O'Leary

O'Leary is a common Irish name, an anglicized version of the original spelling 'O Laoghaire' or 'O Laoire.' The first records of the name are from Tara where High-King Laoghaire became the first Christian king of Ireland in 432 AD. In more recent times, the clan was pushed south and settled in an area south of Macroom around Inchegeela on the River Lee called Uibh Laoghaire (or Uibh Laoire in modern Irish - the 'gh' is silent in the old Irish). The "O" is an abbreviation for "of", so the name means "Of Leary".

People

• Brian O'Leary, American "scientist-astronaut"
• Catherine O'Leary (1827-1895), owner of the property in which it was alleged the Great Chicago Fire started
• Charley O'Leary (1882-1941), American baseball player
• Charlotte O'Leary (born 1975), Professor of Business Communications, International University of Monaco
• Daniel Florencio O'Leary (1802-1854), military general under Simon Bolivar
• David O'Leary, Irish football (soccer) manager formerly of Aston Villa
• Denis O'Leary (1863-1943), New York politician
• Dermot O'Leary (born 1973), British television and radio presenter
• George O'Leary (born 1946), American college football coach
• Grattan O'Leary (1888-1976), Canadian journalist and Senator
• Hazel O'Leary (born 1937), former United States Secretary of Energy
• Jeremiah O'Leary, American journalist
• James Patrick O'Leary (c. 1860-1926), American mobster
• John O'Leary (poet) (1830–1907), Irish poet who was imprisoned in England during the nineteenth century.
• John O'Leary (Kerry) (born 1933), former Irish Fianna Fáil party politician and TD for Kerry South
• John O'Leary (Wexford) (1894–1959), former Irish Labour party politician and TD for Wexford
• John O'Leary (journalist), editor of the Times Higher Education Supplement
• John O'Leary (Gaelic footballer)
• Kevin O'Leary (A Dragon on the television show, Dragons' Den).
• Kristian O'Leary, Welsh football (soccer) player
• Mark O'Leary, Irish guitarist and composer
• Matt O'Leary, American actor
• Michael O'Leary (VC) (1890–1961), Irish-Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Michael O'Leary (politician) (1936–2006), former leader of the Irish Labour Party
• Michael O'Leary (actor) (born 1958), actor in the long-running American soap opera Guiding Light
• Michael O'Leary (Ryanair), CEO of the low-cost Irish airline Ryanair
• Olivia O'Leary, Irish journalist
• Paul O'Leary, (born 1980), Columnist for the Liverpool Echo and former Athletic Union (AU) Officer at Newcastle University. Winning Stan Calvert AU Officer (2003/04)
• Patrick O'Leary (born 1952), American science fiction writer
• Sean O'Leary (musician) (born 1953), an English singer-songwriter, musician and writer.
• Sean O'Leary (Irish politician) (born 1941), former Irish senator
• Seanie O'Leary (born 1954), Irish hurler
• Tim O'Leary, fictional character in the British soap opera Brookside
• Tomás O'Leary (born 1983), Irish rugby union player
• Troy O'Leary (born 1969), American baseball player
• William O'Leary (actor), American actor
• William O'Leary (Irish politician) (died 1955), Irish Fianna Fáil politician and TD for Kerry

Places

• O'Leary, Prince Edward Island
• Plaza O’Leary - major square in Caracas, Venezuela. Named for [[Daniel Florencio O'Leary]

See also

• Leary