The MacColman Family

EXTRACT: “Miscellanea Scotica, A Collection of Tracts Relating To The History,Antiquities,Topography, And Literature of Scotland.” Vol. IV, By Henry Maule, Published by John Wylie & co.,Glasgow, 1820. [p. 284]

An

Account

Of The

MacColmans

The ancestor of the MacColmans was Colman, third son to Anselan, third of that name, and seventh laird of Buchanan, being brother to Gilbert, who first assumed the surname of Buchanan, and to Methlan, ancestor of the MacMillans. Colman was an ordinary Christian name of old in this kingdom; as, for instance, Colman, bishop of Lindisfarn in Northumberland, and afterwards abbot of Icolmkill, in the reign of king Ferquhard I. Also one of the Scottish nobility, who made an oration against concluding the league with France, in the reign of Achaius.
The time and cause of this Colman’s son’s going to Argyllshire is not very evident, but it seems very probable to be in the reign of king Alexander III. within a short space of his cousin MacMillan’s going into that country, whose good reception there might have been the principal motive of his cousin MacColman’s following him.
The only written document I find relating to the MacColmans is a charter, or life-rent-right, granted by Duncan MacPharlane, of part of his lands, to Christian Campbell, daughter to Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow his lady, dated in the year 1395, and in the reign of king Robert III. The trustees employed by Sir Colin to see this right completed, were John Campbell, dean of Argyll, and John MacColman.
I had an account of the MacColmans transmitted to me by that judicious and learned gentleman, the reverend Mr. Alexander MacColman, minister of Lismore and Appin, which justly deserves the greater regard and credit, seeing it exactly agrees with that sent me by MacMillan of Dunmore, near the same time, in relation to his clan, as also with a written document, which came not to my hands several years after receipt of the said account. That delivered me by Mr. Alexander MacColman concerning the origin of that sept, asserts, that the ancestors of the MacMillans and MacColmans were brethren of him who first assumed the surname of Buchanan, though the same be not testified by any written document, but by a continued and inviolable tradition handed down from one generation to another, with which they are satisfied, always cheerfully acknowledging their original descent to be of the family of Buchanan, though they cannot so very distinctly tell the manner and circumstances of the same.
There is also a very great evidence of the MacColmans’ blood-relation to the name of Buchanan, from this, that notwithstanding of the great distance betwixt the respective residences of these two names, and upon that account the seldomness of their mutual converse, or correspondence with one another, yet they have the same inviolable love and entire respect for the name of Buchanan, that they have for one another of their nearest relations, although no preceeding acquaintance or good offices intervene.
Moreover, although the MacColmans have resided in Mucarn, and other adjacent places in Argylleshire, upwards of four hundred years, yet they never gave any bond of Manrie, or other acknowledgement, to, or had the least dependence upon, any person or clan in these parts, though there is no other sept in the same circumstances in all those countries, but what are obliged to give some such bond or acknowledgement. The principal places in which these reside are in Mucarn, and Benedera loch in Upper Lorn, in the shire of Argyll. The men of best account of them are Mr. John MacColman, son to the said Mr. Alexander, who hath a little interest in Lismore; also another Mr. John, brother to the same Mr. Alexander, who hath ten sons, all men of good repute.
Besides these, there are sixty effective men of that name in these parts.
There is another sept of these MacColmans in Kintail, in the earl of Seaforth’s land, descended of one Mr. Murdo, (or, as the Irish term it,) Murcho MacColman, who went from Argyllshire into that country, near two hundred years ago. These are termed in Irish MacAmhaisdirs, or Mastersons, but term themselves in English Murchisons, from Murcho, their ancestor’s ancient name. The principal man of these is Murchison of Ouchtertyre, in the parish of Locheilg in Kintail. These term themselves Dowes when in the Lowlands, and assert the Dowes upon Forth and other places to be descended of them, which Dowe of Arnhall, the principal person of that name, in a great measure owned, there being upon that account great intimacy betwixt the late laird of Buchanan and him; but both their estates being gone to other families, through want of male issue, that correspondence betwixt the two names is ceased.

Clan Buchanan

Extract: “The Scottish Nation ; or The Surnames, Families,Literature, Honours And Biographical History of the People of Scotland,” By William Anderson ; A.Fullarton & Co., Edinburg and London, 1862. Vol. 1 , p. 459

Buchanan, a surname belonging to a numerous clan in Stirlingshire, and the country on the north side of Loch Lomond. The reputed founder of the Buchanans was Anselan, son of O’Kyan, king of Ulster in Ireland, who is said to have been compelled to leave his native country, by the incursions of the Danes, and take refuge in Scotland. He landed, with some attendants, on the northern coast of Argyleshire, near the Lennox, about the year 1016, and having, according to the family tradition, in all such cases made and provided, lent his assistance to King Malcolm the Second in repelling his old enemies the Danes, on two different occasions of their arrival in Scotland, he received from that king for his services, a grant of land in north Scotland. The improbable character of this genealogy is manifested by its farther stating that the aforesaid Anselan married the heiress of the lands of Buchanan, a lady named Dennistoun; for the Dennistouns deriving their name from lands given to a family of the name of Danziel, [ see Dennistoun, surnamre of,] who came into Scotland with Alan the father of the founder of the abbey of Paisley, and the first dapifer, seneschal, or steward of Scotland, no heiress of that name could have been in Scotland until after the period here referred to. It is more probable that a portion of what afterwards became the estate of Buchanan formed a part of some royal grant as being connected with the estates of the earls of Lennox, whom Skene and Napier have established to have been remotely connected with the royal family of the Canmore line, and to have been in the first instance administrators, on the part of the crown, of the lands which were afterwards bestowed upon them.

The name Buchanan is territorial, and is now that of a parish in Stirlingshire, which was anciently called Inchcaileoch, (‘old woman’s island,’) from an island of that name in Loch Lomond, on which in earlier ages there was a nunnery, and latterly the parish church for a century after the Reformation. In 1621 a detached part of the parish of Luss, which comprehends the lands of the family of Buchanan, was included in this parish, when the chapel of Buchanan was used for the only place of worship, and gave the name to the whole parish.

Regarding the etymology of Buchanan (or, as it was formerly spelled, Bouchannane) the following curious passage occurs in Bleau’s Atlas, published in Holland in 1658: “Buchanan qui ont de belles Signeuries sur la riviere d’Aneric du coste du Midi, et sur le lac de Leimond du coste du l’occident, l’une desquelles appartient au chef de la famille, qui s’appelle vulgairment Buchanan, laquelle a donne le nom a toute la maison: le mot, qui signifie une possession, est compose, et veut dire un terroir bas et proche des eaux, car Much on Buch signifie un lieu bas Annan de l’eau; et en effect il est ainsi,” &c. [Tome vi. Pp. 96,07.] We have not a doubt that the name Buchanan has the same origin as the word Buchan (see ante, p. 458), being its diminutive of Buchanino or Buquhanino, the little Buquhan or cattle-growing district.

Anselan (in the family genealogies styled the third of that name) the seventh laird of Buchanan, and the sixth in descent from the above-named Irish prince, but not unlikely to be the first of the name, which is Norman French, is dignified in the same records with the magniloquent appellation of seneschal or chamberlain to Malcolm the first earl of Levenax (as Lennox was then called). He and two of his sons, Gilbert and Methlen, are witnesses to a charter granted by the same earl to Gilmore son of Maoldonich, of the lands of Luss, in the reign of King Alexander the Second, a nobleman of no great influence or power, descended from administrators of one of the abthaneships of Dull, or royal lands reverting to the crown by demise of younger branches, in which charter they are more correctly designed the earl’s clients or vassals. In 1225, this Anselan obtained from the same earl a charter of a small island in Lochlomond called Clareinch, witnesses Dougal, Gilchrist, and Amalyn, the earl’s three brothers, the name of which island afterwards became the rallying cry of the Buchanans. The same Anselan is also mentioned as a witness in a charter granted by the earl of Lennox of the lands of Dalmanoch in mortification to the old church of Kilpatrick, by the designation of Absalon de Buchanan, Absalon being the same as Anselan. He had three sons, viz. Methlen, ancestor of the MacMillans ; Colman, ancestor of the MacColmans ; and his successor Gilbert.

His eldest son, Gilbert, or Gillebrid, appears to have borne the surname of Buchanan. There is a charter of confirmation of that of Clareinch, and some other lands of Buchanan, granted in favour of this Gilbert by King Alexander the Second in the seventeenth year of his reign, and of our Lord 1281. The same Gilbert is also witness to a charter, by Malcolm earl of Lennox, to the abbot and monks of Paisley, dated at Renfrew in 12 74. [Chartulary of Dumbartonshire ]

Buchanan Pedigee

Buchanan Pedigree
Clan Buchanan of Scotland

Source: Americans of Royal Descent, Second Edition,By Charles Henry Browning, Phildelphia, Porter & Coates, 1891.

PEDIGREE XIII.______________
1.__Fargallus [Fargal], the 156th Monarch of all Ireland, who was killed A.D. 718, by Moroch, King of Leinster, had:
2.__Conchobhar [Conner], Prince of Leim-an-Madaidh, Londonderry, brother of Niall Frasach, 162d Monarch of Ireland, d. 773, who had: Gruagan, who had: Dungan, who had: Cathain, who had: Cathusach O'Cathain, or O'Kyan, who had:
7.__Dermod O'Kyan, KIng of the southern part of Ulster, who had:
8.__Anselan Buey O'Kyan, or O'Bocainain, anglicized Buchanan, who succeeded as provincial King of Southern Ulster. He took part in the slaughter of Turgesius, the Danish general, and his army, at Limerick, and was, with his followers, compelled to leave Ireland, by King Canute, and flee to Scotland, in 1016, and soon after entered into the service of King Malcolm II. against the Danes. He so signalized himself in this monarch's service that he obtained from him many grants of land in the northern part of Scotland as a reward, among which were the lands of Pitwhonidy and Strathyre, and was recognized as the first Laird of Buchanan. He m. the heiress of the Laird of Deniestown, and had:
9.__John, second Laird of Buchanan, who had:
10.__Anselan, third Laird of Buchanan, who had:
11.__Walter, fourth Laird of Buchanan, who had:
12.__Gerald, fifth Laird of Buchanan, who had:
13.__MacBeath, sixth Laird of Buchanan, who had:
14.__Anselan, seventh Laird of Buchanan, who was Chamberlain to Malduin, Earl of Lennox, in 1225, and obtained a charter from him of an island in Lochlomond, which he called "Clareinch," the slughome, or war-cry, proper to the family of Buchanan. He had:
15.__Gilbert Buchanan, eighth Laird of Buchanan, who was the first to assume the surname of Buchanan. He suceeded his father as Senechal, or Chamberlain, to the Earl of Lennox, and had:

[Note: Gilbert had two brothers: Methlan, ancestor of the MacMillans and Colman, ancestor of the MacColmans]

16.__Sir Maurice Buchanan, Knt., ninth Laird of Buchanan, who had:
17.__Sir Maurice Buchanan, Knt., tenth Laird of Buchanan, who m. the second daughter of Sir John Monteth, d. 1324, second son of Walter Stuart, Earl of Monteth,1258 (third son of Walter Stuart, Lord High Steward of Scotland, and his wife, Lady Beatrix, daughter of Gilchrist, Earl of Angus), and his wife, daughter of Mauritius, Earl of Monteth, and had:
18.__Walter Buchanan, Knt.,eleventh Laird of Buchanan, who had:
19.__John Buchanan, of that ilk, only son,d. v.p. He m. Lady Janet, the heiress of John Buchanan, Laird of Lenny, and had:
20.__Sir Walter Buchanan, Knt., second son, twelth Laird of Buchanan, and Laird of Lenny. He m. Lady Isabel Stewart, daughter of Murdoch, second Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland, a grandson of Robert II., King of Scotland, and had:
21.__Thomas Buchanan, third son, younger brother to Patrick, thirteenth Laird of Buchanan, from whom he had, in 1461, a grant of the lands of Gartincaber, and who was, in 1476, the first Laird of Carbeth. He had:
22.__John Buchanan, of Raster-Ballat, second son (younger brother of Thomas, second Laird of Carbeth, who d. s.p.), who d. before his brother, leaving issue:
23.__Thomas Buchanan, who succeeded as third Laird of Carbeth, in 1555. He had by his second wife, Janet, a daughter of the then Laird of Buchanan:
24.__John Buchanan, of Gartincaber, eldest son, who was a half-brother of Thomas, fourth Laird of Carbeth, and a brother of William Buchanan, of Blairnborn, whose grandson, Archibald Buchanan, settled in Virginia. He had:
25.__George Buchanan, of Blairlusk, who had:
26.__John Buchanan, of Blairlusk, who had:
27.__George Buchanan, who sold Blair lusk to his brother, William Buchanan, and removed to the north of Ireland. He had:
28.__Thomas Buchanan, of Romelton, County Donegal,in Ireland (brother of William Buchanan, of County Tyrone), whose grandson:
30.__John Buchanan, of Romeelton, County Donegal,had:
31.__James Buchanan, who removed to America in 1783, and settled near Mercersburg, in Franklin county, Pa., where he d. in 1821, leaving issue by his wife, Elizabeth Speer, whom he m. in Adams county, Pa:
1.__James Buchanan, President of the United States of America, who d.s.p.
2.__William Speer Buchanan, d.s.p. aged 22.
3.__George W. Buchanan, d.s.p., aged 25.
4.__Rev. Edward Young Buchanan, D.D., of Philadelphia, Pa., who m.,1833, Ann Elizabeth, daughter of William B. Foster, of Pittsburg, Pa. etc., ...

(Note: This is a partial extract of the Buchanan pedigree. Notes by Woody Coleman)

O'Neill of Ulster

The O'Neill Pedigree; An Extract from: Irish Pedigrees; or The Origin And Stem of The Irish Nation, by John O’Hart, Vol. 1. Dublin, James Duffy And Co., Ltd., 14 and 15 Wellington Quay , 1892. Part III, page 708

O’Neill . * (No. 1)

Monarchs of Ireland, Kings of Ulster, and Princes of Tyrone.

Arms: Ar. a sinister red hand couped at the wrist affrontee gu.

Fiacha Srabhteine , + third son of Cairbre-Lifeachar, the 117th Monarch of Ireland (see p. 667) who is No. 83 on the “O’Hart” pedigree, was the ancestor of this branch of that family.

84. Fiacha Srabhteine, King of Conacht, and 120th Monarch of Ireland : son of Cairbre-Liffechar; married Aoife, dau. of the King of Gall Gaodhal. This Fiacha, after 37 years’ reign, was, in the battle of Dubhcomar, A.D. 322, slain by his nephews, the Three Collas, to make room for Colla Uais, who seized on, and kept, the Monarchy for four years. From those three Collas the “Clan Colla” were so called.

* O’Neill : There were four distinct families of Hy-Niall or O’Neill, in Ireland; namely_
1. O’Neill, of Ulster; 2. O’Neill , of the county Clare, from whom the Creaghs of Munster are descended; 3. O’Neill, in the barony of Shillelagh, in the county Wicklow, which (see Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 1088) is sometimes called Farron O’Neale ; 4. O’Neill, of the Ui Eoghain Finn tribe, in Northern Deisi, in the present county Tipperary.

+ Fiacha Srabhteine : The three Collas being very valiant, warlike, and ambitious princes, combined against their uncle King Fiacha, and aspired to the Monarchy; they collected powerful forces, and being joined by seven catha (or legions) of the Firbolg tribe of Connaught, they fought A.D. 322, a fierce battle against the army of the Monarch Fiacha, at Criogh Rois, south of Tailtean, in Bregia, in which the royal army was defeated, and many thousands on both sides, together with King Fiacha himself, were slain. This was called the battle of Dubhcomar, from “Dubhcomar,” the chief Druid of King Fiacha, who was slain there; and the place where the battle was fought was near Teltown, between Kells and Naven, near the river Blackwater in Meath. After gaining the battle, Colla Uais became Monarch and reigned nearly four years; when he was deposed by Fiacha’s son, Muiredach Tireach, who then , A.D. 326, became Monarch of Ireland. The three Collas and their principal chiefs, to the number of three hundred , were expelled from Ireland (hence the name “Colla:” Irish, prohibition ; Gr. “ koluo,” I hinder), and forced to take refuge among their relatives in Alba ; but, through the friendly influence of their grandfather, the king of Alba, and the mediation of the Druids, they were afterwards pardoned by their cousin, then the Irish Monarch, who cordially invited them to return to Ireland.__Connelan.

85. Muireadach Tireach : son of Fiacha Srabhteine; m. Muirion, dau. of Fichadh, King of Ulster; and having, in A.D. 326, fought and defeated Colla Uais, and banished him and his two brothers into Scotland, regained his father’s Throne, which he kept as the 122nd Monarch for 30 years.
86. Eochaidh Muigh-Meadhoin* [Moyvone] : his son; was the 124th Monarch; and in the 8th year of his reign died a natural death at Tara, A.D. 365 ; leaving issue four sons, viz., by his first wife Mong Fionn: _I. Brian;II. Fiachra; III. Olioll; IV. Fergus. And by his second wife, Carthan Cais Dubh (or Carinna), daughter of the Celtic King of Britain,_V. Niall Mor, commonly called “Niall of the Nine Hostages.”
Mong Fionn was dau. of Fiodhach, and sister of Crimthann, King of Munster, of the Heberian Sept, and successor of Eochaidh in the Monarchy. This Crimthann was poisoned by his sister Mong-Fionn, in hopes that Brian, her eldest son by Eochaidh, would succeed in the Monarchy. To avoid suspicion she herself drank of the same poisoned cup which she presented to her brother; but, notwithstanding that she lost her life by so doing, yet her expectations were not realized, for the said Brian and her other three sons by the said Eochaidh were laid aside (whether out of horror of the mother’s inhumanity in poisoning her brother, or otherwise, is not known), and the youngest son of Eochaidh, by Carthan Cais Dubh, was preferred to the Monarchy.
I. Brian, from him were descended the Kings, nobility and gentry of Conacht__Tirloch Mor O’Conner, the 121st, and Roderic O’Conner, the 183rd Monarch of Ireland.
II. Fiachra’s descendants gave their name to Tir-Fiachra (“Tireragh”), co. Sligo, and possessed also parts of co. Mayo.
III. Olioll’s descendants settled in Sligo _ in Tir Oliolla (or Tirerill). This Fiachra had five sons: __ 1. Earc Cuilbhuide ; 2. Breasal ; 3. Conaire ; 4. Feredach (or Dathi) ; and 5. Amhalgaidh.

87. Niall Mor + : his son; a quo the “Hy-Niall” * of Ulster, Meath, and Conacht. He was twice married: __ his first Queen was Inne, the dau. of Luighdheach, who was the relict of Fiachadh ; his second Queen was Roigneach, by whom he had Nos. !., II., III., IV., V., VI., and VII., as given below. This Niall Mor succeeded his uncle Crimthann; and was the 126th Monarch of Ireland. He was a stout, wise, and warlike prince, and fortunate in all his conquests and achievements, and therefore called Niall Naoi-Ghiallach or “Niall of the Nine Hostages,” from the royal hostages taken from nine several countries by him subdued and made tributary : viz., __1. Munster, 2. Leinster, 3. Conacht, 4. Ulster, 5. Britain, 6. the Picts, 7. the Dalriads, 8. the Saxons, and 9. the Morini __ a people of France, towards Calais and Picardy ; whence he marched with his victorious army of Irish, Scots, Picts, and Britons, further into France, in order to aid the Celtic natives in expelling the Roman Eagles, and thus conquer that portion of the Roman Empire ; and , encamping on the river Leor (now called Lianne), was, as he sat by the river side, treacherously assassinated by Eocha, son of Enna Cinsalach, king of Leinster, in revenge of a former “wrong” by him received from the said Niall. + The spot on the Leor (not “Loire”) where this Monarch was murdered is still called the “Ford of Niall,” near Boulogne-sur-mer. It was in the ninth year of his reign that St. Patrick was first brought into Ireland, at the age of 16 years, among two hundred children brought by the Irish Army out of Little Brittany (called also Armorica), in France.
Niall Mor was the first that gave the name Scotia Minor to “Scotland,” and ordained it to be ever after so called; until then it went by the name “Alba.”

* Muigh-Meadhoin : From the Irish “Magh,” a plain ; and “Meadhoin,” a cultivator .

+ Niall Mor : This Niall of the Nine Hostages was, as above mentioned, son of Carinna, daughter of the king of Britain ; and his son Eoghan (og-an : Irish, a young man) or Owen, was also married to another princess of Britain, named Indorba ; a proof of the intimacy which existed in the fourth and fifth centuries between Britain and Ireland. From A.D. 378 to 405 ­­__ the period of the “Decline and Fall” of Druidism in Ireland__Niall of the “Nine Hostages” was Monarch ; and he was so called in reference to the principal hostile powers overcome by him and compelled to render so many pledges of their submission. He was chiefly renowned for his transmarine expeditions against the Roman empire in Britain, as well as in Gaul. In one of those expeditions Niall Mor, A.D. 388, carried home from Gaul some youths as captives ; amongst whom was Succat (meaning “brave in the battle”), then sixteen years of age, with his sisters Dererea and Lupida. That Succat afterwards, as St. Patrick ( “Patrick:” from the Irish Padraic ; Latin , pater ; Ital., padre , a father,__here meant in a religious sense), became the Apostle of Ireland.
(See St. Patrick’s pedigree, p.43.) And when, many years later, that illustrious liberated captive , entering, in a maturity of manhood and experience, upon his holy mission, was summoned before the supreme assembly at Tara, to show why he presumed to interfere with the old religion of the country, by endeavouring to introduce a new creed, it was Laeghaire [Leary], the son of his former captor Niall, who presided as sovereign there. __ O’Callaghan.
Happy captivity, which led to Ireland’s Christianity !

* Hy-Niall : A branch of the Hy-Niall (or Ui-Niall ) settled in Gaul, at an early period, and are mentioned by Caesar, as the Unelli , which is the Latinized form of Ui-Neill , but here meaning descendants of this Niall Mor, the 126th Monarch of Ireland. Caesar also mentions the Eberdovices or Eberdocii , meaning descendants of Eber , or Heber , the eldest son of Milesius, of Spain.
Some of the Unelli of France settled in England before the English invasion of Ireland, and assumed the following names : O’Ni’el, Neylle, Nihil, Noel, Nevell, Newell, Nevil, Nevill, Nevylle, etc. One of the family, Sir Geoffrey Neylle, was, A.D. 1205, a subscribing witness to the Charter of Waterford. In 1408, Thomas Neoylle was made Dean of Ferns; and, in 1480, Dr. Lawrence Neoylle was made bishop of Ferns, by Pope Sixtus IV. David Nevell, Baron of Nevill, was attainted in the reign of King Henry VIII., and suffered the loss of extensive landed property in the county Wexford. See the “Needham” pedigree for another Neville family, but which was of the Ithian race.
+ Niall : The cause of the difference between the Monarch Niall, and Eocha , Prince of Leinster, arose out of two distinct causes :___On the death of Niall’s uncle, Crimthann, this Eocha, being ambitious, attempted to take possession of the Royal Palace at Tara, by sleeping there nine nights in succession, so as to qualify himself for the Monarchy of Ireland. For doing this he was severely censured by the Arch-Druid, as no person who had not the order of Knighthood dare sleep in the Royal Palace. Then Eocha withdrew from Tara, and in shame and vexation, relinquished his pretensions to the Crown.
On Eocha’s journey from Tara to his own province, he arrived at the house of Laidhgon, the son of Bairceadha, the Arch-Druid ; whilst staying there he took offence from some expressions made use of to him, and , in a rage, he slew the Druid’s son. Immediately, Niall was applied to for justice ; he then invaded Leinster, and, after some skirmishing, to avoid bloodshed, the people delivered up the murdering prince into the Monarch’s hands. The Druids chained Eocha to a rock where criminals were wont to be executed ; but when he saw the executioners coming to dispatch him, he, by a nearly superhuman effort, wrenched asunder the chain, and effected his escape to Scotland. On arriving in Scotland, Eocha requested and obtained the protection of Gabhran, the son of Domhangairt, the General of the Dalriada, with whom he went into France so as to get near Niall, and murder him. The Irish Monarch, on being informed of Eocha being in the allied army, would not allow him into his presence; but he one day secreted himself in a grove near a ford of the Leor, and, whilst Niall was in the act of crossing, the assassin shot him through the body with an arrow.

Niall had twelve sons: __ I. Eoghan ; II. Laeghaire (or Leary), the 128th Monarch, in the 4th year of whose reign St. Patrick, the second time, came into Ireland to plant the Christian Faith, A.D. 432 ; III. Conall Crimthann, ancestor of O’Melaghlin ; Kings of Meath ; IV. Conall Gulban, ancestor of O’Donnell (princes, lords, and earls of the territory of Tirconnell) , and of O’Boyle , O’Dogherty , O’Gallagher , etc. ; V. Fiacha, from whom the territory from Birr to the Hill of Uisneach in Media Hiberniae ( or Meath) is called “Cineal Fiacha,” and from him MacGeoghagan , lords of that territory , O’Molloy , O’Donechar, Donaher (or Dooner), etc., derive their pedigree; VI. Main, whose patrimonywas all the tract of land from Lochree to Loch Annin, near Mullingar, and from whom are descended Fox (lords of the Muintir Tagan territory), MacGawley, O’Dugan, O’Mulchonry (the princes antiquaries of Ireland), O’Henergy, etc. ;
VII. Cairbre , ancestor of O’Flanagan, of Tua Ratha, “Muintir Cathalan”
(or Cahill) etc. ; VIII. Fergus (a quo “Cineal Fergusa” or Ferguson), ancestor of O’Hagan, etc. ; IX. Enna ; X. Aongus or Aeneas ; XI. Ualdhearg ; and
XII. Fergus Altleathan. Of these last four sons we find no issue.

88. Eoghan (Eugene,* or Owen) : son of Niall Mor ; from whom the territory of “Tir-Eoghan” (now Tirowen or Tyrone), in Ulster is so called. From this Owen came (among others) the following families : O’Cahan, or O’Cane, O’Daly of “Leath Cuinn” (or the kingdoms of Meath, Ulster, and Conacht), O’Crean, Grogan, O’Carolan, etc.
This Eoghan , Prince of Ulster, was baptized by St. Patrick at the Royal Palace of Aileach ; and our Ulster Annalists state that it was his foot which was pierced by the Bacchal Iosa during the ceremony. (See the “Line of Heber Stem,” No. 91.)

* Eugene : Before the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland, this son of Niall the Great aquired the territory of Aileach, which in many centuries afterwards was called after him__”Tir-Owen” or Owen’s Country. At Aileach he resided, A.D. 442, when he was converted to Christianity by St. Patrick. “The man of God,” says the old biographer of the Apostle, “accompanied Prince Eugene to his court, which he then held in the most ancient and celebrated seat of kings, called Aileach, and which the holy bishop consecrated by his blessing.” The MacLoghlins being descended from the same family stem as the O’Neills, a MacLoghlin, or an O’Loghlin, as well as an O’Neill, was sometimes Prince of Aileach, until A.D. 1241, when Donell O’Loghlin, with ten of his family, and all the chiefs of his party, were cut off by his rival, Brian O’Neill, in the battle of “Caim-Eirge of Red Spears ;” and the supreme power of the principality of Aileach thenceforth remained with the O’Neills.___O’Callaghan.
In the thirteenth century the “Kingdom of Aileach” ceased to be so called , and the designation “Kingdom of Tir-Owen,” in its stead , was first applied to that territory. Sixteen of the Ard Righs or Monarchs of Ireland were princes or kings of Aileach ___descended from this Eugene or Owen.
The O’Neills had their chief seat at Dungannon, and were inaugurated as princes of Tyrone, at Tullaghoge, a place between Grange and Donaghenry, in the parish of Desertcreight, in the barony of Dungannon ; where a rude seat of large stones, called Leach-na-Ree or the Flag stone of the kings, served them as a coronation chair. ___Connellan.
We learn that, about A.D. 442, St. Patrick visited Ulster ; at which time he took his route through that romantic pass called Bearnas-mor of Tir-Aodha ; thence he emerged into Magh Ith, an extensive plain in the present barony of Raphoe, where he founded the church of Donaghmore, near the town Castlefinn. The Prince Owen kept his private residence at Fidh-mor, now called Veagh, between the church of Donaghmore and the palace of Aileach. St. Patrick went into the Aileach, and before entering he said to his people, “Take care that you meet not with the lion, Eoghan, the son of Niall.” So as to honour St. Patrick, Owen sent a guard to meet him, under the command of Muireadhach, his son, who being in front, was accosted first by Seachnall in these words:___”You shall have a reward from me, if you could persuade your father to believe.” “What reward?” asked he. “The sovereignty of thy tribe should for ever belong to thy heirs,” said Seachnall. Muiredhach agreed to this arrangement. The Saint first saw Eoghan at Fidh-mor, preached to him there, when he embraced the Faith, a large leac (or stone) being set up there to commemorate the event. St. Patrick promised this prince:___”If you would receive the salutary doctrine of Christ in your country, the hostages of the Gaedhil should come to you;” meaning that in his posterity the Regal Race should be__a promise verified by time.

Eoghan held the Castle of Aileach forty-seven years prior to St. Patrick’s visit. This fort the Apostle blessed, left the old coronation stone there, and prophesied that Kingship and
pre-eminence should be over Erinn from Aileach: “When you leave your fort out of your bed to the flag, and your successors after you,” said St. Patrick, “the men of Erinn shall tremble before you.” He blessed the Island of Inis-Eoghan (Inishowen was an Island then), and after this gave a blessing of Valour to Eoghan:

“My blessing on the tuatha [territories]
I give from Belach-ratha,
On you the descendants of Eoghan
Until the Day of Judgement.

“Whilst plains are under crops,
The palm of battle shall be on their men,
The armies of Fail [Ireland] shall not be over your plains;
You shall attack every tetach [tribe].

“The race of Eoghan, son of Niall,
Bless, O fair Brigid !
Provided they do good,
Government shall be from them for ever.

“The blessing of us both
Upon Eoghan MacNeill;
On all who may be born from him,
Provided they are obedient.”
(i.e., as long as they keep the Faith.)

These blessings were pronounced from Belachratha, now known as Ballagh, barony of Inishowen East, parish of Clonca, near Malin Head, where are the ruins of a church founded by St. Patrick.
Eochaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan: during the ceremony the Apostle’s Staff is said to have accidentally pierced the naked foot of the prince.
The old Fortress of the Irish Monarchs, and Princes of Ulster, was an ancient Tuatha da Danaan Sith or Lios, and called Grianan Aileach, which here signifies “a stone house in a beautiful or sunny situation.” Formerly there was a great wood around it, to Whitefort and along the east banks of the Foyle. This fort stands on an elevation of 802 feet, and lies in the parish of Burt, barony of Inishowen. The outermost enclosure on the circular apex of the hill contains 5 ½ acres ; within the second are 4 acres ; within the third about one acre ; while within the Cashel there is about ¼ acre of surface.
The Cashel has been restored, since 1874, with great labour and expense, by Dr. Walter Bernard, of Derry. A square headed doorway enters the Cashel, and three distinct platforms ascend by means of side stone steps within the circle, which reaches interiorly 77 feet 6 inches from wall to wall, at the base, is about 13 feet. Several old roads from this Cashel can still be traced on the hill-sides.
Here is still seen a stone called after St. Columbcille, and believed to be the old coronation stone of the Tuatha da Danaan, and the Hy-Niall races, blessed by St. Patrick as stated above. (See the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick.)

89. Muireadach (III.) : son of Eoghan ; was married to Earca, dau. of Loarn, King of Dalriada in Scotland, and by her had many sons and daus., two of them are especially mentioned : ___Muirceartach Mor, and Fergus Mor, both called “Mac Earca.” From this Fergus Mor descended the Kings of Scotland , and thence, through Queen Matilda, the Kings of England, including the Royal Houses of Plantagenet, Stuart, and D’Este.
This Muireadach who had a brother named Eachagh Binneach, had twelve sons : ___I. and II. Above mentioned ; III. Fearach (or Fearadach), ancestor of Mac Cathmhaoil (or Cowell, Campbell, etc.) ; IV. Tigernach, ancestor of O’Cunigan, and O’h-Easa (anglicised Hosey, Hussey, and O’Swell) ;
V. Mongan, ancestor of O’Croidhen (Creedon or Croydon), O’Donnelly, etc. ;
VI. Dalach : VII. Maon, ancestor of O’Gormley, O’Maolmichil, O’Doraigen, (“dor:” Ir. A confine ; “aigein,” the ocean), anglicised Dorrine, Dorien, and modernized Dorrian ; VIII. Fergus; IX. And X. named Loarn; XI. And XII. Called Aongus.
In the 20th year of the reign of the Monarch Lughaidh, the son Laeghaire, with a complete army, Fergus Mor Mac Earca,* (with his five brothers, VIII., IX., X., XI., and XII., above mentioned went into Scotland to assist his grandfather King Loarn, who was much oppressed by his enemies the Picts ; who were vanquished by Fergus and his party, who prosecuted the war so vigorously, followed the enemy to their own homes, and reduced them to such extremity, that they were glad to accept peace upon the conqueror’s own conditions ; where-upon, on the King’s death, which happened about the same time, the said Fergus Mor Mac Earca was unanimously elected and chosen king as being of the blood royal by his mother. And the said Fergus, for a good and lucky omen, sent to his brother, who was then Monarch of Ireland, for the Marble Seat called “Saxum Fatale” (in Irish, Liath Fail, and Cloch-na-Cinneamhna , implying in English the Stone of Destiny or Fortune), to be crowned thereon ; which happened accordingly; for, as he was the first absolute King of all Scotland of the Milesian Race, so the succession continued in his blood and lineage ever since to this day.

* Fergus Mor Mac Earca : According to the Linea Antqua, Muireadach had only two sons by his wife Earca. But some writers confound this Fergus Mor Mac Earca, the grandson of Loarn (the last King of Dalriada, in Scotland), with Ferghus Mor, son of Earc, who is No. 96 on the “Genealogy of the Kings of Dalriada,” and who was therefore a brother of Loarn, the last King of Dalriada.

90. Muirceartach (or Muriartach) Mor Mac Earca : his son. This Muriartach, the eldest son of Muireadach (3), was the 131st Monarch of Ireland ; reigned 24 years; and died naturally in his bed, which was rare among the Irish Monarchs in those days ; but others say he was burned in a house after being “drowned in wine” (meaning that he was under the influence of drink) on All-Halontide (or All-Hallow) Eve, A.D. 527. Married Duinseach, dau. of Duach Teangabha, King of Conacht. He had issue___I. Donal Ilchealgach ; II. Fergus, who became the 135th Monarch; III. Baodan (or Boetanus), who was the 137th Monarch of Ireland, and was the father of Lochan Dilmhain, a quo Dillon, according to some genealogists; IV. Colman Rimidh, the 142nd Monarch; V. Neiline ; and
VI. Scanlan.
91. Donal Ilchealgach (Ilchealgach : Irish, deceitful): eldest son of Muirceartach ; was the 134th Monarch; reigned jointly with his brother Fergus for three years: these princes were obliged to make war on the people of Leinster; fought the memorable battle of Gabhrah-Liffe, where four hundred of the nobility and gentry of that province were slain, together with the greater part of the army.
In this reign Dioman Mac Muireadhach, who governed Ulster ten years was killed by Bachlachuibh. Donal and Fergus both died of “the plague,” in one day, A.D. 561.
92. Aodh (or Hugh): Donal’s son; Prince of Ulster. This Aodh Uariodhnach was the 143rd Monarch; he had frequent wars, but at length defeated his enemies in the battle of Odhbha, in which Conall Laoghbreag, son of Aodh Slaine, was killed. Soon after this battle, the Monarch Aodh was killed in the battle of Da Fearta, A.D. 607.
93. Maolfreach : his son; Prince of Ulster; had at least two sons:__1. Maoldoon; and II. Maoltuile, a quo Multully, Tully, and Flood of Ulster.
94. Maoldoon : his son; Prince of Ulster; had two sons: !. Fargal ; and II. Adam, who was ancestor to O’Daly of “Leath Cuin.” His wife was Cacht, daughter of Maolchabha, King of Cineall Connill.
95. Fargal: son of Maoldoon, was the 156th Monarch of Ireland; was slain, in A.D. 718, by Moroch, King of Leinster. Married Aithiochta, dau. of Cein O’Conner, King of Conacht. This Fargal had four sons: I. Niall Frassach; II. Conner (or Conchobhar), who was ancestor of O’Cahan; III. Hugh Allan (or Aodh Olann), the 160th Monarch, and ancestor of O’Brain, of Ulster; and IV. Colca, a quo Culkin.
96. Niall Frassach: son of Fargal; married Bridget, dau. of Orca, son of Carrthone; was called “frassach” from certain miraculous showers that fell in his time (a shower of honey, a shower of money, and a shower of blood); was the 162nd Monarch of Ireland; and, after seven years’ reign, retired to St. Columb’s Monastery at Hye, in Scotland, A.D. 773; issue: Aodh Fearcar, and Aodh Ordnigh.
97. Aodh Ordnigh: son of Niall Frassach: was the 164th Monarch; and, after 25 years’ reign, was slain in the battle of Fearta, A.D. 817. Was married to Meadhbh, dau. of Ionrachtach, King of Durlus.
In his reign prodigious thunder and lightning occurred, which killed many men, women, and children all over the Kingdom, particularly in a nook of the country between Corcavaskin and the sea in Munster, by which one thousand and ten persons were destroyed. In his reign occurred many prodigies__the fore-runner of the Danish Invasion, which soon after followed. This Monarch had four sons:
I. Niall Caille; II. Maoldoon, a quo “Siol Muldoon;” III. Fogartach, ancestor of Muintir Cionaodh or Kenny ; and IV. Blathmac.
98. Niall Caille: son of Aodh Ordnigh; was the 166th Monarch of Ireland; and was so called after his death from the river “Caillen,” where he was drowned, A.D. 844, after 13 years reign. He fought many battles with the Danes and Norwegians, in most of which although the Danes were worsted, yet the continual supplies pouring unto them made them very formidable; (so much so) that in his reign they took and fortified Dublin and other strong places upon the seacoasts. Married Gormfhliath, dau. of Donogh, son of Donal. This Monarch had five sons: I. Aodh Finnliath; II. Dubhionracht, a quo O’Dubhionrachta;
III. Aongus; IV. Flahertach, ancestor of O’Hualairg or Mac Ualairg, anglicised Mac Goldrick, Goderick, Golding, Goulding, Waller, etc. ; V. Braon, a quo Clan Braoin of Mogh Ithe (Moy Ith).
99. Aodh Finnliath, i.e. Hoary : son of Niall Caille; was the 168th Monarch of Ireland; reigned for sixteen years, during which time he fought and defeated the Danes in several battles and was worsted in others; he died at Drom-Enesclann, A.D. 876. This Aodh married Maolmare or Mary, dau. of Keneth, the son of Alpin__both Kings of Scotland. He had two sons: I. Niall Glundubh; and II. Donal, who was King of Aileach, and ancestor of the family of MacLaughlin
(or O’Laughlin), some of whom were Monarchs of Ireland; and of O’Donnelly, whose chief was, A.D. 1177, slain at Down by Sir John de Courcey, first “Earl of Ulster.”
100. Niall (“niall,” gen. “neill:” Irish a champion) Glundubh [gloonduv]: son of Aodh Finnliath, was the 170th Monarch of Ireland; and reigned for three years. He had many conflicts with the Danes, in which , generally, he was victorious.
At length, making up a great army, in order to besiege Dublin, a great battle was fought between them, wherein the Monarch lost his life, and after great slaughter on both sides, his army was routed, A.D. 919. He revived the great Fair at Tailtean. From this Monarch the sirname O’Neill* or “Clan-na-Neill.” Neilson, Nelson and Nilson are derived. Niall Glundubh left issue: Muriartach na-Cochall, Prince of Ulster, who left no issue; and II. Murchertach.
101. Murchertach : that second son (called “The Hector of Western Europe”) and Roydamna; was married and left issue. This Prince was slain by Blacaire, lord of the Danes, 26th March, A.D. 941.
102. Donal of Armagh:* his son; was the 173rd Monarch; died at Armagh, after 24 years reign, A.D. 978. During his long reign we find but little progress by him (made) against the encroaching Danes; he wholly bent his arms against his subjects; preying, burning, and slaughtering the people of Conacht, whether deservedly or otherwise we know not, but we know it was no reasonable time for them to fall foul upon one another, while their common enemy was victoriously triumping over them both.

* O’Neill: Niall Glundubh attained to the Monarchy, A.D. 914, after the death of Fian Siona, King of Meath; and was slain in a battle with the Danes, at Rathfarnham, near Dublin. The following passage from one of the many “Lamentations,” written at the time by the Irish bards on his death, shows the affection entertained for him by his people:__

“Sorrowful this day is sacred Ireland,
Without a valiant chief ‘hostage’ reign;
It is to see the heavens without a sun,
To view Magh Neill without Niall.”

“ Magh Neill,” here mentioned, signifies the plain of Niall : meaning, no doubt, the “O’Neill-land” forming the two baronies of that name in Armagh, which constituted the ancient patrimony of the Hy-Niallain, or the decendants of Niallan, who was collaterally descended in the fifth degree from Colla-da-Chrioch, who, writes O’Callaghan, “overthrew the dominion of the old Irian Kings of Uladh,” whose heraldic emblem was the “Red Hand of Ulster.” That emblem The O’Neill in after ages assumed, together with the Battle Cry of “Lamh Dearg Abu” [lauv darig aboo], which means___The Red Hand for Ever.
In the humble but honourable position of a Teacher of a National School (see No. 134 on the “ONeill” (No.2) pedigree), the lineal representative of the Monarch Niall Glundubh now (1887) resides in a secluded part of the co. Cork, under a name which some of his forefathers assumed, in order to preserve a portion of their estates, which, however, have since passed away from the family. But, modest though be his position, the gentleman to whom we allude is, perhaps, more happy___he is certainly far more free from care__than were the latest of his illustrious ancestors on the throne of Tirowen, the Principality of the ever-famed O’Neill ; of whom the following lines convey but a faint idea:

“His Brehons around him__the blue heavens o’er him,
His true clan behind, and his broad lands before him,
While group’d far below him, on moor, and on heather,
His Tanists and chiefs are assembled together;
They give him a sword, and he swears to protect them;
A slender white wand, and he vows to direct them;
And then, in God’s sunshine, “O’NEILL” they all hail him:
Through life, unto death, ne’er to flinch from, or fail him;
And earth hath no spell that can shatter or sever
That bond from their true hearts__The Red Hand Forever!

Proud lords of Tir-Owen! high chiefs of Lough Neagh!
How broad-stretch’d the lands that were rul’d by your sway!
What eagle would venture to wing them right through,
But would droop on his pinion, o’er half ere he flew!
From the Hills of MacCarton, and waters that ran
Like steeds down Glen Swilly, to soft-flowing Bann__
From Clannaboy’s heather to Carrick’s sea-shore
And Armagh of the Saints to the wild Innismore__
From the cave of the hunter on Tir-Connell’s hills
To the dells of Glenarm, all gushing with rills__
From Antrim’s bleak rocks to the woods of Rostrevor__
All echo’d your war-shout__”The Red Hand for Ever!”
____O’CALLAGHAN.


* Donal of Armagh: This Donal was succeeded in the Monarchy by the famous Malachi the Second, King of Meath; and is by some writers called Donal O’Neill; but it is to be observed, that it was not until some time after the death of Malachi the Second (who died A.D. 1023), and, who, as Monarch, succeeded this Donal of Armagh, A.D. 978, that Moriartus-na-Midhe was the first of the family that ever assumed the sirname “O’Neill.” Donal of Armagh ascended the throne,
A.D. 954, and died A.D. 978. He was the son of Muircheartach (Murkertagh or Murtagh), the northern chieftain who was the “Roydamma” or heir apparent to the throne, as being the son of Niall Glundubh, above mentioned. Donoch the Third of Meath succeeded Niall Glundubh in the Monarchy, A.D. 917; and, with the exception of a victory over the Danes, at Bregia (a part of the ancient kingdom of Meath), passed his reign in comparative obscurity.
Muyrkertagh (muir : Irish, the sea; Lat. Mare: Arab, mara; and ceart ; Irish, righteous; Lat. certus) had conducted a fleet to the Hebrides, whence he returned flushed with victory. He assembled a body of troops of special valour, and, at the head of a thousand heroes, commenced his “circuit of Ireland :” the Danish chief, Sitric, was first seized as a hostage ; next Lorcan, King of Leinster; next the Munster King, Callaghan of Cashel (who then had leagued with the Danes, and in conjunction with them invaded Meath and Ossory, A.D. 037), “and a fetter was put on him by Murkertagh.” He afterwards proceeded to Connaught, where, Connor, son of Teige, came to meet him, “but no gyve or lock was put upon him.”
He then returned to Aileach, carrying these Kings with him as hostages; where, for five months, he feasted them with knightly courtesy, and then sent them to the Monarch Donoch, in Meath. Murkertagh’s valour and prowess procured for him the title of__”The Hector of the west of Europe;” in two years after his justly famous exploit he was, however, slain by “Blacaire, son of Godfrey, lord of the foreigners,” on the 26th March, A.D. 941 ; and “Ardmacha (Armagh) was plundered by the same foreigners, on the day after the killing of Murkertagh.”
___MISS CUSACK.

103. Moriartach na-Midhe* : his son; was the first that assumed the sirname and title of “The Great O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone, and of Ulster.”
104. Flathartach An Frostain: his son; Prince of Ulster.
105. Aodh Athlamh : his son; Prince of Tyrone; had two sons:__
I. Donall an Togdhamh; and II. Aodh Anrachan, who was ancestor of MacSweeney.
106. Donall an Togdhamh : his son; Prince of Ulster, had a dau. Joan.
107. Flahertach Locha Hadha : his son; was Prince of Tyrone.
108. Conner na-Fiodhbha : his son; Prince of Ulster and Tyrone; was murdered, A.D. 1170.
109. Teige Glinne : his son; Prince of Tyrone.
110. Mortogh Muighe Line : his son; Prince of Ulster.
111. Aodh (or Hugh) an Macaomh Toinleasg : his son; slain A.D. 1177, by Malachlan and Ardgal O’Loughlin (his kinsmen), but the latter fell by the hand of O’Neill in the conflict. This Aodh was styled “Lord of Tirowen,” “King of the Cineal Owen,” “King of Aileach,” “King of North Erin,” etc. He had two sons__
1. Niall Ruadh; and 2. Aodh (or Hugh) Dubh, who some say was the elder son. But as the Linea Antiqua, in the Office of Arms, Dublin Castle, continues the line of “O’Neill,” Princes of Tyrone, from Niall Ruadh, we give the descent from him in the “O’Neill (No.2) pedigree, next infra. And from his brother, Aodh (or Hugh) Dubh, we give , in the “O’Neill” (No. 3) genealogy, the pedigree of O’Neill, Princes of Clanaboy.

* Moriartach na-Midhe : This name , analysed, means “Mor-Neart na Midhe” (moirneart: Irish, mighty power ; na Midhe, of Meath) ; and, as the word “neart” means great strength, implies, that this prince was powerfully strong__in person or in the forces at his command.

O'Cahan of the Cenél Éoghain

The O'Cahan (O'Kane) Pedigree; An extract from: Irish Pedigrees; or The Origin And Stem of The Irish Nation, by John O’Hart, Vol. 1. , Dublin, James Duffy And Co., Ltd., 14 and 15 Wellington Quay , 1892. Part III pg 622

O’CAHAN. (No. 1.)

Princes of Limavady, County Londonderry.

Arms: Az. On a fess per pale gu. And ar. betw. in chief out-of the horns of a crescent, a dexter hand couped at the wrist and apumee, surmounted by an estoile, betw. on the dexter a horse counter-saliant, and on the sinister a lion ramp. each also surmounted by an estoile, and in base a salmon naiant all ar. on the dexter side three lizards pass. bend sinisterways gu. and on the dexter an oak tree eradicated vert, over all an escutcheon ar. charged with a cross calvary on three grieces ppr. Crest: A cat-a-mountain ramp. ppr. Motto: Felis demulcta mitis.

Conchobhar [Conner], Prince of Leim-an-Madaidh [“Limavady”], and a younger brother of Niall Frasach, the 162nd Monarch of Ireland, who is No. 96 on the (No. 1) “O’Neill (of Tyrone) pedigree, was the ancestor of O’Cathain; anglicized O’Cahaine, O’Cahane, O’Cahan, O’Cane, O’Kane, O’Keane, O’Caen, O’Chane, Cahan, Caine, Cane, Gahan, Gethan, Kane, Kean, Keane, Keen, Kyan.

96. Conner: second son of Fargal, the 156th Monarch of Ireland; a quo O’Conner, of Moy Ith, county Donegal; had a brother named Hugh.
97. Gruagan (“gruag:” Irish, the hair), meaning “the hairy man:” his son; a quo O’Gruagain, anglicized Grogan and Gregan ; had a brother named Dermod, who was ancestor of O’Conner, of Moy Ith.
98. Dungan: son of Gruagan.
99. Cathan (“cath:” Irish, a battle, and “an,” one who; Heb. “chath,”
(terror ) : his son; a quo O’Cathain.
100. Cathusach: his son.
101. Dermod : his son ; had a brother named Flaitheartach.
102. Conn Cionntach* O’Cahan : son of Dermod ; first assumed this sirname ; had a brother named Annselan, who was the ancestor of O’Bocainain ( “bocain:” Irish, fairies ; “an,” one who ), anglicized Buchanan. This Annselan was the first of the family who settled in Scotland.

103. Giollachriosd : his son.
104. Iomhar: his son.
105. Ranall : his son:
106. Eachmarcach : his son.
107. Donall : his son.
108. Rory : his son.
109. Manus Catha an Duin : his son; Prince of Limavady ; killed by the English in the “battle of Down,” A.D. 1260: hence the epithet Catha an Duin.
110. Cumagh-na-nGall ** (or “Cumagh of the English”) : his son.
111. Dermod (2) : his son.
112. Cumagh (2) : his son ; living , A.D. 1350.
113. Dermod (3) : his son.
114. Aibhneach : his son ; had a brother named Henry, a quo the “Clan Henry,” or Henry.
115. John ( or Shane) : son of Aibhneach ; d. 1498.
116. Donoch-an-Einigh (or “ Donoch the Affable”) : his son ; a quo Macaneinigh, anglicized MacAneny ; *** d. 1523. Had a brother named Donall or Daniel, **** who was ancestor of Keane, of Cappoquin, and Keane, of county Clare, etc.
117. Manus : son of Donoch an Einigh ; slain 1548.
118. Rory Ruadh [roe] : his son ; d. 1598.

119. Donall Ballach :* his son ; lord of the Route, and of Limavady, in the county Derry. ……

* Cionntach : From this name (“cionntach :” Irish, guilty) some derive MacCionntaigh , anglicized Maginty and Ginty .

** Cumagh-na-nGall : On the tomb of this Cumagh O’Cahan, in the church of Dungiven, the Arms of this Prince of Limavady display the salmon, as do the Arms of the O’Neill , from whom the O’Cahan family are an offshoot.

*** MacAeny : This name in Irish is more properly written Mac-an-Eineaigh, and is derived from the Irish “ eineach,” affability. Some genealogists confound this family with
Mac –an-Eanaigh . (See the Note “MacNeny,” under the families of Ulster descended from Colla-da-Chrioch, who is No. 85 on the O’Hart pedigree, infra .

**** Donall : From this Donall (or Daniel), the fourth son of John O’Cahan, No. 115 on this Genealogy, also descended General Sir Richard O’Cahan, of the 18th Foot, who was Governor of Minorca, etc. This Sir Richard was b. on 20th December, 1666, and
d. 19th December, 1736. According to the subjoined epitaph, he first entered on his military career at the Siege of Derry. The descent was as follows : _______

116. Daniel, of Coolbryan, son of John, had
117. Richard, of Coolbryan and Dungiven, who had
118. Thomas, m. to Catherine O’Skullen, and had

Origin of The McCain Family

There were two great septs of Ó Catháin. The earlier anglicized form of this name was O'Cahan, and even as late as the beginning of the present century, O'Cahans were still found in Co. Derry; but in modern times the forms Keane, Kane, and sometimes O'Kane, are almost universally used, Keane in Munster and Connacht, Kane in Ulster. The two septs were quite distinct originally, but if the belief that the Keanes of Thomond are a branch of Ó Catháin of Ulster is true, as the best authorities assert, the propinquity of Clare to Galway must necessarily lead to uncertainty in the west of Ireland in cases where no pedigree or reliable family tradition exists. In this connection it should be added that the Cahanes of west Clare, who were coarbs of St. Senan, wrote their name MacCahan and are thought to be quite distinct from the O'Cahanes.

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