{"id":343,"date":"2023-06-06T15:54:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T15:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/?page_id=343"},"modified":"2023-06-22T17:16:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T17:16:09","slug":"ancient","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/ancient\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Surname<\/a> | Coat of Arms<\/a> | Kings<\/a> | Castles<\/a> | Gathering<\/a> | Articles<\/a> | Notables<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ancient and Noble Families of Duhallow<\/strong>
Excerpts of the article By Jean J. MacCarthy
Published in Seanchas Duthalla Vol. X 1996<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He was of an ancient and noble family in the kingdom of Ireland, allied to illustrious families of the country, and in possession of nobility for many centuries without interruption-testimonial dated May 9th, 1726, on Captain Constantine O\u2019 Keeffe of St. Germain en Laye, France).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duhallow\u2019s Boundaries<\/strong>
The Barony of Duhallow lies in north-west County Cork. The place name of Duhallow derives from the Gaelic Duthaidhe Ealla- the country or region of the Ealla, the Ealla being the river which flows south past Kanturk to join the Blackwater river at Banteer. It also gives the town of Mallow (formerly Moyallo) its name. The Ealla is now known as the Allow River. The other major rivers of Duhallow are the Blackwater, the Dalua, and the Araglin, all flowing south into the Blackwater River, the Rathcoole- Owenbaun (Aubane) River flowing north from the Boggeragh Mountains into the Blackwater, as well as the Clydagh River which forms the south-eastern boundary of the barony from Old Dromore to Mallow. The Blackwater River has its source in the ancient territories of the O\u2019Keeffe clan and forms the boundary to the west and south-west as far as Millstreet and the Finow River. From this point the barony extends south-wards to the Boggeragh Mountains and east-wards to Mallow, its south eastern limit being defined by the Clydagh River which joins the Blackwater west of Mallow. Here the natural boundaries of mountains and rivers are interrupted, and the frontline running north and north-west from Mallow to the border with County Limerick, at one time consisted of a line of castles, including those at Ballyclough, Mallow, Liscarroll and Castle Ishin. This line of defence was vital as there had been several incursions into Duhallow by the O\u2019Briens of Thomond, as well as Connachtmen and Leinstermen in the 12th and 13th centuries, and later by the Anglo-Norman. For instance, the Annals of Innisfallen record that both Duhallow and Desmond were invaded in 1308 A.D. by Nicholas Fitzmaurice, Maurice Rocheford, Mathgamain, and the son of Donal O\u2019 Brien, Tanaiste of Thomond. Not much damage was done and only two Duhallow people were killed. Several of the invaders were slain. The north- western corner bordering on counties Limerick and Kerry took in the wild and difficult terrain off Clan Auliffe which had its centre at Castle Macauliffe.
Sir Warham St. Leger in a tract sent to Lord Burleigh in 1588 gave the following description of the Earl of Clancarthy(The MacCarthy Mor): \u2018amonge the Irishe, he was accounted the Cheefist in this Province, as descended from them that , before they were subdued to the Crown of England, weare the Kinges of the greater parte thereof\u2019. He went on to describe the jurisdiction and dominion of the Earl of Clancarthy, which included fourteen countries.
\u2018The First is the country of McDonochoe (called Duallo), which hath within it three other countreis. O\u2019 Chalachans country, Mcaulief\u2019s country and O\u2019Keif\u2019s country. He claymeth in these countreis the gevinge of the Rodd to the chieffe Lords at their first entrie, who by receivinge a whit wande at his handes, for which they are to paie him a certen dutie, are thereby declared from thenceforthe to be the lords of those countreis. He claymeth also that they are to rise out with him when he makes warre; to maintaine for him seaven and twentie Galleglasses, besides to finde him for a certen tyme, when he cometh to their countreis\u2019. Although Duhallow came under the dominion of the Maccarthy Mor, the other clans gave direct allegiance to the MacDonogh MacCarthys, the chief clan and overlords of Duhallow. The Other principal clans and sub-chiefs to the MacDonogh MacCarthys were the Macauliffes, the O\u2019 Keeffes and the O\u2019Callaghans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Lineage<\/strong>
All these clans were of Eoghanacht origin, i.e. all could trace their ancestry back to Eoghan Mor, the son of Olioll Olum (who flourished about 150 A.D).
The O\u2019Keeffes were the first of the Duhallow clans to branch off the main Eoghanacht stem. They descend from Eoghaig, the Second son of Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster, who was baptised by St.Patrick, and died at the battle of Cenn Losnada in 492 A.D. This Eoghaig was the seventh generation from Olioll Olum. The early annals contain several references to the O\u2019Keeffes, who were active and war-like in defending their lands. MacCarthaigh\u2019s Book records that in the year 1121 A.D. the O\u2019Connors of Connacht raided Munster burning Ciarraighe Luachra, and going eastwards, burned O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s house on the bank of the Blackwater River. This must have been in the Bariny of Fermoy. In 1123 A.D., O\u2019Keeffe, O\u2019Sullivan and several others deposed Tadhg MacCarthy, King of Desmond, Cormac MacCarthy his brother, took the kingship from them in Tadhg\u2019s presence. In 1126 A.D., there was another invasion as far as Cork by the O\u2019 Connors, O\u2019Briens, and others. Donogh MacCarthy, O\u2019Keeffe, and other nobles of Desmond went against the invaders. However they parted in peace, and submitted to Rudidhri O\u2019 Connor\u2019s son Toirdhealbhach. In 1128 A.D., Donagh MacCarthy, Fionghuine O\u2019 Keeffe and several others brought a great fleet to North Kerry. They pursued the invader O\u2019 Connor into Iveagh, from whence he was banished to Connacht. Fionghuine O\u2019Keeffe was killed in 1135 A.D. near Mountrath in Laois, during a raid led by Cormac MacCarthy. In 1137 A.D., the O\u2019Briens of Thomond and the Leinstermen attacked Waterford. Cormac MacCarthy, O\u2019Keeffe, and the other nobles of Desmond met them at Waterford. The O\u2019Briens and the Leinstermen turned back home. MacCarthaig\u2019s Book records that there was a war with the O\u2019Briens in the year 1151 A.D., and that much of Desmond was laid waste. Dermod MacCarthy, King of Cork and Desmond along with the other Eoghnachta nobles sought help of Toirdhealbhach, son of Ruaidhri O\u2019Connor, King of Connacht and Dermod MacMurrough, King of Leinster. On the night that the Connachtmen and Leinstermen arrived at the Blackwater River, the O\u2019Briens reached Cork. Dermod MacCarthy, the O\u2019Keeffes, the O\u2019 Donoghues and the nobles of the Eoghanachta pursued the O\u2019Briens northwards to the Blackwater River. As the day was misty, the O\u2019Brien host did not observe the Connacht and Leinster men until they were among them. The O\u2019Briens were defeated with over 3000 slain.
In 1194 A.D., the Galls murdered Giolla Ailbhe O\u2019Keeffe. The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s still held lands around Fermoy in 1201 A.D. For that year MacCarthaigh\u2019s Book records \u2018Gearailt MacMuiris agus Anadh O\u2019 Suileabhain agus Fionghuini O Caim, ni Fear Muidhi, d\u2019faghbail bais\u2019 , i.e. Gerald Fitzmaurice, Anadh O\u2019 Sullivan and Finghuine O\u2019Keeffe, king of Fermoy, died. In 1211 A.D., Magnus O\u2019Keeffe was killed by the Galls of Cork. At this time the Anglo-Normans were attempting to establish themselves in the country.
In 1210 A.D., a year before Magnus O\u2019Keeffe was killed, King John of England arrived at Waterford. Donogh O\u2019Brien and Cathal O\u2019Connor, King of Connacht, came to do him honour there. The O\u2019Keeffe clan migrated to Duhallow from Fermoy as a result of Anglo-Norman Pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Divisions Of Duhallow<\/strong>
Duhallow contained at least 253 normal ploughlands (in Munster a ploughland was usually equivalent to 120 acres of good quality land. A ploughland of poor quality land contained considerably more acres than a normal ploughland). There was at least 45 ploughlands in Clan Auliffe, and the territory extended from Newmarket to the borders of Kerry and Limerick, taking in Clonfert (corresponding to the modern parishes of Meelin, Rockchapel, and the greater portion of the modern parishes of Newmarket and Kanturk), and a part of Kilmeen (Kiskeam parish). Their castles were at Castle MacAuliffe, Carrigcushin, and in the site now occupied by the Newmarket House demesne.
The country of the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s (Pobul O\u2019Keeffe) lay to the south of Clan Aulliffe. O\u2019Keeffe territory bordering on Kerry to the west and Muskerry to the south, followed the course of the Blackwater east to Dromagh. It contained at least 41 plouglands, which corresponded to the parishes of Cullen, most of Dromtarriffe, parts of Drishane(the Duhallow parts of Annagloor, Claraghatlea North, Claraghatlea South, Claraghmore, Coolykerane and Shanacock), Nohavaldaly (Knockagree), and west Kilmeen (now in Ballydesmond). These lands were divided by those of MacDonagh MacCarthy, which extended from modern Boherbue through Clonbanin to the Blackwater River. The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s had castles at Dromagh, Dromsicane and Duarigle. Pobul O\u2019Callaghan contained at least 51 ploughlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019KEEFFE\u2019S<\/strong>
The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s in particular suffered as a result of their proximity to the Geraldines. In 1582, the Earl of Desmond\u2019s forces invaded Pobul O\u2019Keeffe. The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s pursued the invaders, and in the ensuing engagement most of the fighting men of Clan O\u2019Keeffe were Slain. Over eighty gentlemen of the clan were slaughtered. The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s had refused to join the Desmond rebellion, unlike their near neighbours the MacAulliffes. The following is the most recent pedigree of the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s:(1) Art O\u2019Keeffe, fourteenth in line from the Aodh O\u2019Keeffe who died in 1014 A.D.at the battle of Clontarf. Art died in 1582. (2) Art Oge who was married to Eleanor O\u2019Callaghan, sister of Callaghan O\u2019 Callaghan, Chief of the O\u2019Callaghans. Art Oge and Eleanor had three sons, Manus, Daniel and Donogh. In 1612, Art Oge obtained grant of full title to Pobal O\u2019Keeffe. (4) Manus, who had a claim on Pobul O\u2019Callaghan through his mother. He died in 1636. (5) Daniel of Dromagh Castle (O\u2019Keeffe the Hero). He died in 1661. (7) Daniel who married Joan Everett. (8) Daniel who married Ann Sarsefield. He was Captain of the Jacobite army and was killed in the battle of Aughrim,1691. (8) Daniek Oge, who died in France. Cronnelly considered that Manus O\u2019Keeffe, J.P., of Mount Keeffe, Newmarket was Chief of the O\u2019Keeffe in 1864, although these O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s descended from Charles O\u2019Keeffe of Cullen, who was living around 1700. According to Cronnelly, the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s of Ballymaquirke were descended from Daniel, the second son of Art Oge O\u2019Keeffe. Daniel was married to Mary O\u2019Sullivan of Cappnancushy Co.Kerry, by whom he had three sons, Art, Denis and Finghin. He had command of a company of foot at the Battle of Knocknanoss in 1641.His eldest son Art served under Charles \u04c0\u04c0. His second son Denis was the father of Cornelius O\u2019Keeffe, Bishop of Limerick. The third son Finghin was married to Ilanoria O\u2019Connor-Kerry, by whom he had a son, Daniel of Ballymaquirke. Daniel of Ballymaquirke married Margaret Hudson of Newmarket. He raised a company for James \u04c0\u04c0, and died at Aughrim in 1691. His son Arthur also died at Aughrim, leaving two sons and a daughter. The first son Nicholas was an officer in the Jacobite army, Nicholas and his brother both settled in France. The last representative of Art O\u2019Keeffe of Ballymaquirke was a barrister who died at Donnybrook, Douglas, Cork in 1714.
The O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s were involved in the Confederation of Kilkenny along with the MacDonough MacCarthys, and Daniel O\u2019Keeffe of Dromagh was a member of the supreme council. He was known as Daniel O\u2019Keeffe the hero. He commanded a company of the confederation invantry. The O\u2019Keeffe lands were subsequently confiscated by the Cromwellians. The attainders included the names of Donell, Donogh Oge McDonnell and Donogh Oge O\u2019Keeffe all of Dromagh, Cornelius Oge O\u2019Keeffe of Cullen, and Keeffe O\u2019Keeffe of Kilcolman. O\u2019Keeffe the hero was banished in 1653 by Cromwell. He went to France where he joined the Duke of York\u2019s regiment and had command of a company of foot. He saw action in Flanders and was severely wounded. He spent seven years with this regiment in France and Flanders. At the restoration of the English monarchy the Hero petitioned Charles \u04c0\u04c0 to have his lands restored to him. The Earl of ClanCarthy supported him in his petition:
In the year 1650 the said Mr O\u2019Keeffe raised about 200 men in clothes and arms at his own cost and charges, and with them manned his said castle or house at Dromagh and furnished the same with ammunition and provision, according to his capacities; and that then he rendered up the said castle so provided for, to me to be disposed of for his Majesty\u2019s service, whereof I made use until his majesty\u2019s then enemies forced the castle to yield by siege to their cannons about the 14th May 1652; and is the second last holt that stood for his Majesty in Ireland, as witness my hand. Covent garden, 19th January 1660. ClanCartie.
The King ordered that Captain O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s estates be restored to him. However, the Hero died in 1661 and his son Daniel received the estates. This Daniel\u2019s son was a captain in the Jacobite army and fell on Aughrim field in 1691.
The territory of Pobal O\u2019Keeffe was again confiscated under William and Mary and the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s never regained Pobal O\u2019Keeffe. Many of them went abroad with the Wild Geese and distinguished themselves in the different regiments of the Irish Brigade. Others reached prominent positions in exile. Captain Constantine O\u2019Keeffe of Ballydesmond was admitted to the ranks of the aristocracy in France as \u2018O\u2019Keeffe of Ireland and the Isle of France(Mauritus).\u2019 In France the name became Cuif. The arms of the O\u2019keeffe\u2019s were given as four quarters, the first having a lion rampant on an azure background; the second quarter had a chevalier fully armed and with a golden sword; the third quarter had a peacock with his tail spread; the fourth quarter had three lizards placed one above the other. The motto was forti et fideli nihil difficile, which was the same motto used by some of the MacCarthy septs.
One of the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s was a famous outlaw, Donal a Rasca, who was living in 1703, and was probably a relative of the O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s of Ballymacquirke. Daniel the outlaw was the captain of a band of freebooters. He lived in a limestone cave on the banks of the Blackwater River at Gortmore. The captain and his band of followers carried off herds of cattle, which were then ransomed back to the owners in the manner of the border chieftains of Scotland. His mistress was Margaret O\u2019Callaghan of Pobul O\u2019Callaghan. Edward Walsh, the poet, gives her name as Margaret Kelly. Margaret betrayed Daniel to the English garrison at Mallow, for which deed she was stabbed to death by the outlaw.
The name O\u2019Keeffe appeared again in connection with the United Irishmen. Daniel O\u2019Keeffe, aged eighteen years, was charged with treason at Cork in 1798. He had been a member of the United Irishmen in Cork. He was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to seven years transportation. Among the O\u2019Keeffe family heirlooms was a relic of the True Cross known as the Caoina or Memorial. The reliquary consisted of a small brass-bound wooden box containing the triangular relic. The Local parish priest, Father Fitzpatrick, took possession of this relic around 1856. The Mount Keeffe Chalice, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum London, is another O\u2019Keeffe heirloom. The inscription on the chalice reads C.O.K Me Fieri Fecit anno domini 1590. It was donated to the museum in 1929 by Miss L.Purcell of Churchtown.
By the time William and Mary had ascended the throne of England the ancient and noble clans of Duhallow had been driven out of their ancestral territories. The power of the chiefs was broken forever, and the clan lands were settled by foreigners. The old Gaelic customs and traditions which had been in use from \u2018time out of mind\u2019 had been pushed aside, and the persecution of the Catholic population was unremitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The packs are silent, there\u2019s no sound,
Of the old strain on Bregian ground,
A foreign flood holds all the shore,
And the great wolf-dog barks no more
Woe to the Gael in this sore plight!
Henceforth they shall not know delight,
No tidings now their woe relieves,
Too close the gnawing sorrow cleaves.
by Aindrais MacMarcuis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Surname | Coat of Arms | Kings | Castles | Gathering | Articles | Notables The Ancient and Noble Families of DuhallowExcerpts of the article By Jean J. MacCarthyPublished in Seanchas Duthalla Vol. X 1996 (He was of an ancient and noble family in the kingdom of Ireland, allied to illustrious families of the country, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-343","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=343"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":788,"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/343\/revisions\/788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/okeefeclan.org\/2020\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}