RSS
Families & Clans


Home Page > Roots > Roots Families & Clans > The O'Donoghue clan

Blogs


comment on article Make a comment
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

The O'Donoghue clan

By
LIAM MORIARTY
,
IrishCentral.com
Published Thursday, September 24, 2009, 1:26 PM
Updated Thursday, October 8, 2009, 3:26 PM
Read more: Geoffrey O'Donoghue, John O'Donoghue, John Donohue, Phil Donahue, O'Donoghue Society, Southern Kerry, Ireland


Talk show host Phil Donahue
Talk show host Phil Donahue

O'Donoghue is one of the most popular names in Ireland. It is prevalent throughout Counties Galway, Cavan, Kerry and Cork.

O'Donoghues, Donohoes, Donohue, Dunphys and Donoges are descendants of O Donnchadha, a personal name that has been Anglicized into Donogh.

The family traces its lineage from the eleventh-century Eoghanacht dynasty of Munster, which participated in the battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Former New York State Lt. Governor Mary Donohue
Former New York State Lt. Governor Mary Donohue

The O'Donoghues eventually split into two branches, O'Donoghue Mor centered in Lough Liene at Ross Castle and O'Donoghue of the Glen.

O'Donoghue Mr was granted Ross Castle by MacCarthy Mr after the battle of Callan in 1261, which expelled the Anglo-Normans from Southern Kerry. O'Donoghue Mr during the "Desmond Rebellion" (1575) sided with the Earl of Desmond against Queen Elizabeth. O'Donoghue Mr was killed in battle and the English monarch seized the O'Donoghue Mr's lands.

The late "SNL" star Michael O'Donoghue
The late "SNL" star Michael O'Donoghue

The O'Donoghue of the Glen survived the rebellion intact at Gelnflesk. In 1652 General Edmond Ludlow, one of Cromwell's men, captured Castle Killaha, the seat of the O'Donoghue of the Glen's power. During this capture it is possible that Geoffrey O'Donoghue of the Glen, the noted Irish scholar and poet of the seventeenth century, was the chief of the O'Donoghue clan.

The O'Donoghues of the Glen regained their estate only to lose it again with the victory of William the Orange over James II at the Battle of the Boyle in 1690 When the O'Donoghues were forced out of Ireland they earned distinction in various European armies.

O'Donoghues are celebrated for their contributions in a variety of fields.

A Spanish descendent of the O'Donoghue clan, Juan O'Donoju (1751-1821), was the last Spanish ruler of Mexico.

Timothy O'Donoghue served in the Civil War on the U.S.S. Signal in 1864. Timothy received the Medal of Honor for remaining, while under enemy fire, at his post after being wounded.

Another member of the clan, John Donohue (a.k.a. "Bold Jack Donohue") was a notorious outlaw in Australia during the early nineteenth century. A Robin Hood-like folklore soon developed around Jack; however, his actions were less than noble.

1 2 3 Next page >

Vote now - Buzz this story up!


The O'Donoghue clan | Irish Clans and Irish Family Crests | IrishCentral


print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Be the first to make a comment.







remember me on this computer
forget your password?     
IrishCentral.com is also home to Irish Voice and Irish America magazine