this territory appears to have been situated either in the barony of Middlethird or of Eliogarty. Notes: (Ó Seanachain of Uí Bloid). Uí Rongaile is described by O'Donovan (Topo. Poems) as coextensive with the parishes of Kilnoe and Killuran in county Clare, and and Ebhlinn in or near these parishes. Slieve Eibhline, alias the Sliabh Phelim mountains, are near Cashel. MacLysaght places the O'Shanahans in the north of the barony of Tulla, between Bodyke and Feakle, in county Clare; the parish of Kilnoe lies in the south of the same barony. The O'Shanahans of Clare became dispersed by the MacNamaras in the 14th century.
O'Dwyer, chief of Hy-Aimrit, was a branch of the Heremonians; and possessed extensive territory in the present baronies of Kilnamanagh, county Tipperary. Notes: (Ó Duibhir or Ó Dubhuidhir). Uí Aimrit of Duibhidhir; alias Muinter Midhasa. Cairney (Clans & Familes) places the O'Dwyers in the lineage of the Dal Cairpre Arad. Their territory was centered in the mountains of Kilnamanagh between the town of Thurles and the Limerick border, where they held power and resisted the encroachments of the English down to modern times.
O'Dea, and O'Hoiliolla (or O'Hulla), are given by O'Heerin as chiefs of Sliabh Ardach, now the barony of "Slieveardagh," in Tipperary. Notes: Árda, or Sliabh Árdachaidh, a mountain east of Cashel, the land of a tribe of the O'Deas. A sept of Uí Ailella is mentioned in the Book of Leinster in Airthiur Éoganacht Caisil
O'Carthy, chief of Muiscridh Iarthar Feimin -- a territory which, according to O'Halloran, was situated near Emly, in Tipperary. Notes: Muscraighe Airthir Feimin was in the vicinity from Cashel to Clonmel and the ancient land of the MacCarthys and O'Sullivans before being driven into county Cork.
O'Meara, chief of Hy-Fathaidh, Hy-Niall, and Hy-Eochaidh-Finn. The O'Mearas had an extensive territory in the barony of Upper Ormond, county Tipperary; and the name of their chief residences Tuaim-ui-Meara, is still retained in the town of "Toomavara," in that district. The Hy-Nialls here mentioned were of the race of Eugenius of Munster. Notes: (Ó Meadhra). O'Meara (and O'Mara) are cited by MacLysaght (Irish Families) with northern county Tipperary origins. An Uí Fathaidh is described by multiple sources in the barony of Iffa and Offa West, county Tippereray. An Uí Eogain Finn is decribed by O'Donovan (Poems) in North Déisi, county Tipperary, indicating an affiliation with the barony of Iffa and Offa.
O'Meagher or Maher, chief of Crioch-ui-Cairin, or the land of Hy-Kerrin, now the barony of "Ikerin," in the county Tipperary. Notes: (Ó Meachair). O'Heerin (Poems) - Crioch Keerin, or Uí Cairin, now anglicised Ikerrin.
O'Flanagan, chiefs of Uachtar Tire and of Cenél Agra. The district of Uachtar Tire (or the Upper Country) was situated in the barony of Iffa and Offa, on the borders of Tipperary and Waterford; and that of Cenél Agra, in Ely O'Carroll, in the King's County. Notes: (Ó Flannagáin). The Uí Flannacan Eli, alias Cenél Farga, occupied the barony of of Ballybrit, King's county (Index of Annals of Loch Cé).
O'Breslin, chief of Hy-Athy of Ely, which appears to have been a part of Ely O'Carroll, situated near the Shannon; and these O'Breslins were probably a branch of the O'Breslins of Donegal, who were Brehons or judges to the O'Donnells, princes of Tirconnell, and to the MacGuires, princes of Fermanagh. Notes: (Ó Breislein). O'Breslen was chief of Fanad in county Donegal. Keating (History) mentions the O'Breslen settled near the river Shannon and obtained lands "by force of battle."
O'Keane, chief of Hy-Fodhladha, a district supposed to be on the borders of Tipperary and Waterford. Notes: O'Laughlin (Book of Irish Familes) states that O'Cein or O'Kean, chief of Fodhladha, is mentioned by Aryan, i.e. "O'Kean from Machuin Meadaidh. His fame shall spread over tribes." He also notes that in Waterford this family was centered in the barony of Decies without Drum. MacLysaght (Irish Families) mentions a sept named Kean (Ó Cein) of county Waterford who is cited in O'Heerins Poem. He also mentions the O'Keanes of Thomond, citing no specific geographic region.
O'Donegan (or O'Dongan) prince of Aradh, was of the race of Heremon. The O'Donegans were styled princes of Muiscrith Tire, now Lower Ormond, in Tipperary; and possessed Aradh Cliach, now the barony of Owney and Arra, also in Tipperary. Notes: Also see Múscraige Tíre.
O'Donnelly, or O'Dongally, and O'Fuirig (or O'Furey), also chiefs of Muiscrith Tire. Notes: Also see Múscraige Tíre.
O'Fogarty, chiefs of South Ely, now the barony of Eliogarty, in Tipperary, had their chief seats about Thurles; it was called South Ely, to distinguish it from North Ely or Ely O'Carroll. Notes: Also see Eile Uí Fogartaigh.
O'Cullen, chief of Éoganacht of Arra; and O'Keely, chief of Aolmoy: these two districts appear to have been in the barony of Owney and Arra, in Tipperary.
O'Duinechair and O'Dinan, chiefs of Éoganacht Uaithne Ageamar [Owney Agamar]. This territory comprised part of the counties of Tipperary and Limerick, now the baronies of Owney and Owneybeg. Notes: Also see Uaithne
O'Ryan or O'Mulrian of Tipperary, afterwards possessed Owney in Tipperary, and Owneybeg in Limerick. Notes: Their territory also became known as Uaithne-Ui-Mhaoilriain. Also see Uaithne
O'Mearns, chief of Éoganacht Ross Airgid. Notes: Ros Airgaid was situated in or near the barony of Upper Ormond, Co. Tipperary. A sept of Eoganachts of Rosarguid included Síl Mailedúin. Dun Cais in Upper Ormond was a seate of the Éoganacht Ruis Arguid (Topo. Poems).
MacKeogh or Kehoe, chief of Uaithne Tire, a territory situated in ancient Owney, which comprised the present baronies of Owney and Arra, in Tipperary; and Owneybeg, in Limerick. In that territory also dwelt the O'Linskeys or Lynches, who are described as "men of lands," dwelling in the neighbourhood of the Danes, who possessed Limerick. Notes: Also see Uaithne
O'Heffernan and O'Callanan were chiefs of Owney Cliach, a territory situated in the barony of Owney and Arra, county Tipperary; these O'Heffernans were a branch of the O'Heffernans of Clare. Notes: Also see Uaithne
MacLenehan (Irish Mac Longachain), chief of Crota Cliach, and Hy-Coonagh. This territory was situated partly in the barony of Owney and Arra, in Tipperary, and partly in the barony of Coonagh, county Limerick. The O'Dwyers, chiefs of Kilnamanagh, in Tipperary, were also located in this territory. Notes: Keating in his History locates the Mac Longachains about the border of Tipperary and Limerick, alongside the O'Dwyers. The surname may have evolved into such variants as as Longan, Long, Lenihan and Linehan.
O'Lonergan, ancient chiefs and proprietors of Cahir, and the adjoining districts in Tipperary, till the fourteenth century, when they were dispossessed by the Butlers, earls of Ormond. Notes: Originally situated in northeast county Tipperary, the Lonergans were pressured southwards toward the country around Cashel and Cahir. They, along with O'Hartigan of Munster, were noted of the Cenél mBaoith (Baoi) in descent from Aongus Ceannathrach, i.e. Dalcassian; and noted among the followers of Brian Bóraimhe at Clontarf.
Mac I Brien or MacBrien, a branch of the O'Briens of Thomond, had large possessions in the barony of Owney and Arra, in Tipperary, and in the barony of Coonagh, county Limerick; and were styled lords of Arra and Coonagh. Notes: Also see Dal gCais
MacCorcoran, chief of Clan Rooney, "of the flowery avenues." Notes: The Mac Corocorans, of Clan Ruanni, were an important sept in Ely O'Carroll, located in both counties Offaly and Tipperary. O'Hart (Pedigrees) cites their descent from Ely O'Carroll lineage, noted as chiefs in the parish of Killenaule, barony of Slievardagh, county Tipperary.
O'Hogan, chief of Crioch Cian, about Lower Ormond, in Tipperary. Notes: Crioch Chein (O'Hogan or O'Hegan), is described as one of the tuaths under Eile O'Carroll by O'Heerin (Topo. Poems). Ardcrony, 4 1/2 miles north of Nenagh, was the site of a ruined castle and church built by the O'Hogans
MacGillfoyle or Gilfoyle, chief of Clan Quinlevan. The MacGillfoyles appear to have been located on the borders of Tipperary and King's County; and some of the O'Quinlevans have changed the name to "Quinlan." Notes: (Mac Giolla Phóil). The MacGilfoyles chiefs were seated in the vicinity of Shinrone, county Offaly, in Ely O'Carroll country. O'Heerin (Topo. Poems) calls the MacGilfoyle chief "the scion of Birra of the warlike tribe, is Mac Gilla-Phoill of fair fortune." The O'Quinlivans, according to Keating (History), sometimes changed their name to "Quinlan" and are now numerous in Tipperary and Limerick.
O'Bannan or Bannin, chief of Hy-Dechi, a territory situated in the north of Tipperary. Notes: Uí Déice was the tribe-name of the Uí Banáin of Leap Castle, in the Barony of Clonlisk near Roscrea. They were once seated at Leim Uí Bhanain, now Leap Castle, which later became an Ely O'Caroll castle.
O'Ailche, chief of Tuatha Faralt. Notes: O'Hart (Pedigrees) also mentions the O'h-Ailche family, anglicised Halley and Hally, as a branch of the O'Kennedys of Ormond, descendants of Cormac Cas. Tuatha-Fearalt, a district in the county of Tipperary (perhaps in Hy-Fogharty), was the lordship of the family, whom O'Heerin mentions. O'Donovan (Topo. Poems) mentions the Uí Aliche, now Halley, in the barony of Ikerrin or near Templemore, county Tipperary. MacLysaght (More Irish Families) mentions Ó hAilche (Halley) as a small sept around Templemore. Keating (History) mentions the land of the family as "a plain of fair fortresses and a numerous tribe, like the lands of the shallow rivers of Taiti. The Book of Lecan mentions the name Ailche of Muscraidi Tíre (baronies of Ormond), from whom are Uí Lachtnain of Ard na nÉn and Uí Luinin of Druim Inbhir (barony of lower Ormond, co. Tipperary.)
O'Cahill, chief of Corca Tine, situated on the borders of Tipperary and Kilkenny. Notes: O'Heerin (Topo. Poems) describes Corca Tine and Ely the southern next to one another in his poem, which would seem to indicate Corca Tine was in (or near) the barony of Elyogarty, county Tipperary. MacLysaght (Irish Families) gives this sept of O'Cahill located between Thurles and Templemore. O'Donovan's Supplement to O'Reilly's Irish Dictionary places the territory of Corco Thened in the parish of Templemore, and the name Corketenny in the deanery of Eliogarty seems to be applied to the same in Sweetman & Handcock's Calendar of Documents. MacFirbis' Book of Genealogies makes note of the Uí Cuanach of Corco Teneadh and the Uí Lachtnan of Bearnán Ele, the latter location being the name of the parish next to Templemore. The parish of Ballycahill in Eliogarty, and the townland of Ballycahill in Templemore (in Eliogarty) indicate the presence of the O'Cahill chiefs in this vicinity.
O'Dinnerty and O'Amry, clans located on the borders of Tipperary and Kilkenny. Notes: O'Heerin mentions the name O'Dinerty, alongside O'Hamery, and the placement within the poem may suggest a location in either the baronies of Ikerrin or Eliogarty, Ikerrin bordering on the medieval county of Kilkenny. The name O'Hamery may have evolved into surnames such a Amery or Amory.
O'Spillane, chief of Hy-Luighdeach, situated on the borders of Tipperary and Kilkenny. Notes: The Spillanes were sept (of the Dál gCais?) who were anciently chiefs of Uí Luighdheach, or Ileagh, in the present Barony of Eliogarty in Tipperary. According to MacLysaght (Irish Families), they were dispossesed of their lands by the O'Dwyers in early medieval times and perhaps later moving into Cork and Kerry. The large townland of Ballyspellan (Baile Uí Speallain), suggests an early presence of the O'Spillanes in adjoining Galmoy barony in county Kilkenny.
MacEagan, in the barony of Arra, were hereditary Brehons; and O'Cullenan or MacCullinan, hereditary physicians in Ormond. Notes: The MacEagan were originally a Brehon (law) family among the Uí Maine septs, who later settled chiefly in Ormond. The O'Cullinans are traditionally found in counties Cork, Clare and Waterford. A sept was recorded as early chiefs in the barony of Barryroe in county Cork, as a branch of the Corca Laidhe (MacLysaght). In addition, the sept of O'Cullinane had their origins in the barony of Orrery, County Cork, as Lords of Muscraighe Tri Maighe (O'Brien's Irish Dictionary).
O'Scully, O'Hanrahan, O'Lanigan, and MacGrath, were also clans of note in Tipperary; and O'Honeen, who changed their name to "Green," and "Hoyne," were numerous in Tipperary and Clare. Notes: The Scullys were a Westmeath sept who moved into Tipperary on the heels of the Anglo-Norman arrival cited near Lorrha in north Tipperary as eranaghs of the church of St. Ruan. The O'Hanrahans were a Daclassian sept of counties Clare and Tipperary. The O'Lanigans are traditionally linked to counties Kilkenny and Tipperary. The Mac Graths of county Clare were hereditary poets to the ruling O'Briens, who are said to have spread into Tipperary and Waterford. The O'Honeens as noted by MacLysaght as a Dalcassian sept of west Munster (Clare, Tippery, etc), the Gaelic form of the name given as Ó hUathnin. On his map, MacLysaght places the surname Honeen in the Corca Mruad (Burren) region of northwest county Clare.
O'Riordan, O'Riordan, a clan of note in Muskerry; and distinguished military chiefs in ancient times. Notes: The surname originated in the area between the modern towns of Thurles in Co. Tipperary and Birr in Co. Offaly known as "Ely O’Carroll", the kingdom of Éile . Interestingly, a genealogy for O'Riordain, in descent from the Eoganacht, is given in the Book of Munster. With pressure from the rise in power of the Dal gCais (O'Briens) the Riordans migrated into county Cork by the 12th century, where they eventually settled in the Muskerry region of west Cork.