Meath and Westmeath. Gilbert de Nugent
was made Baron of Delvin by Hugh de Lacy, and that title continued in the family down to
the year 1621, when Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin, was created Earl of Westmeath. The
Nugents of County Cork are known in Irish as Uinnseadun, which is a Gaelic rendering of
the Norman French "de Wynchester," or of Winchester, Winchester being an ancient
city in Hampshire, England, from which this branch of the Nugents came to Cork. The
Nugents of Cork formed a clan after the Gaelic fashion, their chief residing at Aghavarten
Castle near Carrigaline.
The Powers’ (de Paor: Norman-French
"le Paor") ancestor came to Ireland with Strongbow in the twelfth-century
Anglo-Norman invasion. Strongbow granted him the territory of Waterford, where the family
flourished and became Gaelicized, spreading into the adjoining counties of Kilkenny,
Wexford, Cork and Tipperary. Baron le Paor was one of the great Norman lords who took part
in the thirteenth century occupation of Connacht, where Powers settled for a while under
the Burkes. Many of the family have held high position in the Roman Catholic church,
especially as Bishops of Waterford. In 1535, Sir Richard le Poer was created Baron of
Curraghmore (an English title), yet a number of Powers were prominent on the Irish side in
the wars of the seventeenth century, some serving in King James’ Irish Army. In spite
of their Jacobite sympathies, the leading Landholders of the name succeeded in retaining
much of their estates.
The Purcells (Puirseil) came to Ireland from
England (where the family is still extant) about 1250, and became one of the most
influential Anglo-Norman families of Ormond (Kilkenny and Tipperary), as adherents of
Butler earls of Ormond. The Purcells had many castles and manors in that district. The
head of the family was known as the Baron of Loughmore (near Thurles), and the ruins of
his stronghold, Lochmoe Castle, are still to be seen. The title of Baron of Loughmoe was
conferred upon the head of the Purcells by the first Earl Palatine of Ormond (the English
government, jealous of the power of the Norman barons, refused to recognize this Loughmoe
title—to no effect). Important branches of the family settled at Ballyculhane in
County Limerick, and at Crumlin in County Dublin. The Purcells were prominent on the Irish
side in the wars of the seventeenth century, one being one of Patrick Sarsfield’s
right-hand men.
The Rothes (Rut) are descended from John Fjtz
William Rothe of northern Rothe, County Lancaster, who came to Ireland with the
Anglo-Norman invasion. The Rothes came to Kilkenny about 1390, and became important in
that county. They had their chief seats at Ballyraughtan and Tulloghmaine in County
Kilkenny, and a branch of the family became one of the tribes, or merchant families of the
city of Kilkenny. The branch settled at New Ross, County Wexford, is descended from John
Rothe, Esquire, of Ballyevan, who died about 1585. He was a younger son of Robert Fitz
David Rothe, Esquire, of Ballyraughtan. General Michael Rothe served with distinction in
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