This article is about the Irish clan. "Kennedy Clan" redirects here. For the Scottish clan, see Clan Kennedy. For the American political clan, see Kennedy family. For other uses, see Kennedy (disambiguation).
The O'Kennedy family (Irish: Ó Cinnéide), sometimes Kennedy, were an Irish royal dynasty, a sept of the Dál gCais, founded in the Middle Ages who were Kings of Ormond. Their founder was the nephew of High KingBrian Boru (1002–1014). The name Cinnéide belonged to Brian Boru's father Cennétig mac Lorcáin, King of Thomond, in the tenth century AD.[1] (Brian Boru was an Ard Rí or High King of Ireland). The Kennedys did not descend directly from Brian Boru, but from Cinnéide's eldest son Donncuan. Donncuan's son Mahon was the first to call himself Ó Cinnéide which is Irish for grandson of Cinnéide.
Kennedy Ó Cinnéide
The three helmets on the coat of arms represent the Fionn, Donn and Ruadh branches.
The Kennedys belonged to the powerful Dál gCais people of Thomond, headed by the O'Briens. They resided in far eastern Clare, northern Limerick, Mayo, and northern Tipperary in an area called Ormond. Originally seated in Glemor, near Killaloe in Co. Clare, they migrated across the river Shannon to Ormond in Co. Tipperary following pressure from other septs in the region (mainly the O'Briens and the McNamaras) in the 12th century. They soon grew in power to become lords in Ormond from the 11th to 16th centuries. The Annals of the Four Masters described them in 1300 to be "the undisputed Lords of Ormond".[citation needed]
Placenames such as Coolkennedy and Garrykennedy in Upper Ormond and Killokennedy in Thomond are indicative of their longstanding presence in the region.
The sept split into three branches, the chiefs of which were referred to by their hair colours: don (brown), fionn (blond), and rua (red). St Ruadhan of Lorrha was the special protector of the Kennedys of Ormond. Around 1600, a branch of the sept migrated to Co. Antrim where many Kennedys are still found today.
According to Daithi O'hOgain (Associate Professor at University College Dublin), there is a lineage of Irish Kennedys descended directly from Brian Boru: "The name Cinneide also continued in the direct O'Brien line. For instance, a branch of the family descended from King Donnchadh, son of Brian Boru, settled in Aherloe in south Tipperary, one section of which had the name Cinneide as a surname. Another Cinneide O'Briain, grandson of the same Donnchadh, was a strong opponent of his kinsman, King Toirdhealbhach, and on this account he was assisted by the Connacht king, Aedh O'Ruairc of Breffny, to set up a kingdom of his own on the Meath-Cavan border. This little kingdom was broken up by Toirdhealbhach's army in 1080, and Cinneide O'Briain himself was slain in 1084 at the Battle of Monecronock, near Leixlip in Count Kildare. The connection with the O'Rourkes of Breffny did not end, however, for people bearing the name Cinneide settled in that area of County Leitrim. These were known by the synonym Muimhneach ("Munster-man"), which is anglicised as the surnames Mimnagh and Minnagh."[2]
To add to the confusion, there are the Kennedys of nine-countyUlster in the north of Ireland. The Kennedys who settled in Ulster are mostly of Scottish origin from the territories of Galloway and Ayr just across the Irish Sea 20 miles (32 km) away. Many Scottish Kennedys were planters in Ulster, and many Scots went south to Dublin and mingled with the Irish clan.
In the aftermath of the Black Death, there was a Gaelic resurgence in Ireland as the plague more heavily hit the Normans in the urbanised areas. The main rivals of the O'Kennedys were the Norman-descended Butlers who were Earls of Ormond (a title of the Lordship of Ireland). The two families signed a peace treaty in 1336, followed by another in 1347. The latter was broke when the O'Kennedys, with their Irish allies, the O'Briens and O'Carrolls, attacked and burned Nenagh. The O'Kennedys were able to use the Butler–FitzGerald dispute to attack the Butlers whenever they were overstretched by attacks from the Earl of Desmond. The O'Kennedys and their native Irish allies were able to drive the Butler dynasty out from Nenagh Castle in 1391 and set themselves up there (these Butlers moved out to Kilkenny Castle).
Castles
Nenagh Castle: the O'Kennedys struggled with the Butlers for control.
The Kennedys' castles in Ireland were all located near Nenagh in County Tipperary. The following castles were built by, or held by the Kennedys:
As well as this there were castles at Glenahilty, Kilmochnage, Bawndownmore, Carrigichonigrick, Swyffine, Beallachavvine, Ballingarry, Lackeen, Ballycappel, Annagh, Ballaghfymoye, Ballyquirke, Kilcarron, Rathurles, Dunally and Castle Otway.
^(O'hOgain D. (2003) 'Kennedy O'Cinneide', Gill & Macmillan, Dublin pp40–1)
Bibliography
Callanan, Martin (1938) Records of four Tipperary septs: the O'Kennedys, O'Dwyers, O'Mulryans, O'Meaghers
Gleeson, Dermot F. (1938). The Last Lords of Ormond: A History of the "Countrie of the Three O' Kennedys" during the Seventeenth Century. London.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2005). The Irish Kennedys: The Story of the Rebellious O'Kennedys. B. P. Kennedy. ISBN0958538832.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2014). The Mountainy Kennedys, Volume 2: Linking Past and Present. B. P. Kennedy. ISBN0958538867.
Laffan, Thomas (1911). Tipperary Families: Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665-1667. James Duffy & Co.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2015). The Upper Ormond Kennedys - Their Claims to Tipperary Soil. B.P. Kennedy. ISBN9780958538879.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2016). The Lower Ormond Kennedys - Their Claims to Tipperary Soil. B.P. Kennedy. ISBN9780958538886.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2018). The Dispersal of the Irish Kennedys - across the Irish Republic from North Tipperary. B.P. Kennedy. ISBN9780958538893.
Kennedy, Brian Patrick (2019). The Irish Kennedys who moved Eastward - to Baronies adjacent to Ormond. B.P. Kennedy. ISBN9780648496717.
External links
The Decline of the O'Kennedys of Ormond by County Tipperary Historical Society
Clan Kennedy: Of Presidents and Kings at IrishAmerica.com
O'Kennedy family pedigree at Library Ireland
February 14, 2023
kennedy, this, article, about, irish, clan, kennedy, clan, redirects, here, scottish, clan, clan, kennedy, american, political, clan, kennedy, family, other, uses, kennedy, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help. This article is about the Irish clan Kennedy Clan redirects here For the Scottish clan see Clan Kennedy For the American political clan see Kennedy family For other uses see Kennedy disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources O Kennedy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The O Kennedy family Irish o Cinneide sometimes Kennedy were an Irish royal dynasty a sept of the Dal gCais founded in the Middle Ages who were Kings of Ormond Their founder was the nephew of High King Brian Boru 1002 1014 The name Cinneide belonged to Brian Boru s father Cennetig mac Lorcain King of Thomond in the tenth century AD 1 Brian Boru was an Ard Ri or High King of Ireland The Kennedys did not descend directly from Brian Boru but from Cinneide s eldest son Donncuan Donncuan s son Mahon was the first to call himself o Cinneide which is Irish for grandson of Cinneide Kennedyo CinneideThe three helmets on the coat of arms represent the Fionn Donn and Ruadh branches CountryKingdom of OrmondTitlesLords of OrmondCadet brancheso Cinneide Fionno Cinneide Donno Cinneide RuadhPlacenames such as Killokennedy in Thomond are indicative of their longstanding presence in the region Contents 1 History 2 Castles 3 Arms 4 References 4 1 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory EditThe Kennedys belonged to the powerful Dal gCais people of Thomond headed by the O Briens They resided in far eastern Clare northern Limerick Mayo and northern Tipperary in an area called Ormond Originally seated in Glemor near Killaloe in Co Clare they migrated across the river Shannon to Ormond in Co Tipperary following pressure from other septs in the region mainly the O Briens and the McNamaras in the 12th century They soon grew in power to become lords in Ormond from the 11th to 16th centuries The Annals of the Four Masters described them in 1300 to be the undisputed Lords of Ormond citation needed Placenames such as Coolkennedy and Garrykennedy in Upper Ormond and Killokennedy in Thomond are indicative of their longstanding presence in the region The sept split into three branches the chiefs of which were referred to by their hair colours don brown fionn blond and rua red St Ruadhan of Lorrha was the special protector of the Kennedys of Ormond Around 1600 a branch of the sept migrated to Co Antrim where many Kennedys are still found today According to Daithi O hOgain Associate Professor at University College Dublin there is a lineage of Irish Kennedys descended directly from Brian Boru The name Cinneide also continued in the direct O Brien line For instance a branch of the family descended from King Donnchadh son of Brian Boru settled in Aherloe in south Tipperary one section of which had the name Cinneide as a surname Another Cinneide O Briain grandson of the same Donnchadh was a strong opponent of his kinsman King Toirdhealbhach and on this account he was assisted by the Connacht king Aedh O Ruairc of Breffny to set up a kingdom of his own on the Meath Cavan border This little kingdom was broken up by Toirdhealbhach s army in 1080 and Cinneide O Briain himself was slain in 1084 at the Battle of Monecronock near Leixlip in Count Kildare The connection with the O Rourkes of Breffny did not end however for people bearing the name Cinneide settled in that area of County Leitrim These were known by the synonym Muimhneach Munster man which is anglicised as the surnames Mimnagh and Minnagh 2 To add to the confusion there are the Kennedys of nine county Ulster in the north of Ireland The Kennedys who settled in Ulster are mostly of Scottish origin from the territories of Galloway and Ayr just across the Irish Sea 20 miles 32 km away Many Scottish Kennedys were planters in Ulster and many Scots went south to Dublin and mingled with the Irish clan In the aftermath of the Black Death there was a Gaelic resurgence in Ireland as the plague more heavily hit the Normans in the urbanised areas The main rivals of the O Kennedys were the Norman descended Butlers who were Earls of Ormond a title of the Lordship of Ireland The two families signed a peace treaty in 1336 followed by another in 1347 The latter was broke when the O Kennedys with their Irish allies the O Briens and O Carrolls attacked and burned Nenagh The O Kennedys were able to use the Butler FitzGerald dispute to attack the Butlers whenever they were overstretched by attacks from the Earl of Desmond The O Kennedys and their native Irish allies were able to drive the Butler dynasty out from Nenagh Castle in 1391 and set themselves up there these Butlers moved out to Kilkenny Castle Castles Edit Nenagh Castle the O Kennedys struggled with the Butlers for control The Kennedys castles in Ireland were all located near Nenagh in County Tipperary The following castles were built by or held by the Kennedys Ballintotty Castle Ballycapple Castle Dromineer Castle Garrykennedy Castle Lackeen Castle Nenagh Castle Knigh Castle Urra Castle Ballyartella CastleAs well as this there were castles at Glenahilty Kilmochnage Bawndownmore Carrigichonigrick Swyffine Beallachavvine Ballingarry Lackeen Ballycappel Annagh Ballaghfymoye Ballyquirke Kilcarron Rathurles Dunally and Castle Otway Arms EditSable three helmets in profile Argent citation needed References Edit House of Brian Boru http houseofbrianboru blogspot com au p brian boru html O hOgain D 2003 Kennedy O Cinneide Gill amp Macmillan Dublin pp40 1 Bibliography Edit Callanan Martin 1938 Records of four Tipperary septs the O Kennedys O Dwyers O Mulryans O Meaghers Gleeson Dermot F 1938 The Last Lords of Ormond A History of the Countrie of the Three O Kennedys during the Seventeenth Century London Kennedy Brian Patrick 2005 The Irish Kennedys The Story of the Rebellious O Kennedys B P Kennedy ISBN 0958538832 Kennedy Brian Patrick 2014 The Mountainy Kennedys Volume 2 Linking Past and Present B P Kennedy ISBN 0958538867 Laffan Thomas 1911 Tipperary Families Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665 1667 James Duffy amp Co Kennedy Brian Patrick 2015 The Upper Ormond Kennedys Their Claims to Tipperary Soil B P Kennedy ISBN 9780958538879 Kennedy Brian Patrick 2016 The Lower Ormond Kennedys Their Claims to Tipperary Soil B P Kennedy ISBN 9780958538886 Kennedy Brian Patrick 2018 The Dispersal of the Irish Kennedys across the Irish Republic from North Tipperary B P Kennedy ISBN 9780958538893 Kennedy Brian Patrick 2019 The Irish Kennedys who moved Eastward to Baronies adjacent to Ormond B P Kennedy ISBN 9780648496717 External links EditThe Decline of the O Kennedys of Ormond by County Tipperary Historical Society Clan Kennedy Of Presidents and Kings at IrishAmerica com O Kennedy family pedigree at Library Ireland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O 27Kennedy amp oldid 1132051686, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
