Irish nobility - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This article concerns the Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....

nobility of 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...

from ancient to modern times. It only partly overlaps with Chiefs of the Name

Chiefs of the Name

The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...

because it excludes Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

and other discussion. It is one of three groups of Irish nobility

Irish nobility

This article concerns the Gaelic nobility of Ireland from ancient to modern times. It only partly overlaps with Chiefs of the Name because it excludes Scotland and other discussion...

, the others being those nobles descended from the Hiberno-Normans and those granted titles of nobility in the Peerage of Ireland

Peerage of Ireland

The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...

Legal status

By the time of the Treaty of Limerick

Treaty of Limerick

The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite war in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. It concluded the Siege of Limerick. The treaty really consisted of two treaties which were signed on 3 October 1691. Reputedly they were signed on the Treaty Stone, an...

, almost all Gaelic nobles had lost any semblance of real power in their (former) domains. Today, such historical titles have no special legal status in the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

, unlike in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

, which has remained a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland does not confer titles of nobility under its constitution.

From 1943 until 2003 some of the modern representatives of the Gaelic nobility obtained a courtesy recognition as Chiefs of the Name

Chiefs of the Name

The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...

from the Irish government. The practice ended in 2003 following certain scandals (Terence Francis MacCarthy

Terence Francis MacCarthy

Terence Francis MacCarthy , formerly self-styled Tadhg V, The MacCarthy Mór, Prince of Desmond and Lord of Kerslawny, is a genealogist, historian, and writer. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he is a resident of Morocco...

) and under concerns that it was unconstitutional. Disputed titles, as well as those for whom recognition is still pending, are not listed.

The Gaelic nobles

All below are flatha (princes) and also descendants in the male line, however distant in some cases, of at least one historical grade of Rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...

, a Rí túaithe (usually a local petty king), a Ruiri (overking or regional king), or a greater Rí ruirech (king of overkings, also called a provincial king or Rí cóicid). A number of rí ruirech also became Ard Rí and their surviving princely descendants remain claimants to the long vacant, so-called High Kingship. A modern Gaelic noble may be styled a flaith

Flaith

A flaith or flath , plural flatha, was an hereditary prince, or even princess, in the Gaelic world, with the plural often referring to the social class...

(prince) or tiarna (lord, count/earl). See also White Rod.

The Gaelic families are divided by race and 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...

, and by geography.

Connachta
Connachta
The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King Conn Cétchathach...
- Uí Briúin Ai (Síl Muiredaig
  Síol Muireadaigh
  Síol Muireadaigh, Gaelic-Irish dynasty and territory, located in north County Roscommon.-Overview:The Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of related clans, all descendants of King Muiredach Muillethan of Connacht , all of whom lived in north-central Connaught...
  
  )
  - O'Conor Don
    O'Conor Don
    The Ó Conchubhair Donn is the hereditary Prince and Chief of the Name of the Royal Family of Connacht, the Clan Ó Conchubhair.-Overview:...
  - The MacDermot, Prince of Coolavin
    MacDermot
    Mac Diarmata is an Irish surname, and the surname of the ruling dynasty of Moylurg, a kingdom that existed in Connacht from the 10th to 16th centuries.-Overview:...
- Uí Briúin Bréifne
  - The O'Rourke, Prince of Breifne
    Kingdom of Breifne
    The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...

Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
- Cenél nEógain
  Cenél nEógain
  Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
  - O'Neill dynasty
    O'Neill dynasty
    The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
    - O'Neill of Clanaboy
      Hugo Ricciardi O'Neill
      Hugo Ricciardi O'Neill is the current head of the O'Neill dynasty of Clanaboy, whose family has been in Portugal since the 18th century.-Recognition:...
- Cenél Conaill
  Cenél Conaill
  The Cenél Conaill is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history. They were also known in Scotland as the Kindred of Saint Columba....
  - The O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell
  - The O'Dogherty, Lord of Inishowen
    Doherty
    The Doherty family is an Irish clan based in County Donegal in the north of the island of Ireland.Like clans in other cultures, Irish clans such as the Dohertys are divided into many septs and regional families...

Uí Maine
- The O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly
- The Fox
  Tethbae
  Tethbae, also Tethba and other variants, and often anglicized Teffia, was a region of Ireland in the Middle Ages. It was divided into two distinct kingdoms, north Tethba, ruled by the Cenél Coirpri, and south Tethba, ruled by the Cenél Maini...
  
  (O'Kearney)

Laigin
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
- Uí Cheinnselaig
  Uí Cheinnselaig
  The Uí Ceinnselaig , from the Old Irish "grandsons of Cennsalach", are an Irish dynasty of Leinster who trace their descent from Énnae Cennsalach, a supposed contemporary of Niall of the Nine Hostages...
  - The MacMorrough Kavanagh, Prince of Leinster
    Dermot MacMurrough
    Diarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...
  - The O'Morchoe
    David O'Morchoe
    Major General David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe , CB, CBE, KLJ, is the hereditary Chief and Prince of the Ó Murchadha Sept, a cadet line of the ancient Irish dynasty the Uí Cheinnselaig, who were Kings of Leinster...
- Uí Dúnlainge
  Uí Dúnlainge
  The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
  - The O'Toole of Fer Tire
    O'Toole (family)
    The O'Tooles of Leinster, one of the leading families of that province, are descended from Tuathal mac Augaire, King of Leinster , who belonged to the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty...
    
    (in abeyance
    Abeyance
    Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
    
    )

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...
- The O'Brien, Prince of Thomond
  Conor Myles John O'Brien, 18th Baron Inchiquin
  Conor Myles John O'Brien, 18th Baron Inchiquin, is the holder of a hereditary peerage in the Peerage of Ireland, as well as Chief of the Name of O'Brien and Prince of Thomond in the Gaelic Irish nobility....
- The O'Grady

Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
- Eóganacht Chaisil
  Eóganacht Chaisil
  Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster...
  - The O'Callaghan, Lord of Clonmeen
  - The McGillycuddy, Lord of Doonebo
    McGillycuddy of the Reeks
    The McGillycuddy of the Reeks is one of the hereditary chiefs of the name of Ireland. The current family head is Donough McGillycuddy, who lives in Himeville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-Mythology:...
- Eóganacht Raithlind
  Eóganacht Raithlind
  Eóganacht Raithlind or Uí Echach Muman are a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Raithlinn or Raithleann described around the area of Bandon, in the same area...
  - The O'Donoghue, Prince of Glenflesk
    O'Donoghue of the Glens
    The O'Donoghue of the Glens , Prince of Glenflesk, is the hereditary chieftain of his sept of the Kerry Eóganacht...
Uncertain origin
- 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...
  
  – Uí Ímair
  Uí Ímair
  The Uí Ímair , or Dynasty of Ivar, were an enormous royal and imperial Norse dynasty who ruled Northern England, the Irish Sea region and Kingdom of Dublin, and the western coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides, from the mid 9th century, losing control of the first in the mid 10th, but the rest...
  - The O'Donovan
    O'Donovan
    O'Donovan or Donovan is an Irish surname, as well as a hereditary Gaelic title. It is also written Dhonnabháin in certain grammatical contexts, and Donndubháin, being originally composed of the elements donn, meaning lord or dark brown, dubh, meaning dark or black, and the diminutive suffix án...
- Clann Somhairle
  Clann Somhairle
  Clann Somhairle refers to those Scottish and Irish dynasties descending from the famous Norse-Gaelic leader Somerled, King of Mann and the Isles. Primarily they are the Clan Donald, formerly known as the Lord of the Isles, and the mainland Clan MacDougall, and all their numerous branches...
  
  – Crovan dynasty
  Crovan dynasty
  The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in secondary sources as the Kingdom of Mann, the Kingdom of the Isles, and the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles...
  - Clan Donald
    Clan Donald
    Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
    - MacDonnell of the Glens

O'Neill claimants

Other O'Neills did not apply for recognition. The most notable of these is the Prince of the Fews, Don Carlos O'Neill, 12th Marquis of Granja. There is currently a dispute between him and the Prince of Clanaboy (above) over who is the "senior," with the matter appearing unresolvable. However most recently O'Neill of Clanaboy may have gotten the upper hand in the dispute.

The O'Neills of the Fews are a 15th century branch of the Tyrone or Ó Néill Mór line whereas the O'Neills of Clanaboy are a High Medieval line. Hence the matter is academic, both being somewhat distant from the last sovereigns of Ulster (to 1607), whose plentiful descendants eventually fell into comparative obscurity.

O'Donnell succession

The chosen and recognized heir apparent of the Prince of Tyrconnell, Fr. Hugh O'Donel, O.F.M., is Don Hugo O'Donnell, 7th Duke of Tetuan. Other members of the family have disputed this, most notably Fr. Hugh's sister, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, who has even on television and radio disputed the exclusion from the succession process of potential female and female line claimants, but the head of the dynasty has been firm in his choice of his distant cousin the Duke of Tetuan.

MacCarthys Mór

The most recent legitimate claimants to the royal title of MacCarthy Mór (Prince of Desmond) are two close relatives, Barry Trant MacCarthy (Mór), now elderly (b. 1931), and the younger Liam Trant MacCarthy (Mór) (b. 1957). They are descendants of Cormac of Dunguil, younger son of Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór

Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór

Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór reigned as King of Desmond from 1390/2 to his death in 1428. He was the son of the previous king Domhnall Óg Mac Carthaigh Mór...

, King of Desmond (d. 1426), they belonging to the Srugrena sept

Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile

The Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile, otherwise known as the MacCarthys of Srugrena Abbey, or the Srugrena sept, as well as the Trant McCarthys, are the principal and today perhaps only known surviving sept of the MacCarthy Mór dynasty, the Kings of Desmond...

, but after applying for recognition still await it following the immense scandal involving the impostor Terence MacCarthy

Terence Francis MacCarthy

. Both MacCarthys Mór are descendants of a brother, William Patrick, of Samuel Trant MacCarthy (d. 1927), whose pedigree was registered in 1906 by Sir Arthur Vicars

Arthur Vicars

Sir Arthur Vicars, KCVO was an English-born genealogist and heraldic expert who spent his adult life in Ireland. He was appointed Ulster King of Arms in 1893, but was removed from the post in 1908 following the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels in the previous year...

, the Ulster King of Arms, after which he decided to revive the title of MacCarthy Mór. According to the law of primogeniture

Primogeniture

Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...

(although not a Gaelic custom in origin) the younger Liam is the senior surviving male member of the family, however the elder Barry believed he himself was this at the time he applied for recognition. In any event, the family have a number of male heirs, and relations among them are amiable. Liam MacCarthy's pedigree was accepted and registered by Thomas Woodcock

Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)

Thomas Woodcock, CVO, DL, FSA is Garter Principal King of Arms.Woodcock was educated at Eton College. He went up to University College, Durham, where he obtained a BA degree, and subsequently to Darwin College, Cambridge, where he received his LLB degree. Woodcock was called to the Bar at the...

, the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms

Norroy and Ulster King of Arms

Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...

, in July of 2009, the document including MacCarthy's children and grandchildren.

It was the pedigree of their family into which Terence MacCarthy inserted himself to gain recognition as the MacCarthy Mór.

Remaining agnates

There remain other Gaelic nobles who are not of the "senior" lines, but whose descent is recognized in Europe and a number of whom also hold Continental titles.

The Count O'Donnell of Austria
Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell
Maximilian Karl Lamoral Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell was an Austrian officer and civil servant who became famous when he saved the life of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria...

(O'Donell von Tyrconnell)
The Count O'Rourke of Russia
Joseph Cornelius O'Rourke
Count Joseph Cornelius O'Rourke was a Russian nobleman and military leader who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He is also particularly well remembered in Serbia where he led a combined Russian and Serb army to defeat the Turks at Varvarin in 1810...
O'Nelly, The Count O'Nelly of Austria, Commander of the 72nd Bohemian Regiment

Other

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...
- Baron Lisle
  Baron Lisle
  Baron Lisle was a title that was created five times in the Peerage of England during the Middle Ages and Tudor period. The most recent creation came in the Peerage of Ireland in 1758, when John Lysaght was made Baron Lisle, of Mountnorth in the County of Cork. He had previously represented...
  
  (Lysaght)
O'Neill dynasty
O'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
- MacShane-Johnson family
  Johnson Baronets
  There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Johnson, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
O'Connell family

Legal status

The Gaelic nobles

O'Neill claimants

O'Donnell succession

MacCarthys Mór

Remaining agnates

Other

See also

Genealogical and historical

Irish kingship and lordship

Other