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. |
