the Conmhaicne Rien in Longford, known
by the clan name of Muintear Oiollagain, and were chiefs of an extensive district in
Longford until the end of the fourteenth century, when they were supplanted by the
O’Farrells. They are now numerous in Longford.
The Corca Dhuibhne
The Corca Dhuibhne were a great clan in West Kerry,
the chief families of which were the O’Connells and the O’Sheas.
The O’Connells (0 Conaill) of Kerry were formerly chiefs of Magh 0
gCoinchin, in the east of County Kerry until dispossessed by the O’Donoghues about
the middle of the eleventh century. The O’Connells then followed MacCarthy Mor, for
whom they were hereditary castellans of Ballycarbery, near Caherciveen. The head of the
family was transplanted to Glare in the time of Cromwell (ca. 1650), and afterwards
several of the family became distinguished in the Irish Brigades in the service of France.
The O’Sheas (0 Seaghdha) were formerly lords of the present Barony
of Iveragh in West Kerry, but were somewhat displaced about the time of the Anglo-Norman
invasion in the twelfth century. In the fifteenth century, a branch went to Kilkenny,
where they became wealthy merchants, and became foremost among the "Ten tribes of
Kilkenny," the otherwise Norman merchant families of that city.
The Corca Laoighdhe
The Corca Laoighdhe were a great clan in the
southwest of County Cork. Their territory was coextensive with the Diocese of Ross, and
their chief families were those of O’Coffey, O’Dinneen, O’Driscoll,
O’Flynn, O’Hea, 0’Hen-nessy and O’Leary.
The O’Coffeys (0 Cobhthaigh) were formerly a powerful family of
West Cork. They were seated in the barony of Barryroe, where Dun Ui Chobhthaigh,
Dunocowhey, marks the site of their residence.
The O’Dinneens or Dennings (0 Duinnin) were a literary family, and
became hereditary historians to MacCarthy Mor, chief of the MacCarthys, and also to the
O’Sullivans.
The O’Driscolls (0 hEidirsceoil) were powerful chiefs in West
Cork, being originally lords of the whole southwest of that county, the baronies of
Carbery, Beare and Bantry. After the Anglo-Norman invasion, their territory was reduced by
the encroachments of the O’Donovans, O’Mahonys and O’Sullivans, as a
reaction to Norman pressure on those families. From that time the O’Driscolls
possessed the seacoast area around the Bay of Baltimore, and were still a considerable
power in the area in the seventeenth century, with several strong castles. They took an
active part in the Munster wars during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. After the defeat of
Irish forces at Kinsale, the property of the O’Driscolls was confiscated and given to
Lord Castlehaven. |
