Ballynary
Encyclopedia
Ballynary is the name of a townland
on the eastern shore of Lough Arrow in the southern corner of County Sligo in Ireland
. Ballynary was the ancestral seat of the O'Higgins
family (or Ó hUigínn in Gaelic
) for 700 years, until they were forced off their lands in 1654 by Oliver Cromwell
. The Chief of the O'Higgins Clan today uses the courtesy title of The O'Higgins of Ballynary or Lord of Ballynary although his family have not lived there since the 17th century.
The townland of Ballynary contains just over 210 acres (85 ha) and bordered the townland of Ballindoon where the ruins of a Dominican Abbey, founded by the MacDonagh Clan, are located. Ballynary also contains O'Higgins Memorial Park which is dedicated to Ambrose O'Higgins, who was born in Ballynary in 1720/21 and who—emigrating to Spain to escape the discrimination against Irish Catholics in his time—eventually became the Viceroy
of Peru
, then part of the Spanish Empire
. His son Bernardo O'Higgins
became the first head of State of Chile
.
The Chilean city of Vallenar
was founded by Ambrose O'Higgins and named for his birthplace, the variant spelling having developed though usage by Spanish-speaking inhabitants. The name of Vallenar Bay in Alaska
is derived from the Chilean name and thus indirectly from the Irish one.
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
on the eastern shore of Lough Arrow in the southern corner of County Sligo in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Ballynary was the ancestral seat of the O'Higgins
O'Higgins
O’Higgins may refer to:*O'Higgins , lists notable people with the surname*O'Higgins FamilyArticles whose names are derived from Bernardo O'Higgins, Chilean independence leader*O'Higgins Region, Chile...
family (or Ó hUigínn in Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) for 700 years, until they were forced off their lands in 1654 by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. The Chief of the O'Higgins Clan today uses the courtesy title of The O'Higgins of Ballynary or Lord of Ballynary although his family have not lived there since the 17th century.
The townland of Ballynary contains just over 210 acres (85 ha) and bordered the townland of Ballindoon where the ruins of a Dominican Abbey, founded by the MacDonagh Clan, are located. Ballynary also contains O'Higgins Memorial Park which is dedicated to Ambrose O'Higgins, who was born in Ballynary in 1720/21 and who—emigrating to Spain to escape the discrimination against Irish Catholics in his time—eventually became the Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, then part of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
. His son Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
became the first head of State of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
The Chilean city of Vallenar
Vallenar
Vallenar is a city and commune in Atacama Region, Chile. It is the capital of the Huasco Province and is located in the valley of the Huasco River. Vallenar has 47,000 inhabitants. Its main activities are farming and mining...
was founded by Ambrose O'Higgins and named for his birthplace, the variant spelling having developed though usage by Spanish-speaking inhabitants. The name of Vallenar Bay in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
is derived from the Chilean name and thus indirectly from the Irish one.