O'Donovan family
Ó Donnabháin | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Parent house | |
Country | Ireland |
Titles | Ancient:
Later sept titles:
|
The O'Donovan family is an ancient
Foundation
According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Donovans were one of the chiefly families of the
The Donovans were an ancient Gaelic Irish sept, ÓDonnubán; anglicised O'Donovan. The Clans can be traced back to the descendants of the 10th century Donnubán mac Cathail (t980), son of Cahall, ruler of the Irish regional or sub-provincial kingdom of Ui-Fidgenti. The Ui-Fidgheinte reached from Muscry Ganogh, west of Kilmallock through the plains of the Shannon, and included Adare, Askearton, Croom, Bruree and [Newcastle] Kenry. Donnubán mac Cathail, Lord of Uí Fidgenti married the daughter of his norse ally[citation needed], Ivar of Limerick of the Uí Ímair. His son Cathal mac Donnubán also ruled the smaller kingdom of Uí Chairbre Áebda. From Donnubán mac Cathail accession to the kingship in 962 to the death of Amlaíb Ua Donnubáin in 1201, the family operated as a semi-independent to sometimes fully independent regional ruling house within the kingdom of Munster.
Two Carberys
An ancient race in
Dual d O Donnabáin Dhúin Cuirc
an tír si, na tír longphuirt;
fa leis gan cíos fon Maigh moill,
is na cláir síos co Sionoinn.
Hereditary to O Donnabhain of Dun Cuirc
Is this land, as a land of encampment;
To him, without tribute, belonged [the land] along the sluggish Maigh.
And the plains down to the Sionainn.
Their extensive territory followed Limerick's
Later, the title Prince of Carbery (Cairbre) would be adopted by the MacCarthy Reaghs, although there is significant doubt as to whether this is actually derived from the former tribal name of the O'Donovans (Ui Chairpre of the Ui Fidgente), and if so, then what circumstances led to it being extended well beyond the territories belonging to the O'Donovans. In any case, the Carberry septs of the Donovans were junior to the MacCarthy Reaghs, from whom they received the
Reverend John Begley (see references), of St. Munchin's, gives an account of the Christianization of the Norse of Limerick by the O'Donovans, and their long intermarriage. Mainchín of Limerick is the patron saint of the Diocese of Limerick and Bruree, and he may have been adopted by the Norse of Limerick city from the family. Begley argues that he was, but the O'Briens also claimed him indirectly at some point and obviously have their own supporters.
The longphorts were the Viking ship fortresses and later settlements, although the term soon enough came to mean simply encampment. However, the original meaning remained in usage and in the 10th century there were at least two Norse longphuirt, extensions of Limerick, which were deep in Uí Chairpre controlled territory.[12]
Many Irish families intermarried with the Scandinavians, but it was a question of degree. In their case the O'Donovans simply took a particularly large dose. Nearly all of the long history of the Danes in Munster has been lost, although those living in Uí Chairpre are not known to have left, being last noted in Donnubán's company in 978.
From the later 16th century Scandinavian names have been very little used by the O'Donovan family, when once they were as popular as the Gaelic. But see the important Ímar Ua Donnubáin.
Final ancient deeds
The O'Donovans are first found associated with the MacCarthys only four years after the death of Amlaíb. The Annals of Inisfallen report that in 1205[15]
AI1205.3: Cellachán son of Mac Carthaig, i.e. the son of Cathal Odar, was slain by the mounted horse of Domnall, son of Mac Carthaig, i.e. by the followers of Donnocán and by Ua Donnubáin of Uí Chairpri.
The political influence of the O'Donovans with the Ui Chairbre decreased as the Mac Carthy influence increased, and then splintered. By 1232, certain septs of the MacCarthys ruled from where they had relocated to the south of the historical territory of the Ui Fidghente, and controlled the Ui Chairbre. In 1260 the O'Donovans are found raiding Norman lands alongside none other than
Up until this period the O'Donovans and O'Mahonys are generally regarded to have been allies, their ancestors Máel Muad mac Brain and Donnubán having joined forces against the Dál gCais in the 10th century. In 1283, following an attempted coup within the MacCarthy, a number of MacCarthys and some O'Donovans migrated into new territory adjacent to the O'Sullivans, which commenced a long and tumultuous relationship between O'Donovans and both major septs of the O'Sullivans, and which has included both minor warfare as well as intermarriage over the next four centuries.
Later history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Barony_of_Carbery.png/300px-Barony_of_Carbery.png)
Following an active 13th century, and after their move south the O'Donovans of Ui Chairbre fall into relative obscurity for approximately two centuries, primarily because the records for .Munster during this period are few. Fragmenting into several smaller-sized lordships, they became subordinate to their overlord, MacCarthy Reagh, who was at odds with the MacCarthy Mor, who was at odds with the MacCarthys of Muscrery, who were at odds with both the Norman settlers (Barrys) and the old Irish (O'Callahan, O'Keefe), and with Gaelicized English (Fitzgeralds- Earls of Desmonds, FitzGibbons – Earls of Kildare and the White Knight), all of whom were or were not, depending on changing politics, at odds with the English monarchs.
O'Donovans of Ui Chairpre reappeared in various annals and records about 1500. Domhnall Ó Donnabháin was Bishop of Ross in the mid-late 15th century, while Donal mac Melaghlin O'Donovan, was killed for piracy, along with his O'Driscoll accomplices, by the lords of the O'Driscolls in 1551.[18]
However, despite similar obscurity for an extended period, an O'Donovan sept (the remnants of the Ui Donabhain of the Ui Fidghente, holding territory in Synnagh-Donovan near Doneraile, were still counted among the 64 leading Gaelic families in all of Ireland in the mid-16th century
Clancahill
Following the migration of some of the O'Donovans of the Ui Chairpre into Cork and the death of Ancrom O'Donovan in 1254, few Munster records survived which provides information on the history of the Ui Chairpre O'Donovans for the next three centuries. But when they reappear in the mid-16th century they are found in a similar state as other septs in Ireland at that time: rival branches assassinating each other and each supported by more distantly related septs. It appears that by a fortuitous marriage to an
Ellen O'Leary and Donal na g crocieann (of the Hides) were married at Dromale, and their issue was, among other sons, Donal II O'Donovan.
Recent generations of Clancahill include Morgan William II O'Donovan and his son Morgan John Winthrop. His son Morgan Gerald Daniel O'Donovan[20] (Murchadh Gearóid Dónal Ó Donnabháin) was born in Pau, France, in 1931, died 25 January 2016, was the son of Morgan John Winthrop O'Donovan by his wife Cornelia Bagnell (died 1974). Educated at Stowe and Trinity College, Cambridge, O'Donovan resided near Skibbereen, in West Cork. O'Donovan was a member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland, and served as Chairman of the Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains. He was married to Frances Jane, daughter of the late Sir Gerald Templer, with whom his father served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. They have issue: a son, Morgan Teige Gerald (born 1961), educated at Harrow and Girton College, Cambridge and two daughters, Katharine Jane (born 1962) and Cecilia Mary Cornelia (born 1966) [married N.G.F. Chamberlain, 1996 and has issue].
O'Donovan served on the Council with O'Donoghue of the Glens, McGillycuddy of the Reeks, O'Callaghan (Tortosa), Baron Inchiquin and O'Grady, the last his distant cousin. O'Callaghan and O'Donoghue are much more distant cousins through the MacCarthys. O'Donovan was profiled and interviewed by Ellis, Curley, and Chambers, for which see the list of references below.
Clanloughlin and Ballymore
These O'Donovans are notable for many accomplishments. An important junior sept, the Donovans of Ballymore, established themselves in County Wexford. Many have distinguished themselves in political office and the military.
- Jeremiah O'Donovan (MP Baltimore)
- Juliana Donovan, Countess of Anglesey – scandalised widow of Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey
- Légion d'honneur.
The current representative of Clan Loughlin and the Ballymore sept is the scholar Brian Donovan of
Sliocht Aineislis
Territory in Carbery
Between them, Clancahill and Clan Loughlin controlled the entire harbour of Glandore, the former on the west side and the latter on the east, although before the 1560s the Clancahill portion appears to have been controlled by the Sliocht Íomhair. Clan Loughlin were seated at Cloghatradbally, now called Glandore Castle, a 13th-century Norman castle built by the Barretts, from whom they took it. This is the sacred harbour of Clíodhna.
Clancahill came to control half of Castlehaven harbour as well, the ancient O'Driscolls of Corcu Loígde in control of the other. From the ocean the territory of the O'Donovans then stretched north and northwest into the area of Drimoleague, with the well known Castle Donovan found in a valley not far from that village. This, up in the mountains, in a remote area, was the principal seat of the Clancahill main line until the early 17th century.
At what was probably their height in Carbery, between the late 16th century and their partial dispossession following the so-called
Clanlouglin lost their estates twice, first the majority of the fairly immense Manor of Glandore in the 1650s to Cromwell and his soldiers, and then the Manor of the Leap, a descendant of the remains of the former, in 1737, when one of their dynasts, Jeremiah II O'Donovan, sold it.
In 1878 various branches of the O'Donovan family were reported successful (landed) and in possession of 17,213 acres of estates in several counties in southern Ireland,[22] not counting estates and homesteads of less than 500 acres. By this time Donovans were well established in England, Australia, Canada, Argentina and the United States.
See also
- Chiefs of the Name
- Clonakilty
- Donovan (disambiguation)
- Donovan (name)
- Irish nobility
- O'Donovan (surname)
- Pre-Norman invasion Irish Celtic kinship groups, from whom many of the modern Irish surnames came from
Citations
- ^ From which devolved various septs of the Uí Chairpre Áebda, specifically the Ceinel Laippe, to whom Donnuban is believed to have belonged. See Máire Herbert and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds. & trs.), Betha Adamnáin: The Irish Life of Adamnán. Irish Texts Society 54. 1988.
- ^ Donnubán's final style in the Annals of Inisfallen at his death in 980. This was an ancient city in County Limerick, now identified with the late Iron Age Reerasta (Ri Ressad) Rath right next to the much larger bronze age Ballylin complex. See also Ardagh Hoard and Colmán of Cloyne.
- ^ Dillon, Myles, "The consecration of Irish kings", in Celtica 10 (1973): 1–8. Dillon refers to O'Donovan as a petty king under MacCarthy. See also Elizabeth FitzPatrick, Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland, passim.
- ISBN 0899503624.
- ^ Begley
- ^ See Charles-Edwards.
- ^ See Byrne.
- ^ O'Huidhrin, Topeg. Poems, page 119
- ^ [1] pp. 118–9
- ^ Irish Family History by Richard Cronnelly,p 253
- ^ Butler, "The Barony of Carbery"
- ^ Valante, Mary A., The Vikings in Ireland: Settlement, Trade and Urbanization. Four Courts Press. 2008.
- ^ Annals of the Four Masters and Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib
- ^ Ó Murchadha, p. 261
- ^ Annals of Inisfallen
- ^ Ó Murchadha, p. 125
- ^ Mac Carthaigh's Book and Annals of Inisfallen
- ^ Ó Murchadha, p. 126
- ^ Book of Howth, p. 255
- ^ The O'Donovan, Independent.ie, Sunday 14 January 2007, accessed Wednesday 3 March 2010
- ^ Eneclann
- ^ The Landowners of Ireland, pp. 348, 133
General references
- Begley, John, The Diocese of Limerick, Ancient and Medieval. Dublin: Browne & Nolan. 1906.
- Bugge, Alexander (ed. & tr.), Caithreim Cellachain Caisil: The Victorious Career of Cellachan of Cashel. Christiania: J. Chr. Gundersens Bogtrykkeri. 1905.
- Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Irish Family Records, or Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 5th edition, 1976.
- Burke, J. M., "Carbery Topographical Notes", in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Volume X. Second Series. 1904. pp. 204–7.
- Burke, J. M., "Kilmacabea, Co. Cork", in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Volume X. Second Series. 1904. pp. 213–30.
- Butler, W. F. T., "The Barony of Carbery", in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Volume X. Second Series. 1904. pp. 1–10, 73–84.
- Byrne, Francis J., Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd revised edition, 2001.
- Carroll, Michael J. and Alan Langford (illus.), The Castles and Fortified Houses of West Cork. Bantry Design Studios. 2001.
- Chambers, Anne, At Arm's Length: Aristocrats in the Republic of Ireland. New Island Books. 2nd revised edition, 2005.
- Charles-Edwards, T. M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge University Press. 2001.
- Cronnelly, Richard F., Irish Family History, Part II: A History of the Clan Eoghan, or Eoghanachts. Dublin: 1864. (O'Donovan pedigrees: pgs. 252-64)
- Curley, Walter J. P., Vanishing Kingdoms: The Irish Chiefs and their Families. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2004.
- Cusack, Mary Francis, A History of the City and County of Cork. Dublin: McGlashan and Gill. 1875.
- D'Alton, John, Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689. Volume II. London: J.R. Smith. 2nd edition, 1861.
- Downham, Clare, Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland: The Dynasty of Ívarr to A.D. 1014. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press. 2007.
- Ellis, Peter Berresford, Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland. Palgrave. Revised edition, 2002.
- FitzPatrick, Elizabeth, Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c. 1100–1600: A Cultural Landscape Study. Boydell Press. 2004.
- Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, "Caithréim Chellacháin Chaisil: History or Propaganda?", in Ériu 25 (1974): 1–69.
- O'Donovan, John (ed. & tr.), Annala Rioghachta Eireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616. 7 vols. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. 2nd edition, 1856. Volume VI (pp. 2430–83)
- O'Donovan, John (ed. & tr.) and . Dublin: Irish Archæological Society. 1844.
- O'Donovan, Miriam, A Short History of the O'Donovan Clan: stair agus seanchas mhuintir Uí Dhonnabháin. Publisher: O'Donovan Clan. 2000.
- O'Donovan, Peadar, Irish Family Names. Skibbereen: Southern Star Newspaper. 1991. (many O'Donovan septs and nicknames included)
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 5th edition, 1892.
- Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid, Family Names of County Cork. Cork: The Collins Press. 2nd edition, 1996.
- Todd, James Henthorn (ed. & tr.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. Longmans. 1867.
- Ua Súilleabháin, Seán and Seán Donnelly (eds. & trans.), and Tadhg Olltach Ó an Cháinte, "Music Has Ended: The Death of a Harper", in Celtica 22. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1991. pp. 165–75.
- Westropp, Thomas Johnson, "A Survey of the Ancient Churches in the County of Limerick", in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Volume XXV, Section C (Archaeology, Linguistic, and Literature). Dublin. 1904–1905. pp. 327–480, Plates X-XVIII.
External links
- The Territory of Thomond discusses the size of the territory of the Kingdom of Uí Fidgenti and the O'Donovans
- Tuadmumu has maps and convenient Uí Fidgenti-related genealogies
- Tribes & Territories of Mumhan
- Tracys of the Eóganachta features a very detailed genealogy of the Uí Fidgenti, compiled and translated from numerous primary and secondary sources
- Ireland circa 1100 A.D. shows the location of the Ua Donnabháin and Uí Chairpre kindred before the time of the Norman Invasion