O'Friel

O'Friel

O'Friel is a County Donegal name. In Irish it is O Firghil (from Feargal); it is pronounced, and often written, O Frighil, i.e. in English phonetics O'Freel.

The sept has a distinguished origin, being descended from Eoghan, brother of St. Columcille (Fr. John Ryan, S.J. has pointed out that the chief point of interest about the O'Friels is that they are nearest in blood to St. Colmcill, for they alone are in the direct line from his brother), and the leading family were hereditary corabs of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal. The Chief of the Name possessed the hereditary right of inaugurating O'Donnell as lord of Tirconnell.

Not being a powerful or numerous sept they do not appear very frequently in the national records; wherever they do they are of Tirconnell (Donegal). The records of the Diocese of Raphoe have many references to distinguished ecclesiastics of the name, both as O'Friel and Friel, including one Bishop Florence or Feargal O'Friel (d. 1299). Awley O'Friel was one of the many clergy from Raphoe and Derry who went to Iona - he was elected Abbot of Iona in 1203.

Present day

Friel is seen more common as a surname than the traditional O'Friel. Statistics relating to the modern distribution of the population indicate that the name is seldom met with outside Co. Donegal and contiguous areas. The name is very closely associated with the north Donegal, especially Fanad and surrounding areas.

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Friel — is a surname, and may refer to* Anna Friel, British actress * Brian Friel, Northern Ireland playwright and director * Courtney Friel, American television presenter * Henry J. Friel, Canadian mayor * Joe Friel, multisport athletics coach * Todd… …   Wikipedia

  • Friel — ist der Nachname mehrerer Personen: Anna Friel (* 1976), englische Film und Fernsehschauspielerin Brian Friel (* 1929), irischer Dramatiker Courtney Friel (* 1980), US amerikanische Journalistin und Fernsehmoderatorin Henry J. Friel (1823–1869),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Friel — Friel,   Brian, irischer Dramatiker, * Omagh (Distrikt Omagh) 9. 1. 1929. In seinen Dramen charakterisiert der in Nordirland aufgewachsene Katholik Friel Hoffnungen, Illusionen und Enttäuschungen der irischen Bevölkerung; schreibt auch Hörspiele… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Friel — Friel, Bri|an (1929 ) an Irish writer of short stories and plays that are mostly about Irish people and the political situation in Ireland …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Friel, Brian — born Jan. 9, 1929, near Omagh, County Tyrone, N.Ire. Irish dramatist and short story writer. Friel taught school in Londonderry before settling in County Donegal, Ireland. After The New Yorker began publishing his stories, he turned to writing… …   Universalium

  • Friel — This early Irish surname is an anglicized spelling of the ancient Gaelic O Firghil, a compound of the elements fear meaning a man and gal valour, The gallant man ! It is said that the sept have one of the most distinguished origins in all Ireland …   Surnames reference

  • Friel stadium — Freil Stadium is a stadium at Washington State University. It seats approximately 16000 …   Wikipedia

  • Friel, Brian — (n. 9 ene. 1929, cerca de Omagh, County Tyrone, Irlanda del Norte). Dramaturgo y escritor de relatos irlandés. Fue profesor en una escuela en Londonderry antes de establecerse en el condado de Donegal, Irlanda. Cuando The New Yorker comenzó a… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Brian Friel — (born 9 January 1929) is a playwright and, more recently, director of his own works from Northern Ireland who now resides in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.BiographyFriel was born in Omagh County Tyrone, the son of Patrick Paddy Friel …   Wikipedia

  • Chris Friel — Mayor of Brantford, Ontario In office 1994–2003 Preceded by Bob Taylor Succeeded by Mike Hancock Incumbent …   Wikipedia

  • Anna Friel — Données clés Nom de naissance Anna Louise Friel Naissance 12 juillet 1976 (1976 07 12) (35 ans) Rochdale, Lancashire Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”