O'Hagan
Encyclopedia
Family History
O'Hagan is an Irish surname originally from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic O'hAodhagain, meaning "Little Fire From The Sun, being derived from Aodh the pagan sun god and Og meaning young, they are the "male descendant of Aodh" the pagan sun god, a personal name meaning "fire". Aodh was a pagan god worshipped by the early natives.Until the destruction of Gaelic order in the 17th Century the O'Hagans were one of the most powerful and influential families in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, holding the title Lord of Tullyhogue
Tullyhogue
Tullyhogue, also called Tullaghoge or Tullahoge , is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is within the civil parish of Desertcreat and is about three kilometres south of Cookstown....
(Tulach Óg, Hill of Youth, in Irish) located in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
Barony of Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
(Upper), parish of Desertcreat. The chief exercised the hereditary right of inaugurating O'Neill as king or overlord of Ulster. In medieval times, members of the sept were territorial magnates in Counties Monaghan and Armagh, and two places called Ballyagan, (from "baile", a settlement), one in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
and the other in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, further locate the O'Hagans.
Chiefs of the Clan Feargusa, they descended from Fergus Cerrbél mac Conaill Cremthainne (Fergus Crooked Mouth) grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
said to be High King of Ireland from 370 to 406 who in turn descends from Conn of the Hundred Battles the Milesian Gaelic King of Tara / Ireland in the 2nd Century. For over six hundred years the O'Hagans were hereditary brehons and inaugurators of O'Neill (surname)
O'Neill (surname)
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...
who were descended from the 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....
.
Before the 13th century branches of the sept were established in County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
and soon spread into the neighbouring counties of Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
and Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. Two places called Ballyagan, one in County Londonderry and the other in County Antrim attest to the O'Hagans' predominance in the region.
The High Chair at Tullyhogue
According to tradition, O'Hagan inaugurated O'Neill by putting on his slipper hence the shoe always appears in the Coat of Arms. The inagugration is said to have taken place at the coronation chair on the O'Hagan lands at Tullyhogue FortTullyhogue Fort
Tullyhogue Fort, also spelt Tullaghoge or Tullahoge , is large mound on the outskirts of Tullyhogue village near Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It has a depressed centre and is surrounded by trees...
. In the 16th century the 'Leac na Ri', or Stone of the Kings, inauguration stone, which is said to be blessed by Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, was embedded in the coronation chair. The chair was destroyed in c1602 at the orders of Lord Mountjoy before the surrender of Hugh O'Neill to Mountjoy. O' Hagans are one of the oldest families in Omeath Co.Louth, arrived when O'Neill attacked mountjoy at narrowwater on hir journey to Carlingford.
Flight of the Earls
During the 17th Century O'Hagans staunchly opposed English aggression and a number were at the Battle of Kinsale in 1603, suffering great losses with the dispossessions that followed. Some were hanged at Carrickfergus County Antrim.There were several O'Hagans among the 98 who fled Northern Ireland in 1607 with Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell was the last King of Tír Chonaill . An apparent original of the Letters Patent of the Earldom are in the possession of Graf O'Donell von Tyrconnell in Austria, although that family did not inherit the title, nor the related territorial Lordship of...
in an event commonly referred to as the Flight of the Earls
Flight of the Earls
The Flight of the Earls took place on 14 September 1607, when Hugh Ó Neill of Tír Eóghain, Rory Ó Donnell of Tír Chonaill and about ninety followers left Ireland for mainland Europe.-Background to the exile:...
which marked the end of the Gaelic order in Northern Ireland.
Famous O'Hagans
- Turlough O'Hagan Chief of the Name who journeyed to Wicklow in 1590 to escort Hugh O'Donnell and two children of Shane O'NeillShane O'NeillSeán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...
to Ulster following the latter's dramatic escape from imprisonment in Dublin Castle. Turlough is also the fictional narrator in the Hiberian Nights stories published by the Dublin College Press from 1863–1865
- Ivor O'Hagan tutor of St Malachy, first recorded spelling of family name which was dated circa 1100, Medieval Records of County Armagh, during the reign of High Kings of Ireland, "with opposition", 1022 - 1166.
In modern times of interest were:
- John O'HaganJohn O'HaganJohn O'Hagan was an Irish lawyer and writer.-Life:He was educated in the day-school of the Jesuit Fathers, Dublin, and in Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1842...
(1822—1890) patriot poet and Judge - Thomas O'Hagan (1812—1885) first Catholic Lord Chancellor of Ireland since James II with peerage title of Baron O'HaganBaron O'HaganBaron O'Hagan, of Tullahogue in the County of Tyrone, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 14 June 1870 for Sir Thomas O'Hagan, then Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His younger son, the third Baron, served as a Lord-in-Waiting from 1907 to 1910 in the Liberal...
, of Tullahogue granted June 14, 1870 - Mary O'Hagan (1823–1876) founder and Abbess of the Covenant of the Poor Clares.
- Andrew O'Hagan (born 1968) Scottish writer and novelist
- Mark O'Hagan was a"Famine immigrant" who sailed to New York on the ship "Rochester" on January 18, 1846.
- Michael O'Hagan (born 1954) Highly awarded Australian small business owner and Entrepreneur.
- Hugh O'Hagan (born 1956) Gaelic Football Player- won with Tyrone for championship (1970's)