Ó Ceallaigh
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O'Kelly (Irish: Ó Ceallaigh, approximately oh-KYAL-ee) is the name of a number of distinct septs in Ireland. Most prominent of these is the O'Kelly sept of the Uí Maine. Another sept is that of the kingdom of Brega, descended from the Uí Néill. A more minor sept of O'Kelly was that descended from the Uí Máil; this sept is referred to in Irish as the Uí Ceallaig Cualann, in reference to the region of their origin, Cualu.
| 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 |
|
O'Kelly of Uí Maine
The O'Kelly sept of Uí Maine is descended from Cellach mac Fíonachta, who lived in the 9th century. The first to bear the surname was Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh,[6] a grandson of the former who was slain in the Battle of Clontarf fighting on behest of his ally Brian Boru, king of Munster and high king of Ireland.
The earliest parts of the O'Kelly genealogy are contained in the Book of Hy Many, which was written in the latter half of the 14th century on behest of the then archbishop of Tuam, Muircheartach mac Pilib Ó Ceallaigh. 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.
The coat of arms of the O'Kelly of Uí Maine is as follows: "azure, a tower triple-towered supported by two lions rampant argent as many chains descending from the battlements between the lions' legs or"[6] The motto is, "Turris fortis mihi Deus", which translates to "God is a Strong Tower to Me" or alternatively "God is my Tower of Strength".[7]
O'Kelly of Brega
The O'Kelly sept of Brega is descended from Cellach mac Congalach, a son of Congalach mac Conaing. This sept is considered one of the Four Tribes of Tara.[8]
O'Kelly of Cualu
The O'Kelly sept of Cualu is descended from Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi,[9] an Uí Máil king of Leinster in the late 7th through to the early 8th century.
Castles and structures of the O'Kelly
- Garbally Castle
- Monivea Castle
- Gallagh Castle
- Galey Castle
- Moyvannan Castle
- St. Mary's Abbey, Duleek
- Kilconnell Abbey
- Aughrim Priory
- Clontuskert Priory
- Aghrane (Now Castlekelly)
See also
- Cellach mac Fíonachta, eponymous ancestor of the O'Kelly of Uí Maine
- Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi, eponymous ancestor of the O'Kelly of Cualu
- Uí Maine, the kingdom ruled by and dynasty which parented the O'Kelly of Uí Maine
- Kings of Uí Maine, a title dominated by the O'Kelly of Uí Maine from the 11th century
- Kelly (surname), for etymology, prevalence, and other origins of the surname 'Kelly'
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.
- ^ a b "O'Kelly (No.1) family genealogy - Irish Pedigrees". Library Ireland. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "A Little O'Kelley History". RootsWeb. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "O'Kelly (No.5) family genealogy - Irish Pedigrees". Library Ireland. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Ireland's History in Maps - Leinster, Laigin - The Tribes of Ireland". RootsWeb. Retrieved 28 September 2021.