O'Leary

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

O'Leary is a common Irish name, an anglicized version of the original spelling 'O Laoghaire' or 'O Laoire.' Early records of the name Lóegaire mac Néill are from Tara where High-King Laoghaire, a member of the Uí Néill clan, became the first Christian king of Ireland in 432 AD.

The Uí Laoghaire clan, today associated with the Uibh Laoghaire parish in County Cork, is considered by scholars[1][2] to have originated on the south-west coast, in the area of Ros Ó gCairbre (Rosscarbery), of which the O'Leary were hereditary lords[3]. The Annals of Innisfallen (Dublin copy) records St. Fachtna's (Saint Fachanan) death in 600 A.D. as occurring in "O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-Laeghaire Ruis"[4]. The clan traces its lineage to High-King Lugaid mac Con who ruled in approximately 200 A.D. In the 12th century the O'Leary's were recognised hereditary wardens of St Fachtna's monastery and seat of higher learning, the School of Ross[5]. In more recent times (1300-), the clan, of the Corcu Loígde, was pushed north and settled in an area south of Macroom around Inchigeelagh on the River Lee called Uibh Laoghaire (or Uibh Laoire in modern Irish - the 'gh' is silent in the old Irish).

The O'Learys were a still titled family in the 16th century. O'Leary of Carrignacurra in Iveleary (Inchigeelagh) is known as the fosterer of Donnell of the Hides, ancestor of the modern O'Donovan lords. His daughter Ellen married Donnell, and O'Leary further provided his son-in-law with a military force for the taking of the O'Donovan lordship, which was successful. This is recounted by John O'Donovan in his genealogical appendix to the sixth volume of his edition of the Annals of the Four Masters,[6] and by John O'Hart.[7] The O'Donovans of Clan Cathail, and probably the scholar himself, are thus descendants of one of the last O'Leary lords.

O'Hart [8]discusses another O'Leary family who may have belonged, it so happens, to the same kingdom, called Uí Fidgenti, as the O'Donovans, and the O'Connells of Kerry and Ó Coileáins of Carbery. This is more difficult to verify, but if true then they have probably become indistinguishable from the O'Learys of Rosscarbery by this time. The name is of princely origins in either case, and in fact the Corcu Loígde and Uí Fidgenti appear to share some distant common origins among the Dáirine. See also Eóganachta.

The last O'Leary lord of the Old Gaelic order was Donal MacArt O'Leary (1575-1657).[9]

Contents

[edit] References

  1. ^ Annals of Inisfallen (Dublin copy)
  2. ^ John O'Donovan, ed. 'The Genealogy of Corca Laidhe', in Miscellany of the Celtic Society. Dublin. 1849. alternative scan
  3. ^ Cork History and Society, P. O'Flanagan, C. Buttimer, Geography Publications, Dublin 1993
  4. ^ John O'Donovan
  5. ^ http://www.inchigeelagh.com/History.htm
  6. ^ John O'Donovan (ed. and tr.), Annala Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848-51. 2nd edition, 1856. Volume VI (pages 2430-83)
  7. ^ John O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees. Dublin. 5th edition, 1892.
  8. ^ O'Leary of Uí Fidgenti (O'Hart 1892)
  9. ^ Donal MacArt O'Leary by Peter O'Leary

[edit] People

[edit] Military

[edit] Religion

  • Arthur O'Leary (1729-1802), Irish Franciscan and polemical writer
  • Francis O'Leary MBE (1931-2000), Roman Catholic priest and missionary who founded the St Joseph's Hospice Association
  • Henry Joseph O'Leary (1879-1938), 5th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown and 3rd Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Edmonton
  • Louis James O'Leary (1877-1930), 6th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown

[edit] Poetry and literature

[edit] Politics and law

[edit] Journalism and activism

[edit] Arts and entertainment

[edit] Sport

[edit] Other

[edit] Places

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Leary"
Languages