Cumann na gClann Ui Thighearnaigh

The Tierney Clans Society

Return to - Archives Introduction Page

Or go to

The Tierneys of Munster.	The Tierneys of Connaught.
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 Ulster

Contents [click to go]

Topographical and Historical Map of Ancient Ireland
The O'Tierney of Fearnmhuigh
O’Hart’s Tierney of Ulster Pedigree
Lewis’s ‘Topographical Directory of Ireland’
The Monaghan-Armagh Story

The O’Tierney Clan of Ulster.

O’Tighearnaigh, [or O’Tierney] and the O’Kiernan clans, according to tradition were the rulers of a territory called Fearnmaigh.Fearnmaigh [or Fearnmhuighe or Fearann Má]; the word translates from Gaelic to English as ‘the plain of the alder trees’. The Rev. Patrick Woulfe, a recognized authority on family history and genealogy in the early part of the 20^th century, in his book entitled ‘Irish Names and Surnames’ states that the O’Tighearnaigh was a branch of the Cineal Eoghain who “were anciently chiefs of Fearnmaigh, in the present Co. Donegal”. However in more recent research, and specifically in the Annals of the Four Masters, [Vol. 1 Pg.37] it has been shown that Fearnmaigh or ‘Magh-Fearnmaighe’ “is in Oirghialla, now Farney, a barony in the South of the County of Monaghan”. It is now thought that the Ancient Territory of the clan stretched from near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan as far East as the foothills of the Slieve Gullion Mountain in Co. Armagh. This latest finding would seem to be more accurate as the area of South Monaghan/South Armagh is part of the territory once ruled by the overlord clan of the Cineal Eoghain [to whom the O’Tierneys belonged], The O’Neill. His kingdom was called Tirowen. County Donegal would have been ruled by The O’Donel and the Cineal Conaill.

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 during that time;

O’Tierney Armagh

O’Tierney, Lord Mayo

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!!! However the Tierney name is still a common name in the South Armagh area today. It is felt that this fact consolidates the assertion that the Fearnmhuighe is in the Monaghan/Armagh area rather than in Donegal.

Back to top

The O'Tierney of Fearnmhuighe

following is the genealogy of the O'Tierney of Fearnmhuighe. In the introduction section we chronicled the ancestry of 89) Niall Naoíghiallach, or Niall of the Nine Hostages as he is better known. Niall had eight sons and these were: Conall Gulbhan from whom are descended the tribes of the Cenél Conaill: Éndae: Coirpre, [from whom are descended the O'Tighearnaigh of Breaga, including St. Tighearnach, Bishop of Clones, d. 4th Apr. 549]: Loeguire: Maine: Conall Cremthainne: Fiachu: and Eoghan from whom are descended the tribes and clans of the Cenél Eoghain. Principal amongst the Cenél Eoghain were thr UíNeill of Tyrone [or Tir Eoghain = the country of Eoghan amongst whom the O'Tighearnaigh Kings of Fearnmhuighe are listed.

Eoghan [No. 90] had five sons; Oilill: Fearghus: Feilim: Eochaid Binnigh: and Muireadhach. The following is an extract taken from O’Hart's ‘Irish Pedigrees’ Vol. 1.

From "Irish Clans and Chiefs". The O’Tierney of Fearnmaigh – Ulster. Page 822

Tirowen

The Chiefs and Clans of Tirowen and the territories they possessed n the twelfth century as given by O’Dugan are as follows;

1)etc., 2) …. 3)etc.,

11) O’Tierney and O’Kieran both Chiefs of Fearnmhuighe [or Fearnmaigh].

All the Clans of Tirowen were of the Hy-Neill sept. They were descended from Heremon [or Eireamon] (O’Hart ch. iv) who was the 7^th son of Milesius of Spain. The Irish Race of today is popularly known as ‘The Milesian Race’, because the genuine Irish (Celtic) people of today are supposed to be descended from Milesius of Spain.(Seamus MacManus, ‘The Story of the Irish Race’). From Heremon are descended the Kings, Nobility and gentry of the kingdoms of Connaught, Dalriada, Leinster, Meath, Orgiall, Ossery, and since the fifth century of Ulster. Number 89 from Heremon was Muireadach (iii) who was the son of Eoghan [lived abt. 390-430]. Muireadach was married to Earca the daughter of Loarn, King of Dalriada in Scotland, and by her had many sons and daughters.[ Eoghan was baptized into the Christian Church by St. Patrick at thre royal Palace of Aileach (which still stands and is situated in North Donegal on the Inishowen Penninsula, and not far from Derry City). According to the Ulster annalists it was Eoghan’s foot that was pierced by the Bacchal Iosa during the ceremony]. Two of Muiredach’s sons are especially mentioned in history. One was Muirceartach Mór and the second was Fergus Mór. Both were called Mac Earca. From Fergus Mór MacEarca descended the Kings of Scotland and the Kings of England, including the Royal Houses of Plantagenet, Stuart and D’Este.

Muireadach, who had a brother Eachagh Binneach, had ten other sons; Fearach or Fearadach, ancestor of MacCathmhaoil (or Cowell or Campbell etc.); Mangan; Dalach; Moan; Fergus; Loarn; and a second Loarn; Aongus; and a second Aongus; and Tighearnach, ancestor of O’Cunigan, O’h-Eassa (anglicized Hosey or Hussey and O’Swell) and Tierney.

In O’Hart’s Tierney of Ulster Pedigree the descendant chart is as follows;

“Tighearnach, son of Muireadach who is No.89 on the (No. 1) “O’Neill” (of Tyrowen) pedigree and no.92 on our list. Tighearnach was the Ancestor of the Cineal Tighearnach, anglicized Tierney.

91) Muireadach

92) Tighearnach son of Muireadach from whom is descended the O'Tierney Clan, Chiefs of Fearnmhuighe.

93) Dathgil son of Tighearnach.

94) Ruadan (or Ruarcan) son of Dathgil.

95) Feardalach (or Columan)son of Ruadan.

96) Fanred son of Feardalach.

97) Cirdeag (or Firdheodh) son of Fanred.

98) Cronghaialla son of Cirdeag

99) Aodh son of Cronghialla.

100) Cel son of Aodh.

101) Rath son of Cel.

102) Tighearna son of Rath.

In Lewis’s ‘Topographical Directory of Ireland’, 1837/8

Amongst the lists of subscribers are listed;

Rev. James Tierney, R.C.C. Drogheda, Co. Louth

And

Rev. Thomas Tierney, P.P. Clontibrit, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan

Dr. Edward Tierney of Clones was a member of the first Monaghan County Council which held its first meeting on 29th April 1899 [reported in the Dundalk Democrat 15/4 and 29/4/1899]

Mr. Martin Tierney of Ardee Co. Louth, was a Fine Gael candidate in the 1965 General Election

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

Return to - Archives Introduction Page

Or go to another archive - Back to Top

Cumann na gClann Uí Thighearnaigh – The Tierney Clans Society.

For problems or questions regarding this site, and especially if a link does not work, please contact otighearnaigh@eircom.net

Last updated Eanáir 2007.