Ó Conghalaigh
Encyclopedia
Ó Conghalaigh, Gaelic
-Irish
surname
. It derives from the forename Conghal, meaning "as fierce as a wolf". It is often anglicised as Connolly
or Conneelly.
, and with a number of spelling variants. They included:
In 1890 the surname was the twenty-third most common in Ireland, with three hundred and eighty-one births of the name, mostly in Ulster. By 1996, the ranking had slipped to thirty-third.
The variant Conneely was found exclusively in Connacht in 1890, with most occurrences in County Galway
, giving Ballyconneely
its name.
who removed to Airgíalla, or a branch of the Mac Mathghamna
, kings of Airgíalla
from the mid-13th century to 1590. John Grenham says of them "They are first noted as coming to prominence in the fifteenth century and are recorded as having "Chiefs of the Name" up to the seventeenth century. They were instrumental in organising the native Irish rebellion of 1641 and, following its failure, lost their power and possessions." Descendants of this family included William Conolly
(1662-1729), James Connolly
(1870-1916) and Paudge Connolly
(born 1953).
presenter Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile
; musicians John Conneely
and Johnny Óg Connolly
; sportspersons Aislinn Connolly
, Joe Connolly (hurler)
, Michael Conneely
and Seamus Conneely
; Mayors of Galway Catherine Connolly, Martin Connolly
and Pádraig Conneely
; criminal Anna Mór Ní Chonghaile
; scribe Micheál Ó Conghaile; writers Micheál Ó Conghaile (writer)
and Seán Ó Conghaile
.
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
-Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
. It derives from the forename Conghal, meaning "as fierce as a wolf". It is often anglicised as Connolly
Connolly
Connolly may refer to:* Connolly, Western Australia, a suburb in Perth, Western Australia* Connolly, County Clare, Ireland* Dublin Connolly railway station in Dublin, Ireland...
or Conneelly.
Overview
A number distinct and unrelated families bore the surname in Gaelic IrelandGaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland is the name given to the period when a Gaelic political order existed in Ireland. The order continued to exist after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans until about 1607 AD...
, and with a number of spelling variants. They included:
- Ó Conghalaigh of Iar ConnachtIar ConnachtIar Chonnachta , was a region covering all of County Galway west of the river Corrib and Lough Corrib; Maigh Seola; and part of the barony of Ross in County Mayo.-Description:The area of Co...
(now County GalwayCounty GalwayCounty Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
); - Ó Coingheallaigh in the Kingdom of Desmond (now west County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
); - Ó Conghalaigh of Derrygonnelly, Fear Manach (now County FermanaghCounty FermanaghFermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
); - Ó Conghalaigh of AirgíallaAirgíallaAirgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
(now County MonaghanCounty MonaghanCounty Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
). - O Conghaile Muirthemne from County LouthCounty LouthCounty Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
In 1890 the surname was the twenty-third most common in Ireland, with three hundred and eighty-one births of the name, mostly in Ulster. By 1996, the ranking had slipped to thirty-third.
The variant Conneely was found exclusively in Connacht in 1890, with most occurrences in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, giving Ballyconneely
Ballyconneely
Ballyconneely is a small ribbon development in west Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.Settlements are spread out north on the road to Clifden and south on the road to Roundstone...
its name.
County Monaghan
The Ó Conghalaigh's of Airgíalla were either a branch of the Southern Uí NéillSouthern Uí Néill
The Southern Uí Néill or Uí Néill Deisceart were that branch of the Uí Néill dynasty that invaded and settled in the Kingdom of Mide and its associated kingdoms....
who removed to Airgíalla, or a branch of the Mac Mathghamna
McMahon
McMahon or MacMahon is an Irish surname.- Two Septs:Two septs arose in Ireland with the surname McMahon, one in the Kingdom of Oriel in the province of Ulster, around modern County Monaghan; the second in Thomond, in the province of Munster, in modern County Clare.The sept in County Clare descends...
, kings of Airgíalla
Kings of Airgíalla
Between the sixth to sixteenth centuries, The Kingdom of Airgíalla was one of the three major kingdoms that formed what is now the province of Ulster. The others were In Tuisceairt to the west, and Ulaid to the east....
from the mid-13th century to 1590. John Grenham says of them "They are first noted as coming to prominence in the fifteenth century and are recorded as having "Chiefs of the Name" up to the seventeenth century. They were instrumental in organising the native Irish rebellion of 1641 and, following its failure, lost their power and possessions." Descendants of this family included William Conolly
William Conolly
William Conolly , also known as Speaker Conolly, was an Irish politician, Commissioner of Revenue, lawyer and landowner.-Career:...
(1662-1729), James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
(1870-1916) and Paudge Connolly
Paudge Connolly
Paudge Connolly is an Independent politician from County Monaghan in Ireland. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency from 2002–2007....
(born 1953).
County Galway
Descendants of the Ó Conghalaigh of Iar Connacht include TG4TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
presenter Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile
Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile
Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile, Irish television presenter, born 1984.Ní Chonghaile presents Eochair an ghrá, a dating show, on TG4. She began her career as a news reporter for TG4 and TV3. She later worked in the same capacity for Nuacht RTE and Sky News Ireland...
; musicians John Conneely
John Conneely
John Conneely, Irish singer-songwriter.Conneely is a solo artist, and has performed with the group Charis and UltanJohn.-External links:* http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/16119* http://www.myspace.com/johnconneely...
and Johnny Óg Connolly
Johnny Óg Connolly
Johnny Óg Connolly, Irish musician.A son of traditional musician Johnny Connolly of Inis Bearacháin, Connemara, Connolly began playing the according aged nine, learning from his father and Micheal Ó Coistealbha. Two years later he was the winnder of the Slógadh and Fleadh Ceoil All-Ireland on the...
; sportspersons Aislinn Connolly
Aislinn Connolly
Aislinn Connolly is a camogie player who was an All Star winner in 2010 and 2011 and a member of the Team of the Championship for 2011. She played in the All Ireland finals of 2010 and 2011 .-Family Background:...
, Joe Connolly (hurler)
Joe Connolly (hurler)
Joe Connolly is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Castlegar and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1984. Connolly captained Galway to the All-Ireland title in 1980.-Biography:Joe Connolly was born in Castlegar, County Galway in...
, Michael Conneely
Michael Conneely
Michael Conneely is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s....
and Seamus Conneely
Seamus Conneely
Seamus Conneely is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a right back for Sheffield United. He was born in London, but moved with his parents to Connemara. He has since become fluent in the Irish language...
; Mayors of Galway Catherine Connolly, Martin Connolly
Martin Connolly
Martin Connolly was the Mayor of Galway from 1987–1988.-Biography:Connolly was born in the old Claddagh to Thomas Connolly and Mary McDonagh of Spanish Parade. He was a member of the Sea Scouts, a personal friend of actor Sean McClory, and served two years on the ship Irish Poplar as ship's...
and Pádraig Conneely
Pádraig Conneely
Pádraig Conneely is an Irish Fine Gael party politician. He was Mayor of Galway from 2008 to 2009 where he was known as "the maverick mayor".-Biography:...
; criminal Anna Mór Ní Chonghaile
Anna Mór Ní Chonghaile
Anna Mór Ní Chonghaile, aka Big Anna Conneelly, Irish criminal and murderer, fl. c. 1820s/1830s.-Biography:Ní Chonghaile lived with her sister and brothers at Teach Leath Bhealaigh near Derrycunlagh, County Galway. The family are "said to have committed many murders at some period before the Famine"...
; scribe Micheál Ó Conghaile; writers Micheál Ó Conghaile (writer)
Micheál Ó Conghaile (writer)
Micheál Ó Conghaile is an Irish language writer.A native of Inis Treabhair, Connemara, he currently lives in Indreabhán.Ó Conghaile founded Irish-language publishing company Cló Iar-Chonnachta in 1985, which has since published over three hundred books, and some two hundred music albums and...
and Seán Ó Conghaile
Seán Ó Conghaile
Seán Ó Conghaile, was an Irish writer.A native of An Cnoc, Cois Fharraige, County Galway, Ó Conghaile was a celebrated essayist and short-story writer who wrote in the Irish language. Several of his essays won Oireachtas prizes, and were collectively published in 1974.-References:*Galway Authors,...
.