IRISH GENEALOGY This information was obtained while researching my own family tree. I offer it here for your enjoyment. I used to wonder how my surname came to be and was thrilled when I came across these pedigrees. I had thought that the beginnings of most peoples' names were lost in antiquity. Not so for the Irish. I returned from my first visit to Ireland recently. Three weeks before I left for there, I discovered with the help of a Dublin genealogist and some strangers over there bearing my name, whom I wrote too, that I had two first cousins, once removed, and five second cousins still living in and around my great grandfather's house. I was only hoping to find the site of the old house where he lived, and possibly the old forge where he made horseshoes, but I found our American family had Irish cousins still living in the same house where my grandfather was born. After 1O2 years since my grandfather left there, we are re-united. There had been another brother of my grandfather we didn't know about who did not emigrate. His children and theirs, are there today. Two of the six people I wrote to, drove 12 to 20 miles and located my late fathers cousin. These people were great. I had only asked if they knew where the townland was located, or if they might know of any relatives, or if we were possibly related. Three of the others I wrote to were related to each other. I visited with three of the people who answered my letter. My cousins never knew anything about their aunts and uncles that emigrated because their father never talked about it. I knew more about the family than they did because of hiring Mr. Ian Cantwell, the genealogist I saw advertis ed in "GENEALOGY DIGEST". It was he that found the townland and the name of the one brother who did not emigrate. (He charges about $15./hr.) My first cousins gave me three portraits from their photo albums of people they did not know. One was of my grandfather that he must have sent back home upon his arrival in New York around 1885. The other two were probably of his sister and another brother. I think a great timesaver would be for a person to write to people with the same name, living near the area where their ancestors lived. Unless the family all died off from famine or cholera, there is an excellent chance that some member of the family still occupies the ancestral home. I got addresses from a 1984 Ireland phonebook at the Sutro library in San Francisco. I brought back a 1987 book from my trip if you'd like some addresses. Send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and the surname you want, and I'll be happy to send you a copy of the listings. PATRICK O'TRAYNOR 4O442 LESLIE ST. FREMONT, CA 94538 Even if you don't locate a close relative, you might enjoy exchanging letters with your more distant Irish cousins. Include a buck for postage if you want to insure a reply. Our $ is worth little more than an Irish air mail stamp today, and some people over there have little money. If you go there for a visit, don't leave anything in your car trunk (boot) when in DUBLIN. I lost EVERYTHING including all the films of two weeks driving around the Republic. Kids steal the whole car, joy ride, and burn it. My Hertz car was recovered two hours later, clutch burnt out and stripped. The Gardai (police) know the area of town where the cars are usually abandoned. They warn tourists about pickpockets but it wasn't until afterwards that the Hertz agent told me that my particular car was one they prefer to steal because of it's good speed. Out in the countryside there isn't much to worry about. THE LINE OF DESCENT OF THE IRISH RACE BEFORE WRITING WAS WIDESPREAD IN IRELAND, A CLASS OF MEN WERE TRAINED TO MEMORIZE THE HEREDITARY HISTORY OF THEIR CLAN AND ALL THE DESCENDANTS FROM THE FOUNDER OR PROGENITOR WITOUT ERROR OR OMMISSION. THEY WERE CALLED "FILADS". AFTER CHRISTIANITY CAME IN THE 5th CENTURY, THE MONKS RECORDED ALL OF THE HISTORY AND PEDIGREES THEY COULD FIND. KING CORMAC MAC ART, IN THE THIRD CENTURY OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA, ORDERED THE HISTORY OF THE IRISH NATION TO BE COMPILED. THIS WORK WAS CALLED "THE PSALTER OF TARA". FROM THIS AND OTHER MORE RECENT WORKS, "THE PSALTER OF CASHEL" WAS WRITTEN IN THE NINTH CENTURY. THE ORIGINAL OF THIS IS IN A LONDON MUSEUM. MOST HEREDITARY SURNAMES ONLY CAME INTO USE IN THE TENTH CENTURY, BY COMMAND OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS KING BRIAN BORU. THE HARP BELIEVED TO BE HIS, IS IN THE TRINITY COLLEGE MUSEUM IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. THE NUMBERS ON THIS LIST ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GENERATIONS OF DESCENDANTS FROM THE FIRST MAN, ADAM. THE MONKS ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXTENDING PEDIGREES BACK THAT FAR. THIS LIST BEGINS WITH MILESIUS. THE LIST FROM ADAM TO MILESIUS CAN BE FOUND IF DESIRED. HISTORIANS BELIEVE IRISH PEDIGREES ARE FAIRLY ACCURATE BACK TO THE 6th OR POSSIBLY THE 5th CENTURY. DATES HAVE NOT SURVIVED ALONG WITH MANY OF THESE NAMES, BUT BY CHECKING THROUGH OTHER PEDIGREES, AND NOTING DATES OF OTHERS CLOSE TO THE NUMBER OF YOUR ANCESTOR, YOU CAN ESTIMATE THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF WHEN THE FIRST PERSON TO BEAR YOUR CLAN NAME LIVED. ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS" COMPILED IN THE YEARS 1632-1636 AT THE CONVENT OF DONEGAL, BY THE CHIEF AUTHOR, MICHAEL O'CLERY, A MONK OF THE ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS, AFTER A SEARCH OF FIFTEEN YEARS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE IRISH DOCUMENTS. NOTE: The ANCESTOR of a Clan, as referred to here, is one who begins a branch off the main stem that leads to the founder of that Clan's name. A QUO = "from which decended;" ANG. = anglicised. (English translation) = HEREMON GENEALOGY = 36. MILESIUS OF SPAIN; (GAUL) A valiant warrior, prosperous in all his undertakings. He was contemporary with Solomon. He planned to invade Ireland to avenge the death of his brother ITHE, killed by the TUATHA-DE-DANANS, and also to fulfill a prophesy. His eight sons took on the charge after his death. 37. HEREMON; IR; HEBER; The three sons of MILESIUS. HEREMON was the seventh son, but the third of these three that left issue. Five were killed in landing upon the treacherous coast, including IR. AMERGIN, who was a Druid, was one of the three brothers who survived. HEREMON and his eldest brother HEBER were jointly, the first Milesian monarchs of Ireland. They began to reign in 1699 B.C., the first of one hundred eighty three Kings or sole Monarchs of the Gaelic, Milesian, or Scottish race that governed Ireland, successively, for two thousand eight hundred and eighty five years from the first year of their reign, to the submission to the Crown of England; King Henry the II; who was also of the Milesian race by his mother Maude, of lineal decent from Fergus Mor MacEarca, first King of Scotland, a descendant of HEREMON. HEBER was slain by HEREMON in a quarrel, caused by their wives. AMERGIN was also slain by HEREMON over an argument over territory. 1 38. IRIAL FAIDH; Son of Heremon. 10th monarch D.167O B.C. A very learned King who could foretell things to come. He built seven palaces, and cleared much of the country's ancient forests. 39. EITHRIAL; 11th Monarch Slain 165O B.C. at the battle of Soirrean. 4O. FOLL-AICH; Denied the Monarchy by Conmaol, slayer of his father. 41. TIGERNMAS; 13th Monarch D. 1543 B.C. Reigned 5O yrs. He won 27 battles against the followers of Heber Fionn. He set up and worshipped the idol "Crom Cruach", in Co. Leitrim. He introduced rank distinction by the wearing of coulours. One for a slave, three for a soldier or young lord, six for a chief professor of the liberal arts, and that of a King or Queen. Possibly the origin of the Scotch plaid. 42. ENBOATH; Divided the Kingdom by a line from Drogheda to Limerick. 43. SMIOMGHALL; In his lifetime the Picts in Scotland were forced to abide by their oath, and pay homage to the Irish Monarch. 44. FIACHA LABHRAINN; 18th Monarch Slain 1448 B.C. at battle of Bealgadain. 45. AONGUS OLMUCACH; 2Oth Monarch Slain 14O9 B.C. At the battle of Carman. He went into Scotland with a strong army and fought 3O battles to again force Scotland to pay tribute. 46. MAIN; In his liftime, Ireland was already a settled Kingdom, holding a definite place in the world of letters, and far advanced in the arts of civilized life. 47. ROTHEACHTACH; 22nd Monarch Slain 1357 BC. by Sedne, of the line of Ir. 48. DEIN; Denied the Monarchy by Sedne. Gold necklaces first worn by nobles. The Monarch of these times was Ollamh Fodhla, pronounced "Ollav Fola". He was celebrated as a philosophical statesman, for his improvements in the science of government, and for the mild and enlightened principles of his policy. He instituted an assembly resembling modern parliments that convened every three years. The poet-historians from all the provinces related all that had happened between assemblies. It was during these assemblies that family genealogies were carefully examined, corrected, and then entered in the national records kept at Tara. These records were of great importance because a man's right of inheritance to property depended on his genealogy. These records were ordered by Fodhla to be 'written' and carefully preserved at Tara. They were added to after each meeting and in King Cormac's time they were named "The Psalter of Tara". It appears from the ancient chonicles that some form of writing was known in that time. Eithrial, the 11th Monarch, was also credited with writing in his own hand, the history of the Gaels (or Gadelians). 49. SIORNA; 34th Monarch Slain 1O3O B.C. 5O. OLIOLL AOLCHEOIN; 51. GIALCHADH; 37th Monarch Slain 1O13 B.C.by Art Imleach, of the line of Heber Fionn. "Fionn" was a favorite ad-fix for Kings and Chiefs. It means "fair haired". 52. NUADHAS FIONNFAIL; 39th Monarch Slain 961 B.C. by his successor. 53. AEDAN GLAS; Pirates and plague in his time. 54. SIMEON BREAC; 44th Monarch Slain 9O3 B.C. Caused his predecessor to be torn asunder and suffered a like death by the son of the murdered King. 55. MUREDACH BOLGACH; 46th Monarch Slain 892 B.C. 56. FIACHA TOLGRACH; 55th Monarch Slain 795 B.C. by Olioll Fionn. His brother had two sons who became the 51st and 53rd Monarchs. 57. DUACH LADHRACH; 59th Monarch Slain 737 B.C. by son of Olioll Fionn. 58. EOCHAIDH BUADHACH; Denied the Monarchy by father's slayer. Two plagues in his time. 2 59. UGAINE MOR; ("HUGONY the GREAT") 66th Monarch Slain 593 B.C. He was contempoary with Alexander the Great, and is stated to have sailed with a fleet into the Mediterranian, landed forces in Africa, and also attacked Sicily; proceeded to Gaul and Married Caesair, daughter of the King of the Gauls, his brethren Celts. They had 22 sons and 3 daughters. He divided the kingdom into twenty five portions for their inheritance. Only two sons had issue. 6O. COLETHACH CAOL-BHREAGH; 69th Monarch Slain 541 B.C. Is said to have killed his brother Laeghaire to secure the throne. After a long reign he was slain by his nephew. 61. MEIG MOLBHTHACH; 71st Monarch Slain 541 B.C. by Modhchorb of the line of Heber Fionn. 62. IARAN GLEOFATHACH; 74th Monarch Slain 473 B.C.by son of Modhchorb. He was wise and just and possessed of many accomplishments. 63. CONLA CAOMB; 76th Monarch D.442 B.C. by natural death. 64. OLIOLL CAS-FIACHLA; 77th Monarch Slain 417 B.C. by his successor. 65. EOCHAIDH ALT-LEATHAN; 79th Monarch Slain 395 B.C. by his successor. 66. AONGUS TUIRMEACH-TEAMRACH; 81st Monarch Slain 324 B.C. at Tara. 67. ENNA AIGNEACH; 84th Monarch Slain 292 B.C. A generous King. 68. ASSAMAN EAMHNA; Denied the throne by his father's slayer. 69. ROIGHEN RUADH; Most of the country's cattle died of murrain in his time. 7O. FIONNLOGH; 71. FIONN; Married Benia, dau. of Criomthan, and had two sons. 72. EOCHAIDH FEIDLIOCH; 93rd Monarch D.13O B.C. at Tara. He divided the kingdom back to provinces. 73. BRESS-NAR-LOTHAR; Underground burial began in his time. 74. LUGHAIDH SRIABH-N DEARG; 98th Monarch. Killed himself, 8 B.C. by fallling on his sword. He Married Dearborguill, dau. of King of Denmark. 75. CRIMTHANN-NIADH-NAR; 1OOth Monarch D. 9 B.C. from a fall off a horse. He and Conaire Mor, the 97th Monarch, respectiveley made expeditions to Britain and Gaul, and assisted the Picts and Britains in their wars with the Romans. Crimthann brought back from his Britain campaign, a highly ornamented, gilded war chariot, gold-hilted swords, a table studded with 3OO brilliant gems, a pair of greyhounds coupled with a splendid silver chain estimated to be worth 1OO cumal (cumal: "a maid servant"), or 3OO cows. 76. FEREDACH FIONN-FEACHTNACH; 1O2nd Monarch D.36 A.D. a natural death. The epithet "feachtnach" was applied to him due to his truth and sincerity. In his reign lived MORAN, son of Maion, a celebrated Brehon, or Chief Justice of the Kingdom. He was said to be the first to wear the magical collar called "Iodhain Morain"; If the judge who wore it passed a false judgement it would immediately contract to nearly stop his breathing; but would return to normal upon reversal of such false sentence. 77. FIACHA FIONN OLA; 1O4th Monarch Slain 56 A.D. by his successor, of the race of Ir. He married Eithne, dau. of the King of Alba (Scotland). 78. TUATHAL TEACHTMAR; 1O6th Monarch Slain 1O6 A.D.by his successor, Mal. With the help of his Grandfather, the King of Alba, and his friends, he went into Ireland and after scores of battles, restored the true royal blood and heirs to their respective provincial kingdoms. He imposed a tremendous fine or "eric" upon the province of Leinster for the death of his only two daughters, Fithir and Darina, to be paid forever to the Monarchs of Ireland. This fine was collected each year through the reigns of forty Monarchs, sometimes by sword and fire, until at last remitted at the pleading of St. Moling. Tuathal married Baine, dau. of Sgaile Balbh, King of England. 3 79. FEDHLIMIDH RACHTMAR; 1O8th Monarch Died of thirst 119 A.D. Married Ughna, dau. of the King of Denmark. St. Bridgid was descended from his son Eocha, and St.Ite was a descendant of his son Fiacha. A nine year reign of peace and plenty. 8O. CONN CEADCATHACH; ("Conn of the Hundred Fights") 11Oth Monarch Slain 157 A.D. at Tara, "Seat of Kings". 81. ART EANFHEAR; 112th Monarch Slain 195 AD. in battle, in County Galway. 82. CORMAC ULFHADA; (MAC ART) 115th Monarch Choked on a fish bone 266 A.D. He was the wisest, most learned, and the best of any of the Milesian race before him, that ruled the country. He had a retinue of 115O persons, in daily attendence at his GREAT HALL of TARA. It was 3OO feet long. He ordained that there be 1O persons in constant attendence to him and all future Kings: A nobleman as companion; a judge; an historian to declare and preserve the genealogies, acts, and occurences of the nobility and gentry; a Druid to offer sacrifice, and presage good or bad omens; a poet to praise or dispraise everyone; a physician; a musician; and three stewards. Seven years before his death, he became a Christian and forbade his Druids to worship their gods. 83. CAIBRE-LIFEACHAR; 117th Monarch Slain 284 A.D.at the battle of Gabhra. 84. EOCHAIDH DUBHLEN; Father of "THE THREE COLLAS", (Kings of Orgiall); 1. Muireadach, or, COLLA da CHRIOCH ("Colla of the two countries"; Ire. & Scotland). 2. Carioll, or COLLA UAIS ("Colla the Noble") 121st Monarch of Ireland. 3. Meann, or, COLLA MEANN ("Colla the Famous"). Their mother was Alechia, dau. of the King of Alba (Scotland). One of Eochaidh's two brothers was Fiacha Srabhteine, who was the 12Oth Monarch and he begins the branch from which descends the Royal Family of England. Queen Victoria is number 136. He was also the ancestor of O'Neill, princes of Tyrone. ==== THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE VARIOUS IRISH FAMILY NAMES BRANCH OFF === ED.NOTE: COLLA da CHRIOCH is the start of the branch leading to my particular clan name, as well as many others, including; CASSIDY-CORRIGAN-DEVINE-DONNELLY-FOGARTY-GARVEY-HART-HIGGINS-HOLLIGAN- KELLY-KENNEDY-KEOGH-LARKIN-LEAHY-LYNCH-MacCABE-MacDANIEL-MacKENNA-MacMAHON MacMANUS(my grandmother)-TULLY-MADDEN-MAGUIRE(my greatgrand-mother)-MALONE MITCHELL-MULDOON-NORTON-BRASSIL-CALLAGHAN-CARROLL-O'CONNOR-DUFFY-DWYER HANLON-TULLY, to name a few. To find your branch, see "IRISH PEDIGREES" by John O'Hart at your genealogy library. 85. COLLA da CHRIOCH; He also had three sons, and from these three, branch off most of the clan names of Ireland. The Collas ruled Orgiall down to the 12th century. Orgiall was the ancient territory now known as Ulster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 BRANCH OFF TO O'DONNELL; CORRIGAN; CONAN; GAVIN; etc. 86. ROCHADH; (SON OF 85.) 87. DEACH DORN; 88. FIACH; Had a brother Brian, a quo O'Brien, of Arcaill. 89. CRIOMHTHAN LIATH; Had five sons. 90. EOCHAIDH; Had a brother Cearbhall, who was the ancestor of O'Carroll, Kings of Oriel. 91.CAIRBRE an DAIMH AIRGID; D. 513 A.D. ("daimh", a leared man or poet; and "airgid", wealth, money). "was so called from the many presents and gifts of silver and gold he usually bestowed and gave away to all sorts of people." He had more than eight sons. 92. DAIMHIN; King of Orgiall. D. 566. Had many sons from which descended; Dwyer, Lane, Larkin, Orr, and Malone. 93. TUATHAL MAOLGHARBH; Had two sons, one of which founded a college in Clogher, county Tyronne. 94. TUATAN; Had two sons. 1.Maolduin 2.Baodan; from this son the following families descended; Cosgrave, Conan, Boylan, Cahil, Carbery, Corrigan, Donnelly, Gavin, etc. 95. MAOLDUIN; 96. TUATHAL; 97. CEALLACH; a quo Clan Kelly, in county Fermanagh. Had five sons. 98. COLGA; 99. DONALL; ("domhan"; Irish, "the world"; "all", "mighty") a quo MacDomhnaill of Clan Kelly. 100. ART; 101. FIONNACHTACH; 102. LACHNAN; 103. TEIGE; 104; FEARMORRADH;("farmor-ra") "the great speaking man" 105. TEIGE; 106. FLANNAGAN O'DONNELL; Of Clankelly. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 BRANCH OFF TO O'TRAYNOR: MADDEN; MULDOON; CARBERY; MADIGAN; etc. 85. COLLA da CHRIOCH; The Collas ruled Orgiall down to the 12th century. From these three, branch off most of the Clan names of Ireland. 86. FIACHRACH CASAN; (SON OF 85.) Ancestor of O'Mooney of Ulster; O'Brassil (west); St.Maineon (18th December); O'Connor, etc. 87. FELIM; 88. BREASAL; Ancestor of; O'Madden; O'Treinfear; Muldoon. Had two bros. 89. FEIG; 9O. CONALL; 91. OLIOLL; 92. TUATHAL; 93. RONAN; 94. FINGHIN; 95. MAOLDUN; 96. CONNOR CAIRACH; A QUO O'Cairaighe ("scabby").ANG; Corry, Carey, Carew. 97 BUACHALL; A QUO O'Buachaill ("the boy"). ANG; Buckley. He had a brother Cumascach. 98. DUNGALL; 99. MAOLDUBHAN; A QUO O'Maoldubhain ("A bald, dark complexioned man").ANG. Muldoon. He had a brother Caibre, a quo Clann Ciabre, or Carbery, of Ulster. 1OO. AODH; (or Hugh) 1O1. GAIRBIADH; A QUO, O'Gairbidh (gair:"a shout"; biadh:"food").ANG. Garvey. 1O2. CEALLACHAN; 1O3. TREINFEAR; *** A QUO O'TREINFIR *** estimate; 9OO A.D. (treine:"strength;) (fear:"man").ANG. Traynor, Trainor, Treanor, Trenor, Train, and Mac Crainor. (Some had to take an English name in order to live in the "Pale" and chose the name ARMSTRONG.) 1O4. HUGH; 1O5. MADADHGAN; A QUO O'Madadhgan (madadh:"warrior"; gann:"small") ANG.Madden, Madagan, Maddison. He had a brother Arca Brassil, a quo O'Brasil (east). 1O6. PADRAIC; 1O7. LORCAN O'MADAGAN; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 BRANCH OFF TO O"NEILL; QUINLAN; DALY; BOYLE; GALLAGHER; CAMPBELL; MacLAUGHLIN; NELSON; O'CONNOR; etc. 84. FIACHA SRABHTEINE; Third son of Caibre-Lifeachar # 83. King of Conacht, and 12Oth Monarch of Ireland. Married Aoife, daughter of the King of Gall, Gaodhal. Slain by the Three Collas in 322 A.D. 85. MUIREADACH TIREACH; Defeated his father's slayers, the Collas, and banished them to Scotland in 326 A.D. He reigned for 3O years. 86. EOCHAIDH MUIGH-MEADHOIN; 124th Monarch. Died a natural death at Tara in 365 A.D. He left four sons by his first wife, and by his second wife, Carthan Cais Dubh (or Carinna), daughter of the Celtic King of Britain, had a fifth son; Niall Mor. The first wife of Eochaidh poisoned her brother in hopes of her son Brian suceeding to the throne. Mong Fionn drank from the same cup to avoid suspicion and also died, in vain, as all of her sons were passed over in favor of...... 87. NIALL MOR; "Niall of The Nine Hostages"; He took royal hostages from nine countries which he subdued and made tributary. They were four Ireland provinces plus Britain, the Picts, the Dalriads, the Saxons, and the Morini, a people of France. He marched deep into France to aid the native Celts in expelling the Roman Eagles, and thus conquer that portion of the Roman Empire. He was killed for revenge by the son of the king of Leinster on the banks of the river Lianne, near Boulogne-sur-mer. Niall ordained that "Alba" be forever known as "Scotia Minor", (Scotland). 88. LAEGHAIRE; (LEARY), The 128th Monarch. He had three sons. 89. EANNA; 90. DALLAN; 91. LIBHOR; 92. AODH; (HUGH); His brother Faolan was the father of St. Cannir. 93. FLANNAGAN; 94. MAOLMITH; 95. MAOLDUN DERGENECH; 96. FEARACH; 97. AONGUS; 98. CURIDH; 99. CIONAODH; 100. DONAL; 1O1. MULCRON; 1O2. CONDEILBHAN ("con"; Irish, of a hound), ("deilbh"; a countenance), ("an"; one who). A QUO, O'CONDEILBHAIN; anglicized Connellan, Quinlan, Conlan. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 ANCIENT IRISH PROPER NAMES AODH = (ee) "fire"; A frequent name among Kings and Chiefs. ANG. Hugh. ART = "noble, great". The root of O'Hart. BRANDUBH = " black hair". BRIAN = bri, "strength"; an, "very great". The root of O'Brian, Brien, Bryant, Byrne, Byron, etc. CAIRBRE = corb, "a chariot"; ri, "a king"; "ruler of the chariot". CATHAIR = (cahir) cath, "a battle"; ar, "slaughter". CATHAL = (cahal) cath, as above; all, "great". "a great warrior". CATHBHAR = (cah-war) "a helmet", or, cath, as above; barr, "a chief". CONCHOBHAR = "helping warrior". CONN = "wisdom". CORMAC = "the son of the chariot". DIARMAID = "god of arms". DOMHNALL = (donal) domhan, "the world"; all, "mighty". The root of MacDonald, MacDaniel, MacDonnell. DONOCH = donn, "brown; cu, "a warrior". ANG. Dennis in Ire. and Duncan in Scotland. EOGHAN = "a young man" or "youthful warrior". ANG. Eugene, Owen. FEARGAL = fear (fhar), "a man; gal, "valour". "a valiant warrior". The root of Virgil, and O'Farrell. FEIDHLIM = (felim) "great goodness".ANG. Felix. FERGUS = "a strong warrior". FIACHA = "a hunter". FLANN = "blood". "of a red complexion". MAOL = "bald or tonsured person". A spiritual servant or devotee of a saint. The root of the surname Moyles. NIALL = "a noble knight or champion". The root of O'Neil, etc. RUADHRAIGE = ruadh, "red"; righ, "a king". "the valiant, or red haired king". ANG. Rory, Roderick,Rogers. TUATHAL = (tool) Possessed of "large landed Properties". The root of O'Toole, Tolan, etc. UALGARG = uaill, "famous"; garg, "fierce". "a famous and fierce warrior". =========================== Gaelic = English Gaelic = English AODH = HUGH EAMONN = EDMUND BERACH = BARRY ELISHE = ALICE BRIAN = BERNARD GRAINE = GRACE BRIDGIT = DELIA (a nickname) LIAM = WILLIAM CATHAL = CHARLES MAIRE = MARY CEALLAIGH = KELLY McGOWAN = SMITH (occ.) CONNAD = KENNETH PADRAIC = PATRICK DATHI = DAVID RUADHRI = RORY,RODGER DHONAL = DANIEL, DONAL SEAMUS = JAMES DIARMID = JEREHMIA, DARBY SEAN = JOHN DONOGH = DENIS, DONAT TOMOLTACH = TIMOTHY,THOMAS 8 LAND DIVISIONS BARONY: An ancient land division from the days of the Chiefs, still used today as districts within the counties. PARISH: A sub-division of a diocese. There are about 2OOO parishes in the 28 dioceses. CITIES and TOWNS: Their names have changed little in two hundred years. TOWNLAND: Small sub-divisions of a baroney; being acreage, farms, or family holdings. POOR-LAW UNIONS: In 1838, 13O divisions were set up, each centered on a market town where a work house, or union house, was built for the relief of the poor, of which there were 2.3 million at that time. By the time the last house was built in 1846, the Potato Blight Famine had hit and the relief was totally in- adequate. The old and sick were turned out of the workhouses to make room for healthier workers. In 1848 there were fewer people to collect the tax from, until the workhouses went bankrupt. WHY THE IRISH LEFT THE POPERY CODE: After the defeat of the Catholic King, James the II, by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 169O, the Irish Parliment, which was entirely Protestant, enacted laws to make sure that the Catholic majority would never again endanger the Prostestant Acendancy. These anti-Catholic laws were designed "to prevent the further growth of Popery". These laws did not come from Parliament at Westminster, but from the Irish House of Commons, who were afraid Westminster would dilute them, as they were contrary to the terms of surrender granted to the followers of King James II. Those articles promised Catholics could exercise their own religion. The Penal Laws were to destroy the last remmnants of the Catholic landed gentry. This is an abstract from the Bill of 1704: "Wheras it is notoriously known that the late rebellions in this kingdom have been contrived, promoted and carried on by Popish archbishops, bishops, Jesuits and other ecclesiastical persons of the Romish clergy, and forasmuch as the peace and publick safety of the kingdom is in danger, by the great number of the said archbishops which, not only endeavor to withdraw His Majesty's subjects from their obedience, but do daily stir up and move sedition and rebellion... No Catholic may sit in the Irish Parliament. No Catholic may be a solicitor, game keeper or constable. No Catholic may possess a horse of greater value than L. 5. Any Protestant offering that sum can take possesion of the hunter or carriage horse of a Roman Catholic neighbour. No Catholic may attend a university, keep a school, or send his children to be educated abroad. L.10 reward is offered for the discovery of a Roman Catholic schoolmaster. No Catholic may buy land or receive it as a gift from a Protestant. 9 No Catholic may bequeath his estate as a whole, but must divide it among all his sons, unless one of those sons become Protestant, where he will inherit the whole estate. No Catholic may be the guardian of a child. The orphan children of Catholics must be brought up as Protestants." Catholic churches were prohibited. Services had to be conducted secretly in private homes. The "hedge schoolmasters" taught children behind hedges and barns at great risk to themselves. Some notable landowners and lawyers gave up and went over to the episcopalian Church of Ireland. The Presbyterians of Ulster were also discriminated against and lost the control they had enjoyed in Parliament and the corporations of Belfast and Londonderry. These Laws caused mass emmigrations from Ulster in the second half of the 18th century. THE POTATO FAMINE: "Phytophthora Infestans" 1845-46 There had been partial crop failures each year for ten years. Emmigration started in earnest after the winter of '46 killed tens of thousands. Even though the people were starving, Ireland exported more food than it imported. In the decade following 1845, two million people emmigrated to the U.S. and Australia, and three quarters of a million to Britain. By 19OO, four million had left the Emerald Isle and half of the Irish now lived outside Ireland. Only one person in ten were left that could still speak the Gaelic language. In 1847, 84 disease ridden ships were held in quarantine for weeks below Quebec. Ten thousand Irish people died on these ships. Three thousand of them were never identified. ===== TRADITIONS ==== NAMES: The first son was named after the paternal grandfather. " " daughter " " " maternal grandmother. " 2nd son " " " " grandfather. " " daughter " " " paternal grandmother. " 3rd son " " his father. BAPTISMS: Baptisms of Catholics were held within a day or two of birth, or even on the same day, at times. Up to the mid 19th century, more than one name was rare, with the exception of Maryanne, or Annamaria, which were considered a single name. BURIAL: The Irish would be buried on the south side of a church, facing east. No matter where they died, they were always buried back home if at all possible. Catholics would even be buried in a protestant cemetary if it had previously been their family's cemetary. The earliest tombstones in Ireland only date back to about 1725. 10 ------ MARRIAGES ------ Up To the middle of the 19TH century, catholics of any substance were married in the brides home. Only the very impoverished, whose houses were unfit for a wedding, were married in church. Since the registers were kept in churches, a depressing number of marriages were never written down. The priest having forgotten about them by the time he and his registers were united. Each year there was a great wave of pre lenten weddings. About two thirds of the years marriages took place in january and february. Early marriage tends to be another clear sign of impoverishment. Prosperous persons married relativly late. Perhaps 3O for a man and 25 for a woman. A laborer with little money might marry at 2O. The son of a substantial farmer would not be permitted to do so. DUAL CITIZENSHIP: There is not much advantage in having this, unless you wish to preserve the birthright for your children, or show off your passport on St. Patrick's Day, but it is an interesting and little known fact. In 197O, a relative of mine registered as a foreign born Irish citizen, and obtained an Irish passport, all by mail. He had researched both U.S. and Irish laws on the subject, and found that his father, who was born here, but whose father was born in Ireland, was a citizen of the Republic of Ireland all his life and didn't know it. Under Irish law, anyone born in the Republic is a citizen and all the children born to them. These children do not have to be naturalized, they are of Irish nationality by birth. They have a perfect right to an Irish passport. Any child born to a citizen outside Ireland, can choose to become a foreign born citizen. Once a citizen, all children born to them after this have the same rights. This practise can continue forever. With an Irish passport you can travel without visas to many countries, and live and work in any of the EEC countries. Two birth certificates of his Irish grandparents were requested, but only one was on record. He also sent his father's birth certificate and marriage license, and his own birth certificate to the Consular Office in San Francisco. He has traveled around the world on his Irish passport, and worked for years in Australia. He was held up for about an hour the first time he used it to re-enter the U.S., while the Customs agents looked up the law. The second time, he had no problem. BOOKS: Another great source is the CITY DIRECTORY. I found the address of my grandfather's horseshoeing shop in San Francisco, in 1886, by looking through these books. These are in many libraries and some go back to the 18OO's. Your relatives, their occupations, (Otter skinner; Schooner captain?) and address may be found in these. Some of the books listed below may only be located in the special, genealogical libraries, such as the Sutro library in San Francisco, or your library may be able to get them through your state's inter-library loan system. "Genealogical and Local History Books In Print"; Yantis; (Lists many Family name histories. "The Annals of The Four Masters" is listed here. $430.) "Genealogical Helper"; A magazine your library may subscribe to. "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland"; Lewis "Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestral Research"; Falley "A History of Medieval Ireland"; Curtis "Landlord or Tenant"; Magnusson "Fractured Emerald"; Hahn "The Surnames of Ireland"; Mac Lysaght "Irish Settlers in America"; "The Celtic World"; Gives a good description of the Celtic warrior. 11 O'AND MAC: Mac means "son of". Mc is merely short for Mac. Both are used by Scotch and Irish alike. O' means "grandson of", but loosely, "descendant of". O' is exclusivly Irish. THE "WILD GEESE": After their defeat at The Boyne in 169O, ten thousand of James II's troops exiled themselves to the continent where they distinguished themselves in service to several of the European armies. Several Irish families were accepted as nobility in the French Royal Court. These exiles were called wild geese because the smuggler ships that took them to the continent listed them as such on their books. The Iris