Clans

The Donovans are descended from the sept of Ó Donnabháin who were from County Limerick in the south west of Ireland. The name comes from the Gaelic Ó Donndubháin meaning ‘descendant of the dark brown-haired one’...

Ó Néill comes from the personal name Niall, which possibly means ‘passionate’ or ‘vehement’. The O’ Neills were the leading family of the Cineál Eoghan tribal grouping, who ruled the ancient territory of...

The name O’ Reilly, and its variations, is extremely common throughout Ireland. The clan is descended from the Ó Raghailligh of Breffny, which comprises the modern areas of counties Cavan and Longford, and their influence also extended to...

Ó Súilleabháin comes from the Gaelic “Súil”, meaning ‘eye’, and can mean ‘Black-eyed’ or ‘Hawk-eyed’. The O’ Sullivan sept was part of the Eoghanacht tribal grouping, and...

Power is originally a Norman name. The first settlers in Ireland were located in Co. Waterford in the southern province of Munster, where they owned large estates. The name they were originally known by, le Poer, actually means ‘poor’,...

The name Quinn can have two distinct origins. In the areas of counties Clare, Longford and Antrim, the name originated as the personal name Conn, meaning ‘chief’ or ‘leader’. The name is also came from Co. Tyrone, in the northern...

Ó Riagáin comes from the Gaelic word “ríodhgach”, possibly meaning ‘impulsive’ or ‘angry’. The name originated in at least three distinct areas of the country ; Meath / Dublin, where they were one...

The Ryan name originated as Ó Maoilriaghain, meaning ‘descendant of a devotee of St. Riaghan’. The name was originally Anglicised as Mulryan, and has today been shortened to Ryan. The name first appeared in the barony of Owney, on the...

Mac Suibhne comes from the Gaelic word “suibhne” meaning ‘pleasant’, and Sweeney is the Anglicisation of this name. The original Suibhne from whom Sweeneys claim descent was a Scottish chief. The Sweeneys arrived in Ireland from...

The Gaelic name Breathnach means ‘British’ or ‘Welsh’, and the name Walsh is a semi-translation of this meaning. The name arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion at the end of the 12th century, and was established in a...

Wards in Ireland can be of English or Gaelic origin. The English version of the name alludes to the occupation of ‘weard’ or guardsman, and was brought here by English settlers. In Gaelic the name means ‘son of the poet / bard’...