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Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland
VII. The Érainn


Creagh from one of their ancestors who carried a green branch in a battle against the Limerick Vikings (called Danes though of Norwegian origin). They subsequently became a respectable merchant family in Limerick, and later also in Cork, while keeping up their connection with Clare as well. The family provided several distinguished churchmen in the fifteenth century.

The Muintear Ifearnain or O’Quins (0 Cuinn) descend from Conn, Lord of Muinntear Ifearnain, who flourished in the latter part of the tenth century. They were originally seated at Inchiquin, and their territory, which was designated Muinntear Ifearnain from their clan name, comprised the country around Corofin, in County Clare.

The MacNamaras (Mac Conmara) were the chief family of the Ui Caisin or Clann Chuileain. They were, next to the O’Briens, the most powerful of the Dalcassian families, and were hereditary marshalls (military commanders) to the O’Brien kings of Thomond. It was their privilege to inaugurate the O’Brien. Their original territory was called Ui Caisin, which corresponded to the present deanery of Ogashin, including nine parishes, in the east of County Clare. In later times, however, they ruled over a greatly enlarged territory which comprised the whole of Upper and Lower Tulla, the entire eastern quarter of County Clare. This territory was known, from their other clan name, as Clann Chuileain. In the sixteenth century a branch of the family settled in County Down.

The Maclnerneys (Mac an Airchinnigh) are of the same stock as the MacNamaras, and formerly held considerable property around Ballycally, in the parish of Kilconry and Barony of Bunratty (South Clare), which they lost in the Cromwellian confiscations. The family is now numerous in Clare and Limerick. Their name denotes descent from an erenagh, or hereditary ecclesiastic (Chapter II).

The O’Deas (0 Deaghaidh) were the chief family of the Ui Fearmaic, being the lords of the territory of that name in northwest County Clare, which comprised the greater part of the present Barony of Inchiquin. They had their chief strongholds at Tullyodea and Dyserttola; a branch where chiefs of Slewardagh in East Tipperary.

The O’Griffeys (0 Griebhta) were the chief family of the Cineal Guallachta in the southeast of what is now the barony of Inchiquin (the northwest quarter of County Clare, just east of the coastal baronies of Corcomroe and the Burten). They followed the O’Deas, and had their castle at Ballygriffy in the parish of Dysert, near Ennis. The name is usually Anglicized as Griffin.

The Deisi
The Deisi were an Erainnian race. The main group so called settled in Waterford and south Tipperary at a very early date as vassal-allies of the Eoganacht Gaels of Cashel, after driving out the earlier inhabitants. The chief family of these Southern Deisi was that of O’Phelan.


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