Five branches of the Family

  • Ballinderry
  • Fearnocht
  • Castletown
  • Castlereagh
  • Mullingar

Ballinderry & Fearnocht


"However, I ascertained satisfactorily that the line of Art of Ballinderry, chief of the name at the commencement of the last century, was extinct. According to the concurrent tradition of the country, he died, without issue, while resident with the family of Daly, or O'Daly, at Castle Daly, near Moat, and with which family he was in some way connected by an intermarriage. Indeed, according to a tradition which I noted, the ancestor of the Dalys obatined property in the county by marriage with an heiress named Grace, or Graine og ni Melaghlin, 'of Moat or some other castle.' This castle was most probably that of Killeliegh, now Castle Daly, which had belonged to the O'Melaghlins; and as the husband was said to have been a 'big trooper in Cromwell's army, but a gentleman,' he was probably the James Daly of Killcleagh who, according to an inscription on a tombstone at Clonmacnoise, 'dyed the 18th of January, A.D. 1679.' Art of Ballinderry was said to have been a person of weak mind.

"Having settled this point, my inquiries were next directed to the Fearnocht barnch, of which Captain Murrough, or Margan, was the chief ta the close of the seventeenth century. This Murrough appears to have been regarded as the chief or leader of the Melaghlins during the rebellion of 1641, as I should suppose in consequence of the mentall imbecility of his kinsman, Art; for, in the catalogue given by De Burgo - Hib. Dom. Supplementum, p. 879 - of the nobles and gentlemen, who in 1646, associated with the clergy in repudiating the peace of Ormond, we find the name of D. Morganus O'Melaghlin, cum tota sua Familia. Of this Morgan and his posterity, as might be expected, the traditions were very vivid, and, in general, accurate. And, to my great regret, I soon learnt, from the concurrent testimony of various informants, that of his offspring in the male line there existed no representative. He left two sons and four daughters. The sons died without leaving issue, and the property of the father was gaveled amonst the four daughters. Of these daughters, all of whom married - the eldest, who was named Bridget, became the wife of John Tyreell Wat, Esq., and she, it appears, sold her inheritance, in 1748, to Mr. Robert Mulock, in whose posterity it still remains. By this marriage, John Tyrrell left a son, Wat, and this Wat left a son, John, and two daughters, namely, Bridget and Margaret. Of these daughters, Bridgetf became the wife of Mr. Molloy, by whom she had one son, who was living with his father and mother in Athlone at the time when I received this information, which was givent o me by persons residing in the vicinity of Moate .... "



Selteneveeny Branch, Roscommon County
Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland
Cornelius MacLoughlin of Selteneveeny

An ancestor, Morogh Dubh O'Melaghlin, built a house of refuge on a small island in Lough Meelagh, Kilronan. His father, Calvagh or
Charles, prince of Meath, died ca. 1599. A great-great-grandson of Morogh, Thomas MacLoughlin, is listed at Selteneveeny, Roscommon.
This family was an offshoot of the O'Melaghlin of Ballinderry branch of the O'Melaghlins.

County Westmeath Census of 1659
Barony of Clonlonan
Principle Irish Names: McLaughlin 10

King's County Census of 1659
Barony of Garriecastle
titulado: Terence Melaghline, gent.
townland: Gallen

Roscommon County Census of 1659
Barony of Ballentabber
Principle Irish Names: O'Melaghlin 11
titulado: Neile O'Melaghlin, gent.
townland: Cloonbellagh

1609 Pardon Lists
Patent Rolls of King James I

LXXVI-10 Lisagh O'Molaghlin of Tinaminck, gent.
King's County


Persons Transplanted in Ireland
O'Hart "Landed Gentry"

Westmeath County
Charles Mellaghlin, of Killrowe
State Papers 1600

"Here is one Iriel Omalaughlin, chief of his name, now taken in, who desireth to receive his country as Maguire doth, and therefore (if your Lordships so like of it), it were good the Queen's warrant were for those two in particular, and generally for others of the Irishy, that should seek to have a state of their countries from her Majesty in this manner, with such reservations and provisions as we should think meet for her Majesty's service, and to tie them faster to their loyalty. O'Malaughlin's country is in the furthest parts of Westmeath, towrads Athlone, which, being brought back again to obedience, will be a good mean to secure all the tract between Mullingar and Athlone.


O Maoilseachlainn (O'Melaghlin)
Kings of Meath
Now MacLoughlin

87 Niall 'of the Nine Hostages' +405
88. Conal Cremthainn
89. Fearghus Cearbhaill
90. Diarmond
91. Colman Mor
92. Suibhne
93. Airmedeach Caech
94. Diermod Dian
95. Murchadh Midheach
96. Domhnall High King +763
97. Donnchadh High King +797
98. Maolruanaidh +843
99. Maoilseachlainn (Malachy I) High King +862
100. Flann Sinna 'of the Shannon' High King +914
101. Donnchadh High King
102. Domhnall +952
103. Maoilseachlainn (Malachy II) Mor High King +1022
104. Domhnall
105. Conchobar +1073
106. Domhnall +1094
107. Murchadh
108. Maoilseachlainn +1155
109. Art +1184
110. Cormac +1239
111. Art na Caislen +1283
112. Niall
113. Cormac ballach +1362
114. Cormac
115. Conn +1431
116. Art +1468
117. Conn Mor O'Melaghlin

 

88. Conall Cremthainn, first Christian king of Meath, ancestor of O'Melachlin, Kings of Meath and Monarchs of Ireland.

89. Fearghus Cearbhaill, his son.

90. Diarmod, his son, the 5th Christian king of Meath and the 133rd Monarch of Ireland, was slain at the battle of Rath-begg, by Hugh dubh MacTiergney, king of the Dal Araidhe, A.D. 558. He had an older brother Maine was was king of Meath, next before him.

91. Colman Mor, his son, succeeded his father in the kingship of Meath for four years, at the end whereof he was slain by his younger brother, Lochan Diomhain, ancestor to the Dillons of Cuircneach, in the county of Westmeath, for refusing to give him a proporion of his father's estate. He had another brother Aodh Slaine, the 141st Monarch of Ireland, slain at Loch-Sewcly, A.D. 600.

92. Suibhne, his son, the 8th Christian king of Meath, 18 years, had a brother Aonghus, ancestor to O'Callaghan.

93. Conall, the 11th Christian king of Meath, 8 years.

94. Airmedeach caech, his son, the 12th Christian king of Meath, 16 years.

95. Diermod Dian, his son, the 13th king of Meath, 36 years.

96. Murchadh Midheach, the 14th king of Meath, 20 years.

97. Domhnall, his son, the 19th king of Meath, for 46 years, whereof he reigned as Monarch of Ireland for 20 years; died a.D. 758.

98. Donchadh, his son, succeeded his brother Muirchertach, whom he slew, the 22nd king of Meath, for 30 years, whereof he reigned as Moanrch of Ireland, the 163rd, for 27 years, and died a great penitent in a religious order, A.D. 790.

99. Maolruanaidh, his son, the 27th king of Meath, for 10 years; had three older brothers, viz., Domhnall, the 23rd king, slain in battle by the Danes, whose son Muirdoch was the 24th king; Ailill, the 25th king; and Longaonarus, the 26th king and the 165th Monarch of Ireland, who after 14 year's reign, died a great penitent, A.D. 831.

100. Maoilseachlainn Mor (or Malachy), the 29th king of Meath, for 17 years, for 15 whereof he governed Ireland, the 167th Monarch, in which time he expelled the Danes out of his kingdom, having by a bold strategem surprised and taken prisoner their king or general, Turgesius, with most of his chief commanders, of whom her murdered all except Turgesius, whom he kept alive for some time at Cno-Innis, a little island upon Loch-Aninn in the county of Westmeath, where he was drowned either by the Monarch's command or more kiely, endearvoring to make his escape. He had a elder brother Flaith, the 28th king of Meath. The Monarch himself was slain in the battle of Farow in the county of Westmeath, A.D. 860.

101. Flann Sinna, his son, the 32nd king of Meath and the 169th Monarch of Ireland, for 38 years. Soon after his father's death, the Danes returning into Ireland in great swarms and becoming very formidalbe, this king quelled them in many battles and encounters; in his time also the king of Munster with a great army invaded Leinster and did much mischief until the Monarch came to aid Cearbhaill,
son of Muirgan, king of Leinster, and in a great battle fought at Magh-nally, Cormac the holy and famous king and bishop of
Munster, with seven petty kings of the south of Ireland, was slain and their army totally routed and destroyed in the pursuit. This
battle was fought, A.D. 905, and in the yeare 914, Flann died a natural death at Tailten and was succeeded in the kingdom of Meath by his younger brother, Longaonarus, who reigned three years.

102. Donchadh, son of Flann, the 35th king of Meath and the 171st Monarch of Ireland, for 25 years, and died A.D. 942. He had an elder brother, Domhnall, the 34th king of Meath, slain by him. He was married to Sara, daughter of Donoch, king of Ossary, a most fortunate and curteous king.

103. Domhnall, his son, the 40th king of Meath, for four years, married Dunleith, daughter of Muirdoch, son of Niall Glundubh, the 170th Monarch of Ireland, and by her had issue.

104. Maoilseachlainn (or Malachy), the 2nd, the 45th king of Meath and the 174th Monarch of Ireland. After 23 year's reign, was forced from the Monarchy to make room for Brian Boromha, king of Munster, who after 12 year's reign, was slain in the great battle of Clontarf aginst the Danes, A.D. 1014. This said Maoilseachlainn resumed the throne and killed and destroyed such of the Danes as fled from the battle, and settled the kingdom, building, re-edifying and repairing many churches, monasteries and colleges
formerly burnt and destroyed by the Danes. He built St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin, and settled sufficient maintenance as well upon
collegs and public schools, for the encouragment of learning and learned men, and maintained 300 scholars out of his own private revenue. Having spent 9 years of his second reign in the well-ruling and governing of his country in these pious and charitable employments, he withdrew himself from all worldly cares and trouble and retired into the little island of Cno-Innis on Loch Aninn (where Turgesius the Danish tyrant was prisoner), containing not above a fourth part of an acre of ground, where this great and pious Monarch built a little cell for himself and his chaplain, and a small chapel or oratory, and therein contined and ended his days penitently and holy, A.D. 1023. (Others say 1034). From him his posterity took the surname of O'Melachlin.

105. Domnall, his son, the 47th king of Meath. Had three brothers, Connor, Murtach and Flann. Flann, who had one son Moroch, king of Meath, the father of two daughters only, viz., Tailte, who was the wife of Domnall O'Ferrall, king of Conmaicne, and Devorgill, wife of Tighernan O'Rourke, king of Breffny, and the unhappy occasion of the English Invasion of this kingdom and the subjection thereof to the Crown of England ever since. For she being a beautiful woman (whether by her own consent or by force is
uncertain), was stolen away from her husband by Diermot MacMorogh, king of Leinster, whereof O'Rourke having complained to Rory O'Connor, king of Connacht, and then Monarch of Ireland, he to revenge the affront and to punish the author of so outrageous a fact, marched with a great army into Leinster and neccessitated the said Diermot, not able to withstand so powerful an army, to fly into England, where he obtained liberty from King Henry the 2nd, for such of his subjects as pleased to come with and assist him in the recovery of his kingdom of Leinster. Whereupon Richard surnamed Strongbow, FitzStephen, FitzGerald and others acepted Diermot's invitation and large promises, which they improved to like advantage for themselves and their posterity as the Saxon some time before did in England upon their invasion thither by the Britons.

106. Conchobar O'Melachlin, his son, the 48th king of Meath, after 15 years reign was slain by his own brother, A.D. 1073.

107. Domnall O'Melachlin, his son.

108. Moroch O'Melachlin, his son.

109. Maoilseachlainn O'Melachlin, his son.

110. Art O'Melachlin, his son.

111. Cormac O'Melachlin, his son.

112. Art O'Melachlin, his son.

113. Niall O'Melachlin, his son.

114. Cormac O'Melachlin, his son.

115. Cormac oge O'Melachlin, his son.

116. Conn Mor O'Melachlin, his son, by Giles, his wife, daughter of O'Kelly, had four sons, Felim Creachnach, Niall, Art, and Cathal.