Dunne

Dunne is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic O'Duinn and O'Doinn, meaning "dark" or "brown." The name Dunne in Ireland is derived from the O'Duinn and the O'Doinn Gaelic Septs who were based in County Laois and County Wicklow. These septs in turn are descendants of the O'Regan noble family. It is in these Counties that the majority of descendants can still be found. Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Dunn family in Ireland was O Duinn or O Doinn. Both Gaelic names are derived from the Gaelic word donn, which means brown. O Doinn is the genitive case of donn. First found in county Meath, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Variations: Dunn, Dunne, Dun, O'Dunne, O'Doyne, Doine, Doin, O'Dunn

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Dunne Castles

The Dunne's formerly owned a number of castles in the midlands of Ireland. Today little remains of most of these castles, many were destroyed during the Cromwellian Invasion of Ireland.

Tinnahinch Castle

The principal seat of the Dunne family was Tinnahinch Castle. Originally known as “Baun Riaganach”, the castle was built by Tadhg MacLaighnigh Ui Duinn in 1475 and was the residence of the chief of the Dunne's. Tinnahinch Castle was located at the Barrow River, one mile south of Tinnahinch bridge. The name Tinnahinch originally means “house of the island”, a tributary stream of the Barrow river surrounding the castle gives it the appearance of an island. Tinnahinch Castle was destroyed by during the Cromwellian Invasion by forces led by Colonel Hewson in 1653. At the time it was strongly defended by Charles Dunne and it required a full park of artillery from the invading forces to level the castle. After the destruction of Tinnahinch Castle the principal seat of the Dunne family moved to Brittas Castle. Unfortunately there remains nothing of the original castle apart from a wall which may have been part of the original building.

Brittas Castle

After the destruction of Tinnahinch Castle the Dunne Chief built a new home at Brittas, near Clonaslee, County Laois. Originally there was a thatched lodge located there and the O’Duinns built a mansion at his location. In 1869, Major-General Francis Plunkett Dunne built a neo-gothic mansion at this location. The house had extensive gardens and also lake which was originally created as a reservoir. In 1942 the building was burned down in a fire.

Ballinakill Castle

It was a coursed rubble and limestone building built between the River Clodiagh and River Gorragh by the Dunnes on the location of an earlier castle which was destroyed by Cromwellian invasion forces. It was built by Colonel Terence O’Dunne in 1680 who was killed at the Battle of Aughrim and is buried at the graveyard in Killeigh.

Coolnamoney Castle

Teige O’Doyne built the Dunne castle Coolnamoney Lower near the Glenlahan River. Not much is left of the castle today, but some of the original features can be seen in the ruins.

Castlebrack Castle

Castlebrack Castle was built by Tadhg MacLaighnigh Ui Duinn in 1475. It was built to be occupied by the Tanist, which was name of the position held by the clan’s deputy chief. This castle was second in size and importance to Tinnahinch Castle, which was the principal residence of the Dunnes. Terence O’Dunne completed a major refurbishment of the castle in 1688, however by 1838, all that was left of the castle was ruins.

Clarahill Castle

Clarahill Castle was built by a junior/younger branch of the Dunne family. It was built in the year 1600 and 300 years later in 1900 it was destroyed for road material.

Ballinahemmy Castle

The Dunnes also built Ballinahemmy Castle near the town of Corrigeen, in County Laois and it’s location marked on the Ordnance Survey map.

Raskeen Castle

Raskeen Castle was built by Donal O’Dunne in 1584 and destroyed in 1691.

People with the surname "Dunne"

Dunne
Family name
Meaning	"dark" or "brown"
Region of origin	Ireland
Related names	Dunn, O'Dunne, O'Dunn

• Andy Dunne (born 1975), Irish footballer
• Ben Dunne (entrepreneur) (born 1949), Irish entrepreneur and former director of Dunnes Stores
• Bernard Dunne (born 1980), Irish professional boxer
• Colin Dunne (born 1968), professional Irish dancer
• Dominick Dunne (1925 - 2009), American writer and investigative journalist
• Dominique Dunne (1959 – 1982), an American actress, daughter of Dominick Dunne
• Edmund F. Dunne (1835 – 1904), founder of San Antonio, Florida
• Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (1853 – 1937), American politician
• Emmett Dunne (born 1956), Australian rules footballer
• Finley Peter Dunne (1867 – 1936), American author, writer and humorist
• Jeff Dunne (born 1956), Australian rules footballer
• Griffin Dunne (born 1955), American actor and film director, son of Dominick Dunne
• Irene Dunne (1898 – 1990), American actress
• Lady Jasmine Dunne (born 1973)
• Jimmy Dunne (1905 – 1949), Irish international footballer
• Jimmy Dunne (footballer born 1935), Irish footballer (son of Jimmy Dunne)
• Jimmy Dunne (footballer born 1947), Irish footballer
• Joe Dunne (born 1973), Irish footballer
• John Dunne (basketball coach)
• John Gregory Dunne (1932 – 2003), American novelist, screenwriter and literary critic, brother of Dominick Dunne
• John William Dunne (1875 – 1949), Irish aeronautical engineer
• Karen Dunne (born 1967), American track and road cyclist
• Liam Dunne (footballer) (born 1971), Irish footballer
• Martin Dunne (footballer) (1887 – unknown), English footballer
• Noel Dunne, Irish footballer
• Paddy Dunne (Gaelic footballer)
• Paddy Dunne (politician), (1928 - 2006), Irish politician
• Pat Dunne (born 1943), Irish football goalkeeper
• Paul Dunne (died 2003), Irish footballer
• Peter Dunne (born 1954), New Zealand politician
• Philip Russell Rendel Dunne (1904 – 1965), MC (1943), Unionist M.P. 1935-1937
• Philip Dunne (writer) (1908 – 1992), Hollywood screenwriter and director
• Philip Dunne (politician) (born 1958), British politician
• Reginald Dunne (Irish Republican Army), assassin
• Richard Dunne (born 1979), Irish footballer
• Robin Dunne (born 1976), Canadian actor
• Ross Dunne (born 1948), Australian rules footballer
• Tom Dunne, Irish radio DJ
• Tommy Dunne (footballer born 1927) (1927 – 1988), Irish footballer
• Tommy Dunne (footballer born 1972), Irish footballer
• Tony Dunne (born 1941), Irish footballer

Other

• I Am Mary Dunne, novel
• Dunnes Stores
• George W. Dunne Golf Course and Driving Range
• Thomas Dunne Books
• Dunne-za

See also

• Dunn (surname)
• Donne

References

1. ^ "Dunne coat of arms, family crest and Dunne family history". irishsurnames.com. http://www.irishsurnames.com/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?name=dunne&capname=Dunne&letter=d&user=IIS&refer=ISP&item=ss. Retrieved 31 December 2008. 

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