The O'Cahan's originated in Laggan in the east of County Donegal and from there moved eastwards in the twelfth century, ousting the O'Connor from Keenaght in County Londonderry. They held the lordship of Keenaght and Coleraine until the seventeenth century, to which it was commonly referred to as "O'Cahan's country". Under the sub-ordination of their kin, the O'Neills, they held the privilege of inaugurating the chief of the O'Neill by tossing a shoe over the new chief's head in acceptance of his rule.
There is also an unrelated sept of O'Cahan in the province of Connacht, the O'Cahan Ui Fiachra (Ó Catháin Uí Fiachrach). At first O'Cahan held the title chief of Cenel Ianna. After expelling O'Drennan (Ó Draighneán), chief of Cenel Sedna, O'Cahan was henceforth known as chief of Cenel Sedna. Eoghan O'Cahan (Eogháin Ua Catháin), abbot of Clonfert (Cluan-fearta-Brennainn), County Galway, Republic of Ireland, died 980 A.D. He was the earliest recorded O'Cahan and most likely belonged to the O'Cahan's of Galway.
The surname has been anglicised O'Cahan, Cahan, McCaughan, O'Kane, Kane, O'Keane, Keane, O'Kean, O'Keene, Keen, Keene, Kain, O'Kaine, Kathan, and similar variations thereof.
History
Ulster chiefdoms in the late 15th century.
The O'Cahan sept of Keenaght Glengiven first appear on record in 1138. A thirteenth-century chief of the family was Cumee na Gall O'Cahan. A heavily restored effigy at Dungiven Priory is sometimes associated with Cumee, although it appears to date to the last quarter of the fifteenth century, and seems to be that of a later member of the sept. Dunseverick Castle also formed part of the O'Cahan possessions until their destruction by the English.[1]
The clan suffered a blow during the battle of Drumderg, where fifteen O'Cahan chieftains were slain in battle against the Normans and their gaelic allies.[2]
By the late 16th-century, "O'Cahan's Country" became the county of Coleraine. The majority of Ó Catháin chiefs fled Ulster in the Flight of the Earls in 1607, and under the terms of Surrender and regrant they forfeited their lands to the English crown. During the subsequent Plantation of Ulster, County Coleraine along with parts of counties Antrim, Donegal, and Tyrone, were merged to form County Londonderry. After the Flight of the Earls in 1607, Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan, Chief of the Ó Catháin (and at one time knighted by the English Crown), was captured and sent to the Tower of London, where he died in 1626. There has been no Chief since.
cahan, irish, catháin, descendants, cahan, were, powerful, sept, northern, néill, cenél, neógain, medieval, ireland, name, presently, anglicized, keane, kane, kane, keaneparent, housenorthern, néillcountryirelandfounded11th, centuryfoundercathán, néillcú, maig. The O Cahan Irish o Cathain descendants of Cahan were a powerful sept of the Northern Ui Neill s Cenel nEogain in medieval Ireland The name is presently anglicized as Keane O Kane and Kane O CahanKeaneParent houseNorthern Ui NeillCountryIrelandFounded11th centuryFounderCathan Ua NeillCu Maighe Ua Cathain first recorded Final rulerDonnell Ballagh O Cahan died 1627 TitlesPrince of Limavady Lord of Keenaght Baron Keane of Cappoquin Keane baronetsCadet branchesMcCloskeyPortrait of Margaret O Cahan by Garret Morphy The O Cahan s originated in Laggan in the east of County Donegal and from there moved eastwards in the twelfth century ousting the O Connor from Keenaght in County Londonderry They held the lordship of Keenaght and Coleraine until the seventeenth century to which it was commonly referred to as O Cahan s country Under the sub ordination of their kin the O Neills they held the privilege of inaugurating the chief of the O Neill by tossing a shoe over the new chief s head in acceptance of his rule There is also an unrelated sept of O Cahan in the province of Connacht the O Cahan Ui Fiachra o Cathain Ui Fiachrach At first O Cahan held the title chief of Cenel Ianna After expelling O Drennan o Draighnean chief of Cenel Sedna O Cahan was henceforth known as chief of Cenel Sedna Eoghan O Cahan Eoghain Ua Cathain abbot of Clonfert Cluan fearta Brennainn County Galway Republic of Ireland died 980 A D He was the earliest recorded O Cahan and most likely belonged to the O Cahan s of Galway Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 See also 4 External links 5 ReferencesName EditThe surname has been anglicised O Cahan Cahan McCaughan O Kane Kane O Keane Keane O Kean O Keene Keen Keene Kain O Kaine Kathan and similar variations thereof History Edit Ulster chiefdoms in the late 15th century The O Cahan sept of Keenaght Glengiven first appear on record in 1138 A thirteenth century chief of the family was Cumee na Gall O Cahan A heavily restored effigy at Dungiven Priory is sometimes associated with Cumee although it appears to date to the last quarter of the fifteenth century and seems to be that of a later member of the sept Dunseverick Castle also formed part of the O Cahan possessions until their destruction by the English 1 The clan suffered a blow during the battle of Drumderg where fifteen O Cahan chieftains were slain in battle against the Normans and their gaelic allies 2 Rory Dall O Cahan an Irish harpist of the 17th century most famous as the composer of Give Me Your Hand may have penned the popular Irish tune the Londonderry Air in order to lament the destruction of O Cahan power citation needed Consequently it may have been originally called O Cahan s Lament citation needed The music is best known as the tune of the song Danny Boy 3 By the late 16th century O Cahan s Country became the county of Coleraine The majority of o Cathain chiefs fled Ulster in the Flight of the Earls in 1607 and under the terms of Surrender and regrant they forfeited their lands to the English crown During the subsequent Plantation of Ulster County Coleraine along with parts of counties Antrim Donegal and Tyrone were merged to form County Londonderry After the Flight of the Earls in 1607 Donnell Ballagh O Cahan Chief of the o Cathain and at one time knighted by the English Crown was captured and sent to the Tower of London where he died in 1626 There has been no Chief since See also EditManus O Cahan s Regiment Clan Buchanan Clan MunroExternal links Edito Cathain in IrelandReferences Edit Dunseverick Castle Visit Causeway Coast amp Glens Retrieved 19 September 2019 Byrne Francis 1987 Irish Kings and High Kings New York Four courts press p 257 ISBN 0713458135 Explore Limavady Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O 27Cahan amp oldid 1127033941, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
