Keane of Kilnamona
Keane Ancestry
Ulster Origins: Ulster Origins: The Keane family name in Gaelic is Ó Catháin of Ulster origin. The name has been anglicized as follows:- Kane, Keane, Cahane, Cane, Cain, sometimes with the prefix of O (from) or Mac (son of). The ancient name Cahane signifies "Beloved". Otherwise the name Catháin may refer to the fighting one (cath, battle; án, one who). The Keane herald bears the Latin inscription 'Felis demulcta mitis' which translates 'The stroked cat is meek'. There were two great septs of Ó Catháin, which were apparently quite distinct - O'Kane and O'Cahan. The anglicized name was generally known as Kane (O'Kane) in Ulster, Keane in Munster and Connaught. The northern O'Cahanes (O'Kanes of Keenaght and Coleraine, Co Derry). The founder of the Kane family, was Eogan, ancestor of the northern Hy Nials, and son of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, A.D. 379. The O'Cathain's came into prominence again in the twelfth century (they appear in the Annals of the Four Masters from 1170 onwards) and were next in command to the O'Neill Chieftans of Ulster, until ruined in the Plantation of Ulster (1609). The title of the Ó Catháin chieftain was Prince of Connaught of Glean Gerbhin, and the possessions of the sept were located in the present County of Derry. The O'Kanes were also chiefs of the Greeve, now the barony of Coleraine, and in aftertimes possessed the greater part of County Derry, which was called "O'Cahan or O'Kane's country". At an early period they also possessed part of Antrim, ruling from the Castle of Dunseverick, the ruins of which still remain. Munster Settlements It is thought that the O'Kanes triumphantly marched southwards with the Ulster Lords against the British army in two waves in the 17th century, but were vanquished at Kinsale, Co Cork in 1603 and again in the 1690 rebellion. After O'Neill's flight into exile in 1607 (some O'Cahanes were not always loyal to O'Neill) and other 17th century Ulster excursions southward, the clan became scattered throughout Munster and south Connaught. The majority settled in Thomand, from Waterford (Ó Céin) to Galway. After the Williamite (of Orange) conquest of Ireland, the leaders of this family followed Sarsfield and "The Wild Geese" to Europe. Many of them became noted officers in the armies of France and Spain during the 18th and 19th centuries as well as a few of the remaining who became leaders in political and intellectual life in Ireland through the 19th century (Kane). Two septs of the Keane's settled in County Clare, one was situated to the south-southwest of Ennis and west Clare, and the other to the west-northwest of Ennis. A branch of the former were connected to the establishment/authorities through the lineage of Owen Keane (born ca 1690), Ballyroe, while the latter mainly settled in Kilnamona and Inagh. Apart from Manus Ó Catháin, tradition has it that early reference to the Keane name in Kilnamona may have been as travelling or hedge school teachers, in the 17th/18th centuries. The following Table summarizes the existing records.
Last updated January 3, 2015
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