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The Fahy clan

Published Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 4:54 PM
Updated Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 4:57 PM
Read more: Francis Arthur Fahy, County Galway


Gaelic Revival era songwriter and literary man Francis Fahy
Gaelic Revival era songwriter and literary man Francis Fahy

The name Fahy is O'Fathaigh in Gaelic, and probably originates from the word fothadh which means base or foundation. Another rarer English version of the name is Vahey and occasionally Fay, which has a different root except for occasional instances in Galway.

The name Green has been used as a synonym for Fahy, but this is believed to be another good example of the not uncommon absurd mistranslation of Irish names into English. A green or lawn in Gaelic is faithche, pronounced fahy.

Fahy, also spelt Fahey, is almost exlusively a Galway name, though it is also found in the neighboring County Tipperary.

Actor Jeff Fahey
Actor Jeff Fahey

A sept of the Hy Many, according to the renowned Irish historian and genealogist, Edward MacLysaght (1887-1986), the clan were headquartered in Loughrea until they were toppled by Cromwell in the mid-17th century. Their territory was known as Pobal Mhuintir Ui Fhathaigh, which means the country inhabited by and belonging to the Fahys. The name is still plentiful in the region and there is a village in the vicinity of Loughrea called Fahysville.

The best known bearer of the name was Francis Arthur Fahy (1854-1935). From Kinvara in County Galway, Fahy was a songwriter and literary man who played a part in the Irish Literary Revival through his lifelong involvement with the Gaelic League and the London Irish Literary Society. He gained some notoriety as the writer of "The Ould Plaid Shawl" and other popular songs.

Other prominent Fahys include Francis Fahy, who was a member of the Young Ireland movement of 1848. A Father Anthony Fahy (1805-1871) built schools throughout Argentina and together with Thomas Armstrong from Longford, started a welfare system for new immigrants. The Fahy Institute in that country was founded to commemorate his life.

In Irish political life, there have been a number of Fahys and Faheys. Yet another Francis Fahey (1880-1954) was a veteran of the War of Independence in Ireland and became Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) of the Dail (Irish Parliament) from 1932 to 1951.

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The Fahy clan | Irish Clans and Irish Family Crests | IrishCentral


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