Cumann na gClann Ui Thighearnaigh

The Tierney Clans Society

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The Tierneys of Ulster.	The Tierneys of Munster.
The Tierneys of Leinster.	Tierneys listed in Griffiths Valuation of Ireland 1848 to 1864.
An index of Tierney births in Ireland from 1865 to 1870.	Tierneys who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Tierneys arriving at the Port of New York 1846 to 1851.	Tierneys in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
Miscellaneous

The Tierneys of Connaught

Contents [click to go]

The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of the Hy Fiachrach
The Genealogy of the Men of Ceara
Topographical and Historical Map of Ancient Ireland
Catholic Emancipation

The following is the genealogy of the O'Tighearnaigh, Kings and Lords of Ceara. In the introduction we chronicled the genealogy from 'Adam' to Eochaidh Mughmheadhon. Eochaidh had four sons, namely; Briain from whom are the UíBriain; Oilill; Niall Naoíghiallach from whom are the Kings and Chieftains of Ulster and Leinster, including the O'Tighearnaigh Kings and Chieftains of Fearnmhaighe; and Fiachra from whom are descended the UíFiachrach amongst whose families is included the O'Tighearnaigh, Kings/Lords and Chieftains of Ceara.

The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of the Hy Fiachrach

Taken from “The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of the Hy Fiachrach” By John O’Donovan and "History of Mayo" by Knox.

Pages 16 and 17 contain a ‘Genealogy of the Men of Ceara’. [Ceara was the territory in modern Co. Mayo that was ruled by the O’Tierney Clan. They ruled this territory at least until 1273 when Flann O’Tierney, Lord of Ceara, was slain by the O'Murray Clan in a dispute concerning the lordship of Ceara. This victory was achieved by the O’Murray Clan with the aid of Hugh O’Connor, the son of the High king of Connacht, Felim O’Connor. According to Knox’s History of Mayo [Ch.xxxi Pg. 286] “Ceara was a well defined territory from early times, occupied by old Domnonian Clans. After the 4^th century Hy Fiachrach Clans settled over them leaving in view only a few families of the Partry in Odhbha if, as is probable, their descent from Fiachra is fictitious. Odhbha included the parishes of Ballintubber, Ballyheane, in earlier times when Partry had their own king. MacFirbis’s tract on the Hy Fiachrach gives a detailed account of the families settled in Ceara, defining the seat of many families with great accuracy as they were about the 13^th century. The Chieftains of Ceara were the families of O’Tierney, O’Murray, MacNeill and O’Gormghail. They all used the title of King [of their own particular territory]. The Hy Fiachrach clans became so feeble [lax] that Torlogh Mór O’Connor’s descendants were being settled over them, as they had settled over the Domnonians some 600 years earlier. None survived as freeholders to the close of the 16^th century. We know only the names and positions of these tribes”.

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Genealogy of the Men of Ceara [according to Knox]

Cucothaigh son of Maonach of Ceara = son of Dunchadh = son of Flann Rodhba [Flann of the River Robe] = son of Maolduin = son of Failbhe= son of Maolumha = son of Fearadhach = son of Ros Dointhigh = son of Maine Muinbreac = son of Earc Culbhuidhe = son of Fiachra Foltsnachtach = son of Eochaidh Muighmhearhoin .“This Cucothaigh had five sons namely, 1)Tighearnach from whom is the family of O’Tighearnach, Kings of Ceara;2) Uathmharan, from whom is the family of O’h-Uathmharain [now obsolete];3) Niall, a quo for the family of MacNeill;4) Uada, from whom is the family of O’h-Uadach; and 5) Faghartach, from whom is the family of O’Faghartaigh.

As the poet said;

“Five sons of great prosperity

Niall and Uada and Uathmharan

Faghartach who forced the gap

And Tighearnach of the bounteous hand’”

According to the various Annals, O'Donovan, O'Curry, MacFirbisKeating and others the following is the ancestry of the O'Tighearnaigh of Ceara from Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin King of Ireland 353 to 360 A.D.

89) Fiachra Foltsnachtach [ancestor of the UíFiachra and brother of Niall Naoíghiallach]had two sons Amalgaid and Natí or Dathí [King of Ire. 404-407; K.of Connaught 401 to 407; died 428]. 90) Dathaí had four sons; Oilill Molt [K.I. 453 to 473]; Fiachra Elgach; Amalgaid; Eochaid Breac. 91) Oilill Molt had two sons Ceallach and Erc [K.of C. 500]. 92) Erc was the father of 93) Maine Muinbreac [K. of I. 493 to 517] {this Maine may be the same person as Macc Ercae who fell in the battle of Tortan [in Meath]. Tighearnach in his Annals states that the men of Ceara are from him}.93) Maine Muinbreac was the father of 94) Ros Dointhigh who was the father of 95) Fearadhach [K. of Connaught 545 to 556] who was the father of 96) Maolumha [Méal Umai] who was the father of 97) Failbhe the father of 98) Maolduin the father of 99) Flan Ródhba [Flan of the River Robe] the father of 100) Dunchadh the father of 101) Maonach the father of 102) Cucothaigh.

Cucothaigh had five sons;

1. Faghartach from whom is the family of O'Fagharthaigh or O'Flaherth.

2. Uada from whom is the family of Oh-Uadach

3. Niall from whom is the family of MacNeill

4. Uathmharan from whom is the family of Oh-Uathmharáin [now obsolete]

5. Tighearnach (103) from whom is the family of O'Tighearnaigh, Kings of Ceara

Topographical and Historical Map of Ancient Ireland

According to a ‘Topographical and Historical Map of Ancient Ireland’, compiled by Phillip MacDermott M.D. and covering the period from the 11^th to the 16^th Century, the following were amongst the list of principal families in Ireland of that time;

O’Tierney Armagh

O’Tierney, Lord Mayo

However, for a publication of 17^th Century families, named “Most Important Families in Ireland at the Beginning of the Seventeenth Century”, according to “Ortelius Improved; or a new map of Ireland”, by James Wyld the name of Tierney or O’Tierney is not listed at all!!! Where have all the Tierneys gone, long time passing!!!!

Catholic Emancipation

In the late 17th century, the 18th century and until Catholic Emancipation in the mid 19th century it was forbidden by law for Roman Catholics to practice their religion in Ireland. These body of laws were known as the Penal Laws. During this time numbers of Irish Catholics, for one reason or another converted to Protestantism. Some converted for social status, employment opportunity [Catholics were not allowed to hold employment of any significance], or just simply to put food on the table [these converts were sometimes known as "soupers"]. However one of the main reasons for conversion amongst the 'landed Irish' was to protect their properties and to endeavour to ensure that the properties remained in the family hands. In order to circumvent the law it was custom for the eldest son to convert, at least on the face of it. In this way the land would pass to him and therefore remain in the family. Enrolment was "in the High Court of Chancery and a Certificate is issued by the Bishop of the diocese in which the conformer dwells testifying to his being protestant and conforming himself to the Church of Ireland as by law established". [Law passed in 1703]

The following are a list of Tierneys who converted from Catholicism to Protestantism [=member of the Church of Ireland only] and who provided "proof of conformity". Taken from page 268 of "The Convert Rolls" edited by Eileen O'Brien for the Dublin Stationery Office for the Irish Manuscripts Commission 1981.

Tierny, John, of Kilmain, Co. Mayo. Cert. 19th May 1764, enrolled 1st Sept. 1794 (A). Now of Kilmain, conformity 19th May 1761 (B)

Tierny, Owen, Cert. 10th August 1783, enrolled 16th August 1783 (A).

Tierny, Andrew, of Aggard, Co. Galway, Cert. 10th August 1757, enrolled 15th January 1758, Conformity 31st July 1757 (B).

In the "Index to Persons" contained in the Household Account Book of Christopher St. George of Kilcolgan Castle, Oranmore, Co. Galway, for the years 1/1/1810 to 29/12/1819 is listed Patt. Tierney. The record does not state in what capacity he dealt or traded with the castle or household.

Research

Any members who have any information/history/details about or concerning the Tierney name, its history, origins or any such information is asked to contact the Clann Eagraí. All information will be very gratefully received. It is most important that all of Tierney descent do their utmost to research the Family History.

If you have any information that you feel may be of interest or useful to the Clan’s research we should be very grateful to hear from you. Please write to:

Cahir Tierney, Naomh Antoine, 53 Ard Aoibhinn, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.

or e-mail to; otighearnaigh@eircom.net

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Cumann na gClann Uí Thighearnaigh – The Tierney Clans Society.

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Last updated Eanáir 2007.