Clan Ua Déaghaidh
Encyclopedia
O'Dea , is an Irish surname
derived from Deághaidh, the name of a tenth century clan chieftain.
The O'Dea clan came originally from County Clare
where there is a fortified tower house
over 500 years old known as O'Dea Castle
at the 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) townland of Dysert O'Dea . The ruins of Dysert O'Dea Monastery, round tower, and St. Tola's high cross are 265 metres to the south-southwest of the castle in the adjacent 260 acres (1.1 km²) townland of Mollaneen , near Corofin. (52.911361°N 9.066381°W)
The name O'Dea is normally pronounced oh-dee, and sometimes oh-day, in English. Clan descendants may have the surnames Alday, Allday, O'Dea, Dea, Day, O'Day, Dee, O'Dee, Godwin, or Goodwin.
Edward MacLysaght
, the former Chief Herald of Ireland, writing in his book, Irish Families, began his discussion of the O'Dea family as follows:
In another book, The Surnames of Ireland, MacLysaght describes the O'Deas as "one of the principal Dalcassian
sept
s", and about the name itself, he remarks, "The prefix O is now almost always used, but a century ago Dea was quite usual and the English Day was regarded as synonymous."
, belong to the Uí Fearmaic group, but it is not known if this kindred belongs to the Dál gCais
or to the Uí Fidgenti
. Another possibility are the Corcu Baiscind
.
See also the O'Day page for a listing of O'Days.
Irish name
A formal Irish-language name consists of a given name and a surname. Surnames in Irish are generally patronymic in etymology, although they are no longer literal patronyms, as Icelandic names are...
derived from Deághaidh, the name of a tenth century clan chieftain.
The O'Dea clan came originally from County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
where there is a fortified tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
over 500 years old known as O'Dea Castle
O'Dea Castle
O'Dea Castle is an Irish fortified tower house, loosely described as a castle, at Dysert O'Dea , the former O'Dea clan stronghold, 5 km from Corofin, County Clare just off the R476 road....
at the 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) townland of Dysert O'Dea . The ruins of Dysert O'Dea Monastery, round tower, and St. Tola's high cross are 265 metres to the south-southwest of the castle in the adjacent 260 acres (1.1 km²) townland of Mollaneen , near Corofin. (52.911361°N 9.066381°W)
The name O'Dea is normally pronounced oh-dee, and sometimes oh-day, in English. Clan descendants may have the surnames Alday, Allday, O'Dea, Dea, Day, O'Day, Dee, O'Dee, Godwin, or Goodwin.
Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght was one of the foremost genealogists of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames built upon the work of Patrick Woulfe's Irish Names and Surnames and made him well known to all those researching their family past.-Early life:Edward was born in Flax Bourton...
, the former Chief Herald of Ireland, writing in his book, Irish Families, began his discussion of the O'Dea family as follows:
In another book, The Surnames of Ireland, MacLysaght describes the O'Deas as "one of the principal Dalcassian
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
sept
Sept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
s", and about the name itself, he remarks, "The prefix O is now almost always used, but a century ago Dea was quite usual and the English Day was regarded as synonymous."
Origins
The O'Deas, together with the O'QuinnsEarl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 February 1822 for Valentine Quin, 1st Viscount Mount-Earl. Quin was created a Baronet, of Adare in County Limerick, in the Baronetage of Ireland, in 1781, Baron Adare in 1800 and Viscount Mount-Earl in 1816...
, belong to the Uí Fearmaic group, but it is not known if this kindred belongs to the Dál gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
or to the Uí Fidgenti
Uí Fidgenti
The Uí Fidgenti or Wood-Sprung People were an early kingdom of northern Munster, situated mostly in modern County Limerick, but extending into County Clare and County Tipperary, and possibly even County Kerry and County Cork, at maximum extents, which varied over time...
. Another possibility are the Corcu Baiscind
Corcu Baiscind
The Corcu Baiscind were an early Érainn people or kingdom of what is now southern County Clare in Munster. They descended from Cairpre Baschaín, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Múscraige and Corcu Duibne, both of Munster, and also the Dál Riata of Ulster and...
.
Notable O'Deas
- Brian O'DeaBrian O'DeaBrian O'Dea is a Canadian former drug smuggler.Born in Newfoundland, he first worked as a minor drug dealer in the province. Moving up he became an importer of marijuana to Canada from the United Kingdom...
- Cannabis smuggler; television and film producer; author. - Chris O'DeaChris O'DeaChris O'Dea is a documentary filmmaker with a focus on new media and global perspectives. He is an Master of Fine Arts graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television...
- American documentary filmmaker. - Cornelius (Connor) O'Dea. Bishop of LimerickBishop of LimerickThe Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
. (Appointed 1400; resigned 1426). - Darren O'DeaDarren O'DeaDarren O'Dea [pronounced dah-renh-oh-dee] is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a centre back for English Football League Championship club Leeds United after joining on a loan deal from Celtic. O'Dea has represented his country at under-21 level and at senior level...
- IrishRepublic of Ireland national football teamThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
footballer. - Denis O'DeaDenis O'DeaDenis O'Dea was an Irish stage and film actor.O'Dea was a leading member of Dublin's Abbey Theatre, where his work led to a number of notable film roles, including two mid-1930s John Ford films, The Informer and The Plough and the Stars , and the part of the police inspector in pursuit of IRA man...
- Actor and father of Donnacha, below. - Donnacha O'DeaDonnacha O'DeaDonnacha "The Don" O'Dea is an Irish professional poker player. In his youth he was a swimmer, and represented Ireland in the 1968 Olympics. He was also the first Irish swimmer to swim 100m in less than one minute...
- Olympic swimmer and professional poker player. - Dorothy DayDorothy DayDorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist and devout Catholic convert; she advocated the Catholic economic theory of Distributism. She was also considered to be an anarchist, and did not hesitate to use the term...
- Journalist, social activist, distributist, and anarchist. - Edward John O'DeaEdward John O'DeaEdward John O'Dea was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Seattle from 1896 until his death in 1932....
(1856–1932). Bishop of dioceses Nesqually and Seattle. - Fabian O'DeaFabian O'DeaFabian Aloysius O'Dea, QC was a lawyer and the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Canada.Born in St. John's, O'Dea was educated at St...
- Former Lieutnant Governor of Newfounland, Canada. - Jimmy O'DeaJimmy O'DeaJames Augustine "Jimmy" O'Dea was an Irish actor and comedian.-Life:Jimmy O'Dea was born in Lower Bridge Street, Dublin, where his mother kept a small toy-shop. He was one of 11 children. His father was an iron-monger and had a shop in Capel Street. He was educated at Blackrock College and...
- Actor, comedian. - Judith O'DeaJudith O'DeaJudith O'Dea is an American actress known for her role as Barbra in the George A. Romero film Night of the Living Dead .-Career:...
- Hollywood actress. - Paul O'DeaPaul O'DeaPaul O'Dea was an American professional baseball player, manager and scout. He saw Major League service during World War II for the and Cleveland Indians....
- American professional basketball player. - Thomas O'DeaThomas O'DeaThomas O'Dea, Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, 7 January 1858 - 9 April 1923.O'Dea was born in Carron, Kilfenora, County Clare, and educated in Ennis and Maynooth. He was ordained on 25 June 18982 for the Diocese of Galway. He was a member of staff at St...
(1858–1923). Bishop of Clonfert, Galway, and KilmacduaghRoman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and KilfenoraThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
. - Marcus O'DayMarcus O'DayMarcus Driver O'Day was an American physicist.In 1918, he entered the military service in Eugene, Oregon after graduating from Centralia, Washington. He then attended the University of Oregon where he was assigned to the Students Army Training Corps, and was discharged at the end of the...
- Physicist with crater named after himO'Day (crater)O'Day is a prominent lunar impact crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It intrudes into the northwestern edge of Mare Ingenii, and the rim is lower on that side. To the northwest is the crater pair of Holetschek and Sierpinski. Southwest of O'Day lies the crater Seidel...
on the moon. - Willie O'DeaWillie O'DeaWillie O'Dea is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency. He served as the Minister for Defence from September 2004 until 18 February 2010, when he resigned from his post due to controversy over a defamation case.-Early and private life:O'Dea was born...
- Irish politician.
See also the O'Day page for a listing of O'Days.
See also
- O'Dea CastleO'Dea CastleO'Dea Castle is an Irish fortified tower house, loosely described as a castle, at Dysert O'Dea , the former O'Dea clan stronghold, 5 km from Corofin, County Clare just off the R476 road....
- Dysert O'Dea Monastery
- Battle of Dysert O'DeaBattle of Dysert O'DeaThe Battle of Dysert O'Dea took place on 10 May 1318 at Dysert O'Dea near Corofin, Ireland. It was part of the Bruce campaign in Ireland. The Norman Richard de Clare attacked the Gaelic Irish chieftain Conchobhar Ó Deághaidh, chief of the Cineal Fearmaic and ally of Muirchertach Ó Briain, but he...
- The O'Dea Mitre
Further reading
- O'Dea: Ua Deághaidh: The Story of a Rebel Clan, by Risteárd Ua Cróinín (Richard Cronin), Ballinakella Press, Whitegate, Co. Clare, Ireland, 1992. ISBN 0946538077.
- Irish Battles - A Military History of Ireland, by G.A. Hayes-McCoy, Appletree Press, 1990, ISBN 086281250X