Genelach Dáil Cuinn Project™ Forum

I've finally made some headway on my papertrail and it shifted my research a little eastward into Kildare. It turns out my McLains were around Clane (go figure) Co. Kildare, going back and forth to Dublin until obtaining a 1772 lease of 100 acres in Lehinch, Co. Offaly, and to make a long story short (after having to read several books), The 8th Earl of Kildare obtained MacLean "redshanks" via his very close friend and ally Aedh Ruadh O'Domhnaill who was bringing in MacLeans just about every fighting seasons beginning in the 1480s.

FT130287 has been a wild goose-chase, mostly because I'm trying to make the DNA make sense which it doesn't. All four branches of FT130287 have Leinster papertrails, which I thought was purely a coincidence, and I could never figure out the outlier, Mr. Fraher. Once I figured out we were a non-Breifne clade, I've been trying trying to connect the dots between point A (Maigh Seola) and C (Midlands) and i thought it logical that point B would be somewhere between the two maybe in the era of surnames developing. My research late last year into this year of 'Mac an Leagha' in Tir Maine, ended up being a wash after the individuals I found as "McLane" appeared later in their lives as "McLea" so it seems that it was a mistake on part of the writer and not an anglicization. I began to re-focus on my own papertrail and also the Gorry/Gurry angle of research which still could have been a number of surnames. Even after finding my ancestors in Kildare and starting to realize that FT130287 could have always been in Leinster (mysteriously), I threw in the towel for a little while, and then Bernard Morgan found a reference to "Guairi m. Dubhdacrich m. Brenainn" in the Book of Ballymote Ui Briuin genealogies. Although it's pretty clear Guaire was most likely a more distant descendant, not only did this confirm just exactly who Gorry & Gurry are, but that FT130287 (c.910-1000ad) was an O'Guaire, and it was possible we all are (as Fraher has no relation to any other Waterford families). When I started to examine the entire O/Mac Guaire surname population, a picture started to develop. It appeared to me that:
1. The heaviest concentration of this surname is E. Offaly/W. Kildare, particularly Clonbullogue, Co. Offaly-Rathangan, Co. Kildare, and at the time of FT130287's lifespan, this area would have all mostly been in the kingdom of Ui Failge, which was seated at Rathangan until the Norman incursion.
2. This was likely a very old surname, and multiple dense population clusters would indicate these people were scattered some time ago from wherever they originated (Viking age? Norman invasion?).

I began to look into placenames that might reflect an earlier population in this area of interest, and this may be a coincidence but they were rather close. Plotted out with MDKAs and earliest records of each surname, a Clongorey (Cluain Guaire: Guaire's Meadow) in Feighcullen parish and a Tullygorey (Tulach Mhic Guaire: McGuaire's Hillock) south of the area near Athy. Tullygorey is first recorded in the Calendar of Justiciar Rolls in 1297, and could be either a surname or just a personal reference to a "son of Guaire". However this supports that this is a very old surname, and the placename of Clongorey is older. Very interestingly in the parish of Killybegs (outside Clane) where my MacLeans had settled in The Cott, the 1654 civil survey when describing the borders of this parish noted a 'Loughgurry', however it's not on any 18th c. maps, it was probably drained like many lakes were to increase arable land. There was not a trace of any O'Guaires here in any record except this placename, which makes me wonder if events in the area 1550-1650 wouldve created O'Guaire orphans that were taken in by friends or maternal kin. I'm fairly certain this is my branch's place of settlement, as the Extent of Monastic Possessions notes in 1540 that "the tenants of Killybegs are exempt from all exactions save coigne and livery, and enjoy 100 acres of common pasture" for quartering of the lord's mercenaries (the coigne and livery system), and it's a very good contender for the place of the NPE.

I'm quite stumped on how or why FT130287 came to be here. Going into the annals and genealogies, Guaire certainly seems to be a popular given name c.700-c900. Concentrating in Leinster, there were abbots of Clonfad and Glendalough of the name, several lords of the Ui Ceinnsealaigh in the 9th c. were "sons of Guaire" although it was a patronymic and not a surname. However there are two entries in the Annals of Four Masters where Guaire is a surname.

962. Cairbre Ua Guaire, head of the hospitality of Leinster, died.

"head of hospitality" seems to have usually been used to denote a taoiseach, however I think it could also be a position high in the church as well. This man is not in the book of Leinster, so the latter is probably more likely. The next entry gives a little more information on another Ua Guaire.

1032. Tadhg Ua Guaire, lord of Ui-Cuilinn, was slain by the son of Mael-na-mBo.

The individual doing the slaying was certainly Dermot mac Mael-na-mBo, a lord of Ui Ceinnsealaigh who later became the King of Leinster. There are several entries about him in this timeframe eliminating his rivals. But who were the Ui Cuilinn?
This is the only annals entry naming them, and I first thought it was either the Ui Mail septs of Ui Cellaig Cuallan or Ui Briuin Cuallan. The Ui Cellaig Cuallan were certainly involved in some scraps in the area, and stopped an invasion from Meath at Claonadh (Clane) in 704. However these words were not pronounced like Cuillin"(middle Irish: "Coolin" or "Cooleen"). And the Ui Mail genealogies held by MacFirbis were all published in the History of the Clan O'Toole, and not one Guaire, nor Ua Guaire appears in any part of it.

I then remembered that Clongorey was in the parish of Feighcullen (Fiodh Cuillin), a parish mostly within Ui Failge, which Clongorey is detached from for some reason. As usual, the history of the placename is a little vague. Cuillin/Chuillin is usually denoted as "of the holly tree". But could certainly be a person or group. There is an ecclesiastical settlement in Feighcullen, whose patron is found in the Martyrology of Tallaght.
800. St. Beohan, Bishop of Fiodh-cuillin, in Ui Failge; Of the race of Ui Faelain, whose feast day is 8 Aug
The nearby church of Kilcullen then, could also reference a person or group, however I think it's been settled on "Church of the Holly Tree" because of the pattern of church names in the area (Cill Dara: Church of the Oak).
Two references to Kilcullen barony, one in The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation give other origins, although not necessarily the church: “Coille Culluin (or the Woods of Cullen), now the barony of Kilcullen in the County Kildare.” and in The History of Ireland by James MacGeoghegan: “Coille-Cuillin, a territory on the frontiers of the counties of Wicklow and Kildare, the patrimony of the O’Culluins, of the race of Cahir-More, by his son, Fiacha Baicheada.”

Cahir Mor was also the ancestor of the Ui Failge, however their genealogies are quite questionable (Rus Failge is noted as his son but the annals show three centuries between them), and I also dont know how much stock to put in the information as these authors don't give a source. But certainly placenames referencing both Guaire and Cuilinn are extremely interesting... Could it be that "Coill Cuilinn" lies somewhere on the eastern fringes of the Ui Failghe in the vicinity of all three of these places?

Going back to the timeframe of Tadhg Ua Guaire being killed by Diarmaid mac Mael-na-mBo, an AFM entry 5 years later noted the Ui Ceinnsealaigh lord's activity near Kilcullen...
1037. Ruaidhri, son of Tadhg Ua Lorcain, Tanist of Ui-Ceinnsealaigh, was taken prisoner in the Daimhliag of Cill-Cuilinn, by Donnchadh Mac Gillaphadraig; and he was afterwards blinded by the son of Mael-na-mbo.

It's still unclear who the Ui Cuilinn were, or where there territory was, they were probably insignificant and had a temporary window of strength that made them a rival. However a 12th century poem about Rathangan notes an Ui Failge king named Cuilen..
The fort over against the oak-wood,
Once it was Bruidge’s, it was Cathal’s,
It was Aed’s, it was Ailill’s,
It was Conaing’s, it was Cuiline’s,
And it was Maelduin’s.
The fort remains after each his turn,
And the kings asleep in the ground.

The Cuilen in question was killed in an intercine conflict in Coolcor, Co. Offaly in 652
652. The conflict of Cúil Corra in which Cuiléne son of Forannán fell. Mael Deich and Onchú were victors

So whether this is really who the Ui Cuillin are, were the Ua Guaires here a dynastic kin group that could be descended of Brenainn? Given the surname concentration on the Offaly/Kildare border tied to the Guaire m. Brenainn in the Book of Ballymote, and the placenames denoting 'Cuilinn' and 'Guaire' within the cluster, it would seem to support that FT130287 may be connected to the Tadhg Ua Guaire in AFM1032. I really cannot figure out how or why, but what comes to mind is the O'Connor placing the O'Fallon in Tir Maine to suppress the Ui Maine, but I think that's quite a stretch for possibly a High King of Ireland to take a sept from Connacht and place them in Leinster. They could also have just fled Maigh Seola with the rest of A5902+ and muscled their way into another area, and *somehow* become lords of an already-existing kin group (Ui Cuilinn).

Chris,

Again, amazing research. IDK if it relevant or not, but the third son of Fergnóe was Dícuill.

924. Ceitri mc. la Fergna .i. Aed Find & Brenaind & Dicull & Feradach.

Ceitri mc. ag Fergna
gidh at tuaite a neirim
Feradach is Dicholl
Aedh Find & Brenaind.

925. Fearadach mc. Fergna is buadha sein atait Sil Lighin .i. .H. Aindsin & .H. Coscraigh & .H. Colla & Mc. Teimnighe.
926. Dicholla mc. Fergna se mc. lais .i. Bibhsach a quo .H. Bibhsaigh & Borran a quo .H. Borran & Canan a quo .H. Canan & Scolban a quo .H. Scolban & Ainghen a quo .H. Aingein & Boccanach a quo .H. Boccanaigh amail asbert:

Clann Dicolla godeimin
Bibhsach Borran na ceiligh
Canan Scolban saim sreath
Aingein & Boccanach

https://genelach.org/transcript-book_of ... FirBreifne

And that is pretty much the extent of the knowledge of Dícuill, AFAIK. It is always possible that Dícuill was actually a son of Brénaind who wandered off early into the midlands, and not a son of but rather a grandson of Fergnóe. IDK if this speculation is useful since I haven't looked at the Y-Haplotree. This also applies to the fourth son Feradach.

But R1b-A5902 being Uí Briúin is beyond dispute. And the other surnames under it definitely provide strong evidence of it being the Uí Briúin Bréifne, Maicne Brénaind clade. When your particular branch (cráeb) reached the midlands does appear to be a convoluted mystery. Keep up the good work!

...OK, looking at the R1b-A5902 Y-Haplotree, this appears to be feasible:

Fergnóe > Áed Find (R1b-BY3338) & Brénaind (R1b-A5902) & Dícuill & Feradach

Brénaind > Báethán (R1b-FGC59200, R1b-FGC55184, and R1b-FGC34296?) & Dub Dá Crích (R1b-FGC34296?, R1b-FTC14661, R1b-FT130287, R1b-BY100917, and R1b-FTF29943)

Báethán > Máenach

Máenach > Echu (Tellach Echach) & Dúnchád (Tellach Dúncháda) & Findacán & Bráenán & Corcrán & Ciarmacc & Máel Dúin
[Echu seems to be conflated with another name, possibly Échtach, given the Tellach Eathach variant. Dr. Jaski shows 11 missing generations in his Table 68 “Uí Briúin Bréifne”, after Echu, Dúnchád, etc.]

Dub Dá Crích > Dubthach & Dobrán & Máel Bennachta & Murchád & Guaire & Findán

So could Dubthach be the progenitor of the Duffy gentlemen (R1b-FTC14661) or Murchád the progenitor of the Murphy gentlemen (also R1b-FTC14661); Findán the progenitor of the Fannin gentlemen (R1b-BY100917); and Guaire the progenitor of your branch (R1b-FT130287)? I leave a more thorough and detailed analysis to you.

Always keep in mind that we are missing a lot of variants in the current NGS and WGS test results that will only be seen once T2T testing becomes commercially available.

Wow I can't believe I missed that mention of Laigin. I'm fairly intermediate in Irish so the earlier obsolete words usually leave me stumped. Would I be correct that Fearadach mc Feargna was the virtue of the seed of the Leinstermen? I'm not sure what the "Clann Dicholla..." entry translates to. I think any link to one of these individuals going to Leinster is more than I could ask for, as Guaire could have gone with a set of relatives. Which if this occurred, would mean he lived in Fearadach's lifetime and could confirm he was really a son of Dubhdacrich as the manuscript says. I've begun labeling all the groups based in my project on Ballymote...
Thank you again for all the help!

Chris,

You are very welcome.

So,

925. Fearadach mc. Fergna is buadha sein atait Sil Lighin .i. .H. Aindsin & .H. Coscraigh & .H. Colla & Mc. Teimnighe.

The words is and atait seem to form some kind of complex Old Irish grammatical structure that is over my head.
The word buadh most likely comes from búaid and can mean “special quality or attribute, gift, virtue”.
The word sein most likely comes from sin and means “there, that, those”.
The word síl literally means “seed”, but in this case it is used as “progeny or descendants”.
The word lighin if taken as spelled leads to ligean which leads to lig which may derive from léig which can derive from our old friend líaig which means “leech, doctor, or physician”.

So we have something possibly like “Feradach son of Fergnóe has the virtue of having those descendants of the physician, that is, the Uí Aindsin and the Uí Coscraig and the Uí Colla and the Mac Teimnide(?)”. Does Mac An Lego ring a bell? The phrase “is buadha sein atait Sil Lighin” is very complex and may mean something very different; but I do not think that “Lighin” is a variant of “Laigin” in this instance. Oh, the pain of not having an Old Irish linguist available. And believe me I have tried!

926. Dicholla mc. Fergna se mc. lais .i. Bibhsach a quo .H. Bibhsaigh & Borran a quo .H. Borran & Canan a quo .H. Canan & Scolban a quo .H. Scolban & Ainghen a quo .H. Aingein & Boccanach a quo .H. Boccanaigh amail asbert:

Clann Dicolla godeimin
Bibhsach Borran na ceiligh
Canan Scolban saim sreath
Aingein & Boccanach

“Dícuill son of Fergnóe had six sons, that is, Bibsach [bibsach] progenitor of the Uí Bibsaig and Borrán [dimutive of borr] progenitor of the Uí Borráin and Canann progenitor of the Uí Canainn and Scolbán [dimutive of scolb] progenitor of the Uí Scolbáin and Aingen [?] progenitor of the Uí Aingin and Boccanach [a variant of boc?] progenitor of the Uí Boccanaig, as it is said:

Cland Dícuilla it is certain
Bibsach, Borrán of the many companions
Canann, Scolbán [with] peaceful ranks [soldiers?]
Aingen and Boccanach”

None of those given names, except for Canann, for the sons of Dícuill seem to appear anywhere else that I can find. Most appear to have very warlike or martial meanings. They are definitely not standard Gaelic names, except for Canann.

Wow, thank you for explaining that all, David. I just looked up some of those names on eDIL, very fascinating. I wonder if Clann Dichuill were a permanent fianna or fianna-like. It's said the fían were tolerated as an institution until the 12th century when the church led to their demise. "Churchmen sometimes referred to them as díberga (which came to mean 'marauders') and maicc báis ('sons of death')"

In ref to AFM962.5 Cairbre Ua Guaire, head of the hospitality of Leinster, died. I can only find "head of the hospitality" in descriptions of lords ('lamp of chivalry and hospitality', 'lamp of prowess and hospitality', 'pillar of hosptality', 'head of the men of hospitality' etc) as various churchmen were more or less described as "heads of piety" or something similar. So Cairbre Ua Guaire was probably a lord of Ui-Cuilinn as well. Fiodh Cuilinn, seems to sometimes been in Ui Faighe, and sometimes been in Ui Faelain. As the early 9th century saint was of the Ui Faelain (a sept of the Ui Dunlainge), it was probably these people who held it most of the time. In 962 when Cairbe Ua Guaire died, the Ui Dunlainge held the kingship of Leinster. It's said they anciently inhabited the Liffey plan, part of which would have now been the barony of Kilcullen where the earlier references I listed place the Ui Cuilinn. The Ui Dunlainge were the biggest rivals of Ui Ceinnsealaigh and Mac Giolla Phadraig of Osraige for the Laigin kingship. In 1033 right after Tadhg Ua Guaire was slain by Dermot mac Mael-na-mBo, Dermot's ally and kinsmen Donnchadh Mac Giolla Padraig assumed the Kingship of Leinster. I definitely need to read more into this timeframe and area.

Chris,

I am losing you. You seem to be getting into Leinster families; and they were never considered to be Dál Cuinn and nor is there any Y-DNA evidence to suggest otherwise, AFAIK.

Oh I realize that, I'm just theorizing "out loud" about events surrounding the Ua Guaire in the annals in Leinster since it definitely looks like (based on the location of the A5902+ surname) that they may be one & the same. I'm trying to figure out what Leinster kin-group 'Ui Culinn' would be associated with (although it's a mystery how they may have had a group who were not of their Y-DNA as 'lords of Ui Culinn' unless they were a genetic mish-mosh of sorts), and if their potential location would confirm whether Clongorey & Feighcullen Co. Kildare would be relevant references to both of these groups of people but I think I just started rambling MacLysaght wrote of "Gorey", that the "original clan was somewhere between Offaly and Meath" so he probably saw the same thing I'm seeing.

IDK if this helpful, but

ui cuilinn
in Lein., Mi.; ¶ Ui Cuillend, al. Síl mBrain in Mag Ailbhe in Laighis, Ll. 383; ¶ al. Síl mBriuin of Mag Aebna in Laigis, Lec. 192; ¶ al. Síl mBriain in Mag Aibne, Fir. 451.

http://publish.ucc.ie/doi/locus/U

m. n-aebna
v. Mag Aibne.

m. ailbh
they went fr. Ath na Cuire, c. Leit., to M. Ailbh, Tor. 118; ¶ v. M. Ailbhe, c. Meath; ¶ ? Moyaliff tl. and p., c. Tipp.

m. ailbe
Ll. 200 a; ¶ Belach Mugna and Áth Dara in it, Ll. 478, 299 b; ¶ on the Barrow, Ll. 299 b, Rc. xiii. 52; ¶ Dind Ríg in it, and it is S. of Moone, c. Kild., Rc. xvi. 378; ¶ in Hui Dróna, Bb. 128 a, Lec. 123; ¶ in b. Kilkea and Moone, Lh. 199 b, 61; ¶ K. Cormac mac Cuilionnain killed there, K. 167 b, Fir. 104, 434, Lec. 585, St. B. 401; ¶ in S. of c. Kild., Ac. 42; ¶ M. A. ext. fr. r. Barrow and Sl. Mairge to the Wickl. mts., comprised the N. of b. Idrone, Carl. and bb. Kilkea and Moone, c. Kild., Lct.; ¶ in tl. Ballyknockan, Cg. 106; ¶ in Uib Dróna, Lec. 123; ¶ ext. E. fr. Slewmargy, Queen's Co., and comprised parts of c. Carl. and c. Kild.; ¶ Bealach Mughna, Ballaghmoone, SW. of Castledermot, was in it, K. 168, Ml. 96, Lec. 123, Fy. 19, K. 167 b, St. B. 401, who say Cormac mac Cuillionáin was killed there; ¶ ergo nr Belach Mughna; ¶ M. n-Albi nr Sliab Mairge, Cf., Ck. fo. 129 a; ¶ Bruden Tuama Tenbath hi Dindrígh Maige Ailbe, Tig. Rc. xvi. 378, Tig., Rawl., B. 502 fo. 1 b, Fir. 224; ¶ battle of, Ui., Ll. 47 b; ¶ Sleibti in it, Ware's Script. 3; ¶ Carn Cind on r. Berba in M. A., Lec. 603, F. 182, Hk. 348, Of. 261; ¶ np. Maige Ailbi nr Lethglenn and Sliab Marce, Cs.; ¶ dp. issimmaigib Ailbe, It. i. 106; ¶ the place is called Campus Albus, Cs. 501, and is foolishly rendered Whitefield; ¶ Mag Ailbe extends fr. Slewmargy in Queen's Co., comprises parts of b. Idrone, Carl., and of Kilkee and Moone in Kild.; ¶ Belach Mugna now Ballaghmoone in N. Carl. is in it, Fy. 18; ¶ a famous council held here by Lasserian epscop Lethglinne, Cs. 409; ¶ Ailbe, son of Ugaine Mór, settled there, Lec. 585, Of. 261; ¶ others derive the name fr. Ailbe, Mac-Dátho's hound; ¶ in Campis Ailbe "Si diceres ut Mons Marce pro campis Ailbe, et Campi Ailbe in locum Montis Marce Commotarentur, fieret; ¶ " "si diceres Monti Marge se transferre in Campum Album, mox fieret," Cs. 409, 411, 502; ¶ this shows where the Synod of Mag Ailbe was held.

m. n-ailbe
primdingna Maige Breg; ¶ Moynalvy, p. Kilmore, b. Deece, Meath, M., Ui., Rst. 21.

m. ailbhe
Moyaliff p. in b. Kilnamanagh, c. Tipp., 5 m. W. of Thurles, Hb. 7 b, Fm. v. 1748, Ods. 674, Ai. 107, but Moynalvy, c. Tipp., Mi.; ¶ Moialvy in dry. and d. Cashel, Tax.; ¶ al. M. nAilbh, Ai. 63 b.

http://publish.ucc.ie/doi/locus/M

My interpretation is there was a Síl Briúin family in Leinster completely separate from the Uí Briúin in Connacht.

Thanks so much David, Maigh nAilbhe in southern Kildare would actually make sense. I found not only that the area was under the control of the Ui Bairrche on the southern frontier of the Laigin, but there was in fact an Ui Cuillin here, and an Ui Briuin in the Ui Bairrche genealogies

Uí Bairrche Maighe Ailbe (South and East Laois/West Carlow/South Kildare - Mag Ailbe comprises of the baronies of Slievemargy in Co. Laois, parts of Idrone in Co. Carlow, and Kilkee and Moone in Co. Kildare) Úi Briccne, Úi Cellaig, Úi Scatháin. In Glenn Uissen (Killeshin, co. Laois on the Carlow border) are the Úi Comathig, Úi Cuilíne (Cullen) and Úi Cutlacháin followers of Diarmait Glinni Uissen, Úi Máeláin. At Lethglind (Leighlin, Idrone, Co. Carlow) are the Úi Dobágu, Úi Fólachtáin. Among the Úi Cellaig (Or Úi Ellaig) in mMaigib Ailbe of the three plains, are the Úi Chommáin (Comane), Úi Gobbáin (Gowan), Úi Nárbotha, Síl Saichtha. According to the Life of St. Comgall, Cormac mac Diarmata (†567AD???) had a castle at Carlow town located on the banks of the river Barrow.
____________________
92. Brian (son of Eochu Guinech) a quo Úi Briúin (O’Brian or O’Brion). Síl n-Indercaig, Síl Mancháin (Monaghan), Síl Dinetáin, Úi Brandubáin (Braniff) and Úi Cellaig (Or Ellaig) belong to Úib Briúin. Úi (C)Ellaig in mMaigib Ailbe (said to be the men of the three plains), from Chenél nUcha in Úi Bairrche Tíre in Úi Cennselaig, are the vassals of the Úa mBriúin after a third of their territory had been taken by Úi Cendselaig. From Úi Cellaig are Blathmac (or Blait), father of Colmán (or Coluim), father of Caelbad, father of Cuach, who was the mother of Dunlaing, who had three sons, Illaind (†527AD), Ailill, Eochaid (or Dunlaing), who were three kings of Leinster according to Flann. Cuach was given three castles; Magen garbain, Achadhaibh/Ath daired & Tulach Ua mBaith which she gave to her brother, Caemán Airdne. (Is de asberar tri lemmend Cuache i nhGabuir. Co ruc mac cecha fectusa dona maccaib remaite et co tarta tri dune di dara n-esi .i. Magen Garbain, & Achad Dairig, et Tilach Ua mhBlait. Et Adropartsi na tri dúni sin dia brathair .i. do Choeman Shantlethan.) Brian had two sons

Although Sliabh Mairge was under the control of the Ui Bairrche, the other references to Maigh nAilbhe, including a paper written for the Kildare Historical & Archaological Society about Beallaghmoon, place it east of the river Barrow to the Wicklow mountains comprising all of Kilkea & Moone b. Co. Kildare and parts of Idrone, Co. Carlow. If the Ua Guaire in the annals and my A5902+ Ua Guaire are the same people, the slaying of Tadhg Ua Guaire in 1032 may explain the two large kin-groups, were these people originally interlopers that were eventually driven-out of Maigh nAilbhe? Fraher is the only kit in the southern cluster, and my TMRCA with Fraher was born no later than 1032, meaning his sons or grandsons would have been alive when Tadhg Ua Guaire, lord of Ui-Cuillin was slain by Dermot mac Mael-na-mBo

Taking this all into account and refocusing on placenames, the Tullygorey (Tulach Mhic Guaire) which was originally Clonardagaory (Cluain Ard Mhic Guaire) where Archbishop Allen names a church in 1219, is not only the earliest placename reference to the Ua Guaire, but is adjacent to a Ballycullane, and the border of Magh nAilbhe (if it didnt extend even further at some point). Since "Clongorey" referenced in an earlier post in Feighcullen p., is not noted until a 1562 Fiant, it is probably more likely Cluain Ui Guaire and not Cluain Guaire. Fiodh Cuilinn's placename may be just a coincidence or not associated with these people. Its also fascinating that the "Cullen"(Cuilinn/Choilean) placenames anglicized as "Cullane", which seems to have only occurred in South Leinster/Munster, however the surnames themselves show little or very scattered evidence of this, but it's certainly possible.

"Clean" Baptisms 1850s, only significant near Maigh nAilbhe. Unfortunately I found that too many Clean/Clain records I've come across in the past in Leinster were mistranscriptions of Clear/Clair, which was Anglo-Norman de Cléir

It would be interesting to ever make a connection with another DNA match of a different variant, however with the fact that my farming cluster is typical of a mercenary settlement "protecting the Pale"... As well as so many variants of Mac Giolla Eoin (MacGlone, McClune, McAloon) and Mac Giolla Eain (McLean, McGlean, McKilane) in the immediate area, barring any future matches to a different surname, I certainly appear to be an "NPE among mercenary kin group" origin. In the exact area of this map I can trace my ancestors to, the obsolete placename Loughgurry exists in the 1654 Civil Survey. My ancestors may have been O'Guaire well into the 17th century. And being that the Fraher surname has such a small "footprint" adjacent to the Quarry (Mac Guaire) surname, there may have been a Fearchair mac Guaire.

Chris,

Amazing work, but Connacht Uí Briúin in Leinster ~1000 AD seems somewhat unlikely to me. But who knows? It only takes one man, like we have seen in Sweden ~1450 AD from the Uí Fiachroí.