Ó Ceallaigh
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| Ó Ceallaigh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent house | Connachta |
| Country | Ireland |
| Founder | Máine Mór |
| Current head | Walter Lionel O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly |
| Final ruler | Feardorcha Ó Cellaigh |
| Titles |
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Ó Ceallaigh (Oh-kyal-lee) is the most influential dynasty of the ancient túath of Uí Maine, and the original Irish Gaelic name for the surname commonly Anglicized as Kelley, Kelly, or Kellie. It is a name meaning "Descendant of Ceallach," “Warriors” "bright haired," or "troublesome." Though some have linked it to the old Irish "ceall" for "church."
Ceallach was the son of Finnachta, a chief of the Hy Many people around A.D. 874. Another notable chieftain, Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh, was killed at the famous Battle of Clontarf, where he and his ally Brian Boru defeated the Viking raiders.
Many members of the Ó Ceallaigh clan are directly descended from the Kings of Uí Maine (with Uí Maine commonly known as O'Kelly country), and the clan itself is the largest and senior-most ruling family of Uí Maine.
The earliest parts of the O'Kelly genealogy are contained in the Book of Hy Many, which was written in the 14th century. Its compilation was the idea of William O'Kelly, a chief of Hy Many. The book is now kept in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.
(Additionally, the Ua Ceallaigh are considered one of the Four Tribes of Tara.)
Castles & Structures of the Ó Ceallaigh
- Garbally Castle
- Monivea Castle
- Gallagh Castle
- Galey Castle
- Moyvannan Castle
- St. Mary's Abbey, Duleek
- Kilconnell Abbey
- Aughrim Priory
- Clontuskert Priory
- Aghrane (Now Castlekelly)
Associated Counties
Counties associated with the name include:
- Armagh
- Carlow
- Clare
- Donegal
- Dublin
- Galway
- Kildare
- Kilkenny
- Laois
- Leitrim
- Londonderry
- Longford
- Mayo
- Meath
- Offaly
- Roscommon
- Sligo
- Tipperary
- Tyrone
- Waterford
- Westmeath
- Wicklow
See also
- Cellach mac Fíonachta, ancestor of Ó Ceallaigh
- Uí Maine, which concerns the O'Kellys foremost.
References
- ^ O'Donovan, John. The Hy Many. pp. 143–144
- ^ Francis J.Byrne, Irish Kings and High Kings, Appendix II; T.M.Charles Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, Appendix II; with gaps filled in by the poem Síl Aeda Sláne Na Sleg found in the Book of Leinster Jump up ^ T.M. Charles-Edwards, pg.551–553
- ^ O'Donovan, John. The Hy Many
- ^ a b "Sir William O'Kelly". www.kellyclanireland.com.
- ^ "Familyhistoryireland.com". www.familyhistoryireland.com.
