|
 O'Hara is a phonetic
anglicisation of O hEaghra. The family clan descent from Eoghra, lord of
Luighne (the modern Leyney) in Co Sligo, who died in 976 and who was
himself, in the traditional genealogies, of the family of Oiloll Ollum,
king of Munster. The O'Haras remain strongly associated with Co Sligo,
where they were chiefs in two areas, O hEaghra Buidhe ('fair') around
Collooney, and O hEaghra Riabhach ('grey') at Ballyharry, more properly
'Ballyhara'. In the fourteenth century a branch of the family migrated
north to the Glens of Antrim and established themselves in the area
around the modern town of Ballymena. There they intermarried with
powerful local families and acquired great prominence themselves. Apart
from Dublin, Sligo and Antrim are still the two regions where the
surname is most concentrated."
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