Irish America

Irish America

Roots

Roots: The McCarthy Clan

By Liam Moriarty, Contributor
April / May 2006 Originally published in the

March/April 1997 Issue of Irish America

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The McCarthy clan traces its ancestry through an illustrious line of individuals and events reaching far back into ancient Celtic history and myth. The McCarthys claim descendants from the Eoghanachta, the rulers of the fifth province of Ireland, or Munster. The Eoghanachta were a people believed to have descended from Heber, the son of the mythical King Milesius of Spain. It … [Read more...] about Roots: The McCarthy Clan

The Proud History of the O’Neill Clan

By Liam Moriarty, Contributor
Febuary / March 2006

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The O'Neill family traces its history back to 360 A.D. to the legendary warrior king of Ireland, Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), who is said to have been responsible for bringing St. Patrick to Ireland. The Ui Neill dynasty split into two septs, the Northern Ui Neill and the Southern Ui Neill, around 400 A.D. The name is derived from two separate Gaelic words, … [Read more...] about The Proud History of the O’Neill Clan

Roots: Feeney

By Michael Sihksnel, Contributor
December / January 2005

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The surname Feeney is one of the most common names in Counties Sligo and Mayo. (My own grandfather Patrick Feeney emigrated from Co. Sligo in the 1920s). Taken from the original Gaelic form, O Fiannaidhe, meaning `soldier,' the clan originated from the population group Ui Fiachrac, and it has been established that this sect was located in the Connaught province. Other Feeney … [Read more...] about Roots: Feeney

Roots: O’Flaherty

By Laura Capuano, Contributor
June / July 2005

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O'Flaherty (also Flaherty) ancestors have been documented since the time of Christ. One of the first Irish historians, Roderick O'Flaherty, recorded their history in Ogyia, published in London in 1685, in which he said they originated from Scythia and came to Ireland with a traveler called Milesius. Descendants of Milesius founded the tribe Ui Briuin who were thought to witness … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Flaherty

Roots: O’Muimhneachain, Moynihan, Moynahan, Minihan

By Michael Sihksnel, Contributor
December / January 2005

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O'Muimhneachain is the old Irish form of the name Moynihan. The name originally came from the province of Munster and actually means "Munster man." Today different branches of the clan are still to be found in Munster, mainly in West Cork and Kerry, where the name is among the most popular in the county, and has been that way since the 17(th) century. The first record of a … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Muimhneachain, Moynihan, Moynahan, Minihan