Ó Flaithbertaigh

Ireland in 1450

Ó Flaithbertaigh, Gaelic-Irish surname, anglicized as O'Flaherty

Overview

This Gaelic-Irish surname is written as "Ua Flaithbertach" (nominative) or "Ua Flaithbertaig" (genitive) in Old Irish and Middle Irish texts. The surname is commonly translated as "bright ruler" or more correctly "bright prince", flaith originally meaning prince in Irish. "O" or Ó comes from Ua, designating "grandson" or "descendant" of a (major) clan member. The prefix is often anglicised to O', using an apostrophe instead of the Irish síneadh fada: "´".

Maigh Seóla was the term used to describe the earliest O'Flaherty domain, to the east of Lough Corrib in the kingdom of Connacht, the western most province of the Island of Ireland (Irish: Éire).

The Ó Flaithbertaighs are a branch of the Muintir Murchada dynasty, named after Murchadh mac Maenach (died 891), King of the Uí Briúin Seóla. Murchadh is one of the earliest attested kings of his region. The leading family of this dynasty would take the surname Ó Flaithbheartaigh (O'Flaherty) from the 11th century onwards.

Kings of Magh Seóla

The Uí Briúin Seóla was one of the major branches of the powerful Uí Briúin dynasty, which had become the dominant force in Connacht by the 8th century. The genealogies list two sons of Murchadh mac Maenach: Urchadh and Urumhain. Urchadh mac Murchadh, King of Maigh Seóla (also listed as king of Iarthair Connacht, died 945, in the 14th century Book of Ballymote) was father of Bé Binn inion Urchadh, Princess of the Uí Briúin Seóla and Queen of Thomond (fl. early 10th century). Bé Binn married Cennétig mac Lorcáin of Thomond to produce a son who would become the High King of Ireland (Irish: Ard-Rí na hÉireann): Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, known in English as Brian Boru (c. 941-23 April 1014). Brian broke the near monopoly of the Uí Néill over the High Kingship of Ireland and fought to unite Ireland as a people under one, native king. His father, Cennétig mac Lorcáin of Thomond, was one of the principal leaders of the resistance to the Danish Viking incursions. Cennétig had several wives and children but positively assigned Bé Binn as the mother of Brian Bóruma.

Bé Binn's sister Creassa inion Urchadh was a wife of King Tadg mac Cathail of Connacht, while her sister, Caineach inion Urchadh, married the ancestor of the Clann Coscraig sept of the Uí Briúin Seóla. Her brother, Donnchadh mac Urchadh succeeded their father as King of Maigh Seóla (943-959).

Like the Uí Briúin Seóla, the Uí Briúin Ai were a major branch of the Uí Briúin dynasty, from whom the high medieval Ua Conchobair (O'Connor) kings of Connacht, including the last high king of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, were descended.

The first Ó Flaithbertaigh's

Muireadhach ua Flaithbheartach, King of Maigh Seóla (died 1034), was the first to be recorded by that name. Muireadhach was a grandson of Flaithbheartach, hence his suffix which would become the surname Ua/Ó Flaithbheartaigh/O'Flaherty. He is listed as having three sons – Ruaidhrí of Lough Cimbe, Donagh Aluinn and Aedh. From Ruaidhrí and Donagh would descend the O'Flahertys of East and West Conamara.

Exiled by the Kings of Connacht

In the Annals of the Four Masters, Rúaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht, is described as dying at the battle of Glen Patrick in 1061 (Book of Ballymote: died 1062). The Annals state:

• Maidhm Glinne Pattraicc ria n-Aodh Ua Conchobhair for Iarthair Connacht, in ro mudhaighith ile im Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh, tigherna Iarthair Connacht, & ro dicendadh é, & ruccadh a ceann co Cruachain Chonnacht iar sraoineadh for mac Aodha mic Ruaidhri./The victory of Gleann-Phadraig was gained by Aedh Ua Conchobhair over the people of West Connaught, where many were slain, together with Ruaidhri. O'Flaithbheartaigh, lord of West Connaught, was beheaded, and his head was carried to Cruachain in Connaught, after the son of Aedh, son of Ruaidhri, had been defeated.

The following year records that Tadhg, son of Aedh Ua Conchobhair (O'Connor), was "slain by the son of Aedh, son of Ruaidhri (ie O'Flahertys), and the people of West Connaught." From this point on, the family were forced into Iar Connacht, as the Kings of Connacht took the original Ua Flaithbheartaigh homeland for themselves.

Aedh Ua Flaithbheartaigh, (King of Iar Connacht, died 1079) was the third bearer of the surname Ua Flaithbheartaigh to rule over the Muintir Murchada. Aedh was killed in 1079 by Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, anglicised Roderic O'Connor, died 1118), who in turn was blinded by Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh (Flaherty O'Flaherty), King of Iar Connacht, in 1092.

Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, King of Connacht

Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada is a tract listing the main families and their estates of the Muintir Murchada in the reign of its lord, Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, who was king of Iar Connacht from 1091 until his death in 1098. He seized the kingshiip of Connacht in 1092 by blinding the Godfather of his children, King Ruaidrí na Saide Buide. He was killed by Ruaidrí's sons in 1098.

Kings of Iar Connacht

The subsequent king of Iar Connacht, Muireadhach Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1121), and his descendants, remained loyal to the Ó Conchobair's.

Before the close of the 13th century, the Ó Flaithbertaigh's became masters of the entire territory of Iar Connacht, extending from the western banks of Lough Corrib to the shores of the Atlantic.

Motto and Coat of Arms

The clan motto is Fortuna Favet Fortibus, or "Fortune Favours the Brave". An Ó Flaithbertaigh coat of arms depicts 'two red lions rampant combatant, supporting a red dexter hand, couped at the wrists, in base a black boat with eight oars'. However there is little known of Irish heraldic tradition as compared to that of the English although Irish use of distinctive flags and banners in battle is recorded in Irish annals such as the Annals of the Four Masters.

Notable Ó Flaithbertaigh's

• Muireadhach ua Flaithbheartach, King of Maigh Seóla, died 1034.
• Murchadh an Chapail Ua Flaithbheartaigh, King of Maigh Seóla/Iar Connacht, died 1036.
• Rúaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht, died 1061.
• Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, King of Connacht, died 1098.
• Conchobhar Ua Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht, died 1132.
• Áedh Mór Ó Flaithbheartaigh, died 1236.
• Murchad Ua Flaithbertaig, Bishop of Annaghdown, c.1202-1241.
• Morogh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht and Chief of the Name, fl. 1244.
• Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh, King of Iar Connacht and Chief of the Name, fl. 1244-1273.
• Áedh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, Taoiseach of Iar Connacht and Chief of the Name, fl. c. 1377?-1407.
• Murrough na dTuadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh, Chief of the Name, died 1593.
• Teige Ó Flaithbheartaigh, warlord, died 1589.
• Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh, author and historian, died 1720.
• Eamonn Laidir Ó Flaithbertaigh, Jacobite, died 1749.
• Honor Flaherty, Famine victim, fl. 9 December 1847 – 11 March 1848.
• Edmund O'Flaherty, Irish M.P., fl. 1854.
• Maidhc Ó Flaithearta, member of the Irish National Land League, fl. 1882.
• Liam O'Flaherty, son of the above, author and writer.
• Robert J. Flaherty, film director.
• Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican.
• Colman O'Flaherty, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Tom Sailí Ó Flaithearta, actor.
• Thomas J. Flaherty, Garda Síochána recipient of the Scott Medal, born 1963.
• Patrick O'Flaherty (mayor), Mayor of Galway 1964-1965 and 1973-1975.
• Bridie O'Flaherty, Mayor of Galway 1980–1981 and 1985–1986.
• Michael John Flaherty, sportsperson, died 1992.
• Terry O'Flaherty, Mayor of Galway 2003-2004.
• Maire Eilis Ní Fhlaithearta, actress and former model.
• Fionnuala Ní Fhlatharta, actress, Ros na Rún.

See also

• Uí Briúin
• Muintir Murchada
• Crichaireacht cinedach nduchasa Muintiri Murchada
• Iar Connacht
• Mayors of Galway

Notes and references

• A Chorological Description of West or H-Iar Connacht (1684), Roderic O'Flaherty, ed. James Hardiman, Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). Library, Irish Archaeological Society, Dublin - Ireland - 1846 - 494 pages, particularly pages 309-437.

• Richard Ryan, Biographia Hibernica: Irish Worthies (1821), Vol. II, p. 456. RR DIB DIW DNB JMC FDA OCIL - about the life of Roderic O'Flaherty

• Radner, Joan N., "Writing history: Early Irish historiography and the significance of form", Celtica, volume 23, pp. 312–325. (etext (pdf))

• John O'Donovan (editor & translator) Annals of Ireland: three fragments. (Dublin 1860)

• James Hardiman: The history of the town and county of the town of Galway. From the earliest period to the present time. Dublin 1820

• "Hell Or Connaught"!: The Cromwellian Colonisation of Ireland, 1652–1660, Peter Berresford Ellis. Blackstaff, 1988 ISBN 0-85640-404-7, 9780856404047

External links

• Ogygia,(1684), Roderic O'Flaherty (1684). Hely, James (translator), ed. Dublin, 1793:
• http://books.google.com/books?id=pD0IAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcove

• The Ogygia Vindicated, Against the Objections of Sir George Mackenzie, Roderic O'Flaherty, Charles O'Connor, Dublin 1685:
• http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gmYuAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Ogygia

• A Chorological Description of West or H-Iar Connacht (1684), by Roderic O'Flaherty, ed. James Hardiman 1846 edition, sourced at Kenny's Bookshops and Art Galleries, High Street, Galway, Ireland, 1978:
• http://books.google.com/books?id=YFZ6AAAAIAAJ&dq=Roderic%20O'Flaherty&pg=PA381
• http://www.ria.ie/publications/journals/ProcCI/1998/PC98/pdf/98006ci.pdf

(McCarthy, Trinity College, Dublin, 1998, Royal Irish Academy, about the problematic chronology of the Irish Annals, see page eight for comments on the consequences of Hennessy's misinterpretation of Roderic O'Flaherty in the 19th century)

• http://www.irishwriters-online.com/liamoflaherty.html
• http://www.ucc.ie/celt/
• http://www.galway-ireland.ie/oflaherty.
• http://www.galwaycity.ie/AllServices/YourCouncil/HistoryofTheCityCouncil/PreviousMayors/
• http://www.libraryireland.com/HealyEssays/Grania2.php
• http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/history/hardiman/
• http://www.leitrim-roscommon.com/heraldry/
• http://www.pgil-eirdata.org/html/pgil_datasets/index.htm - Princess Grace Irish Library
• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/ - for map of Connacht dynasties
• http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405145374_chunk_g978140514537421
• http://abielaughs.com/blog/2007/11/oscar_wilde.html
• http://www.articlesbase.com/history-articles/a-history-of-king-henry-viii-and-the-tudor-conquest-of-ireland-604288.html
• http://corrandulla.galway-ireland.ie/annaghdown-castle.htm