Fearghal Ó Gadhra
Encyclopedia
Fearghal Ó Gadhra, lord of Coolavin, patron of the Annals of the Four Masters
, c. 1597 - after 1660.
; Geoffrey Keating
gives their ancestry as follows:
"Tadhg son of Cian, son of Oilill Olom, had two sons, namely, Connla and Cormac Gaileang. From Iomchaidh son of Connla comes O Cearbhaill, and from Fionnachta son of Connla comes O Meachair. From Cormac Gaileang son of Tadhg, son of Cian, comes O Eadhra and O Gadhra and O Conchubhair Ciannachta. The following are the territories they acquired, namely: Gaileanga, east and west; Ciannachta, south and north; Luighne, east and west."
In the 12th century the Ó Gadhras were Kings of Sliabh Lugha
, anciently referred to as Gailenga
. The O'Hara's retained the name Luighne for their territory to the north. The O'Garas were expelled into Coolavin, Co. Sligo by the Mac Jordan of Connacht
.
who acquired property in Luighne in the late 16th-century. He was awarded the wardship of Ó Gadhra, which enabled the latter to attend Trinity College Dublin from the between 1609 and 1616, though there is no documentary evidence that he studied there. Despite his father's rebellion in 1589, Fearghal inherited most of his estate, thanks to the protection of Dillon, and in the 1630s was one of the weatlhiest catholic landowners in the county. In 1634 he became MP for Sligo. He married Isobel Taffe, daughter of Sir John, Viscount Corran, who was married to a daughter of Sir Theobald Dillon. Though Dillon was Protestant, Ó Gadhra and his immediate family appear to have remained committed Catholics.
Fearghal and Isobel had sons, Cian and John. A descendant, Oliver O'Hara, served in the army of James II
during the Williamite War in Ireland
.
in 1642, and his son John served as a captain in the Confederate forces.
. Scholors still scrutinise the motives behind the Franciscan
order chose "this politically minor lord ... as the patron of the most important annalistic collection of early modern Ireland ... A common explanation for Ó Gadhra's engagement ... is that his attendance at TCD brought him into contact with the antiquarian scholars James Ussher
and James Ware, who, it is suggsted, communicated their interest in collecting Irish literary and manuscript material to the young man. This is a plausible surmise but it is weakened by the lack of any evidence of Ó Gadhra's presence at Trinity. A more likely scenario is that the link between Ó Gadhra and Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
originated with the family of Ó Gadhra guardian. The Dillons had strong connections with the Franciscan order and in particular with monasteries associated with Ó Cléirigh. One of Dillion's sons, Edward (Father Louis), held the position of novice
master in the Irish college at Louvain
in the 1620s, when Ó Cléirigh was also there." (2010, p. 481).
Other reasons included common sentiments with other catholic patrons of the order's scholars. Also, Ó Gadhra was relatively wealthy and a respected member of the catholic gentry of north Connacht.
In appreciation of his support, he was presented with a copy of the manuscript, which included a lengthy acknowledgement of his efforts, by Ó Cléirigh. This manuscript was inherited by Ó Gadhra's sons, and taken to the continent by Captain Oliver O'Hara, in his exile following the Treaty of Limerick
. In the 1730s, O'Hara returned it Ireland, it been entrusted to Charles O'Conor (historian)
of Belangare. It is currently in the Royal Irish Academy
, as MS C iii3 and H 2 ii.
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, c. 1597 - after 1660.
Family background
Ó Gadhra was the son of Tadhg mac Oilill Ó Gadhra of Coolavin, located in what is now south County Sligo. The family were ancient proprietors in ConnachtConnacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
; Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
gives their ancestry as follows:
"Tadhg son of Cian, son of Oilill Olom, had two sons, namely, Connla and Cormac Gaileang. From Iomchaidh son of Connla comes O Cearbhaill, and from Fionnachta son of Connla comes O Meachair. From Cormac Gaileang son of Tadhg, son of Cian, comes O Eadhra and O Gadhra and O Conchubhair Ciannachta. The following are the territories they acquired, namely: Gaileanga, east and west; Ciannachta, south and north; Luighne, east and west."
In the 12th century the Ó Gadhras were Kings of Sliabh Lugha
Kings of Sliabh Lugha
The Kings of Sliabh Lugha were rulers of the district of Sliabh Lugha, located in what is now County Mayo.The Sliabh Lugha area was originally known as Gailenga but by the 12th-century called Sliabh Lugha. Its rulers were the Ó Gadhra, whose ancestors were Kings of Luighne Connacht, an over-kingdom...
, anciently referred to as Gailenga
Gailenga
Gailenga was the name of two related peoples and kingdoms found in medieval Ireland in Brega and Connacht.-Origins:Along with the Luighne, Delbhna, Saitne and Ciannachta, the Gailenga claimed descent from Tadc mac Cein mac Ailill Aulom. Francis John Byrne, in agreement with Eoin MacNeill, believes...
. The O'Hara's retained the name Luighne for their territory to the north. The O'Garas were expelled into Coolavin, Co. Sligo by the Mac Jordan of Connacht
Mac Jordan of Connacht
Mac Siúrtáin, aka Mac Jordan and Jordan, is the name of an Connacht family of Norman-Irish origins.-Ancestry:The family take their name from the Norman knight, Jordan de Exeter, whose descendants became known as Mac Mac Siúrtáin - the Gaelic form of Jordan - and were based in County Mayo.The de...
.
Early life
Sir Theobald Dillon was among a number of Anglo-IrishAnglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
who acquired property in Luighne in the late 16th-century. He was awarded the wardship of Ó Gadhra, which enabled the latter to attend Trinity College Dublin from the between 1609 and 1616, though there is no documentary evidence that he studied there. Despite his father's rebellion in 1589, Fearghal inherited most of his estate, thanks to the protection of Dillon, and in the 1630s was one of the weatlhiest catholic landowners in the county. In 1634 he became MP for Sligo. He married Isobel Taffe, daughter of Sir John, Viscount Corran, who was married to a daughter of Sir Theobald Dillon. Though Dillon was Protestant, Ó Gadhra and his immediate family appear to have remained committed Catholics.
Fearghal and Isobel had sons, Cian and John. A descendant, Oliver O'Hara, served in the army of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
during the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
.
Irish Confederate Wars
Ó Gadhra welcomed the arrival of Owen Roe O'NeillOwen Roe O'Neill
Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill , anglicised as Owen Roe O'Neill , was a seventeenth century soldier and one of the most famous of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster.- In Spanish service :...
in 1642, and his son John served as a captain in the Confederate forces.
Final Years
Following the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Ó Gadhra's property was seized. He was alive as late as 1660, though the precise date of his death is uncertain.Patron to the Four Masters
Ó Gadhra's contribution to Irish history and culture is as patron of the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
. Scholors still scrutinise the motives behind the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order chose "this politically minor lord ... as the patron of the most important annalistic collection of early modern Ireland ... A common explanation for Ó Gadhra's engagement ... is that his attendance at TCD brought him into contact with the antiquarian scholars James Ussher
James Ussher
James Ussher was Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–56...
and James Ware, who, it is suggsted, communicated their interest in collecting Irish literary and manuscript material to the young man. This is a plausible surmise but it is weakened by the lack of any evidence of Ó Gadhra's presence at Trinity. A more likely scenario is that the link between Ó Gadhra and Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh , sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the Annals of the Four Masters, assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Peregrinus Ó Duibhgeannain.-Background and early life:Grandson of Tuathal...
originated with the family of Ó Gadhra guardian. The Dillons had strong connections with the Franciscan order and in particular with monasteries associated with Ó Cléirigh. One of Dillion's sons, Edward (Father Louis), held the position of novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
master in the Irish college at Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
in the 1620s, when Ó Cléirigh was also there." (2010, p. 481).
Other reasons included common sentiments with other catholic patrons of the order's scholars. Also, Ó Gadhra was relatively wealthy and a respected member of the catholic gentry of north Connacht.
In appreciation of his support, he was presented with a copy of the manuscript, which included a lengthy acknowledgement of his efforts, by Ó Cléirigh. This manuscript was inherited by Ó Gadhra's sons, and taken to the continent by Captain Oliver O'Hara, in his exile following the Treaty of Limerick
Treaty of Limerick
The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite war in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. It concluded the Siege of Limerick. The treaty really consisted of two treaties which were signed on 3 October 1691. Reputedly they were signed on the Treaty Stone, an...
. In the 1730s, O'Hara returned it Ireland, it been entrusted to Charles O'Conor (historian)
Charles O'Conor (historian)
Charles O'Conor Don, The O'Conor Don, Prince of Connacht of Belanagare was an Irish writer and antiquarian who was enormously influential as a protagonist for the preservation of Irish culture and history in the eighteenth century...
of Belangare. It is currently in the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
, as MS C iii3 and H 2 ii.
Ó Gadhra's in the annals
- 926 - Eaghra mac Poprigh, lord of Luighne Connacht.
- 964 - Toichleach ua n-Gadhra was tighearna of Luighne Deisceirt.
- 993 - Conghalach mac Laidhgnen, .i. ua Gadhra, tigherna Gaileng.
- 1181 - Donn Sléibhe Ua GadhraDonn Sléibhe Ua GadhraDonn Sléibhe Ua Gadhra, King of Sliabh Lugha, died 1181.The Annals of Lough Ce appear to be the only contempoary reference to Donn Sléibhe, laconicly reporting that Donnsleibhe O'Gadhra mortuus est in the year 1181.-External links:*...
, king of Sleibe Lughu, died. - 1206 - Ruairí Ó GadhraRuairí Ó GadhraRuairí Ó Gadhra, King of Sliabh Lugha, died 1206.The Annals of the Four Masters appear to contain one of the few reference to Ruairí, reporting that Rory O'Gara, Lord of Sliabh Lugha, died in the year 1206.-External links:*...
, Lord of Sliabh Lugha, died. - 1227 - Donn Sleibhe O Gadhra, Lord of Sliabh Lugha, was slain by Gillaroe, his own brother's son.
- 1256 - Rory O Gadhra, Lord of Sliabh Lugha, was slain by David, son of Richard Cuisin.
- 1285 - Rory O Gadhra, Lord of Sliabh-Lugha, was slain by Mac Feorais on Lough O'Gara.