O'Leary is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Laoghaire, meaning "descendant of Laoghaire"—a personal name often interpreted as "keeper of the calves" or "calf herder." The name is historically associated with a prominent family lineage in County Cork, Ireland, where the O'Learys were chieftains in the ancient kingdom of Munster. Over time, individuals bearing the O'Leary surname have become notable in various fields such as politics, military service, literature, and religion, both in Ireland and abroad.

History

Ancient

The Uí Laoghaire clan, today associated with the Uibh Laoghaire parish in

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

, is considered by scholars to have originated in the early Middle Ages on the south-west coast, in the area of Ros Ó gCairbre ( Rosscarbery), of which the O'Leary were hereditary lords. The Annals of Innisfallen (Dublin copy) records St. Fachtna's ( Saint Fachanan) death in 600 AD as occurring in "O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-Laeghaire Ruis". The clan traces its lineage to Lugaid Mac Con, an ancient King of Tara and

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...

, and descendant of Dáire Doimthech. In the 12th century the O'Leary's were recognised hereditary wardens of St Fachtna's monastery and seat of higher learning, the School of Ross. In more recent times (since 1300 AD), the clan, of the

Corcu Loígde The Corcu Loígde (Corcu Lóegde, Corco Luigde, Corca Laoighdhe, Laidhe), meaning Gens of the Calf Goddess, also called the Síl Lugdach meic Itha, were a kingdom centred in West County Cork who descended from the proto-historical rulers of M ...

, was pushed north and settled in an area west of

Macroom Macroom (; ) is a market town in County Cork, Ireland, located in the valley of the River Sullane, halfway between Cork (city), Cork city and Killarney. Its population has grown and receded over the centuries as it went through periods of war, ...

around Inchigeelagh called Uibh Laoghaire (or Uibh Laoire in modern Irish – the 'gh' is silent in the old Irish). Their presence in the area is marked by a four story stone tower house called Carrignacurra Castle, which was built on a rocky outcrop on the south bank of the River Lee in the late 16th century, a mile east of Inchigeelagh. The Corcu Loígde were the rulers of

Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

, and of territories beyond the province, before the rise of the

Eóganachta The Eóganachta (Modern , ) were an Irish dynasty centred on Rock of Cashel, Cashel which dominated southern Ireland (namely the Kingdom of Munster) from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of De ...

in the 7th century. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Learys were one of the chiefly families of the Corca Laoghdne tribe who in turn came from the Erainn tribe who were the second wave of

Celts The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...

to settle in Ireland from 500 to 100 BC. The port of Dún Laoghaire, near Dublin is not associated with the O'Leary sept(s), rather it is named for Lóegaire mac Néill, a 5th-century High King of Ireland. The book of Lecan (A.D. 1397-A.D. 1418) details the early status of O'Leary as a Corco Laide ''taisach duchusa'' (hereditary chieftain) in the tuath of Ross (Ruis), with associated families:

Tuath Ruis .i. Tuath in Dolaich, o Loch in Bricin co Faid Ruis -, o Thraig Long co Sid na Fear (i) Find. O Leagaire a taisach duchusa. Is iad so an oclaid duchusa .i. O Ruaidri -, O Lonan -, O Laidid -, O Torpa -, O hUrmoltaich -, O Mirin -, O Meic Dairic -, O Tuaraide -, O Trena -, O hUainidi -, O Cerdin

The name also occurs in the Cineal Laoghaire branch of the Eoghanacht dynasty which later came to dominate Munster. With the unrelated Corco Laidhe and Eoghanacht branches of O'Learys settling in north-west Cork and nearby Kerry respectively, the tracing of lineage is complex.

Modern

Although almost nothing is known of their activities for several centuries, the O'Learys reappear as a still titled family in the 16th century, and relatively wealthy, although they were subject to the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, from whom they received the White Wand (a symbol of authority).Ó Murchadha, p. 208 They were the only other freeholders in Muskerry besides the O'Mahonys, and had built several castles in their territories, including Carraignaneelagh, Drumcarragh and Carrignacurra, of which Carrignacurra is the only one still standing. The celebrated Irish language writer Peadar Ua Laoghaire was a descendant of the Carrignacurra branch of the family. Auliffe O'Leary joined the side of Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone in the

Nine Years' War The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...

, from the very inception of it, and took the field with William Bourke (

Clanricarde Clanricarde ( ), also known as Mac William Uachtar (Upper Mac William) or the Galway Burkes, were a fully Gaelicised branch of the Hiberno-Norman House of Burgh who were important landowners in Ireland from the 13th to the 20th centuries. Terr ...

) and others. For this the chiefs of the O'Learys were eventually attained, and their lands parceled out, but because of the remoteness of their territory it was never carried out, and they remained safe there until the Cromwellian confiscations decades later.

Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty Sir Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty (1594–1665), was an Irish soldier and politician. He succeeded his father as 2nd Viscount Muskerry in 1641. He rebelled against the government and joined the Irish Catholic Confederation, deman ...

did however appear to do his best to allow them to stay on their lands through leasing. The family became much more scattered during the later

Williamite War in Ireland The Williamite War in Ireland took place from March 1689 to October 1691. Fought between Jacobitism, Jacobite supporters of James II of England, James II and those of his successor, William III of England, William III, it resulted in a Williamit ...

. As an example of their wealth and capacity in the mid-16th century, an early O'Leary of Carrignacurra is purported to be the fosterer of Donnel na g croiceann, or Donnel of the Hides, ancestor of the modern O'Donovans of Clan Cahaill. His daughter Ellen married Donnell. Their issue was Donnell II O'Donovan. The last O'Leary lord of the Old Gaelic order was Donal MacArt O'Leary (1575–1657).Donal MacArt O'Leary
by Peter O'Leary

People

Military

* Art Ó Laoghaire (d 1773), Austro-Hungarian army officer ** His wife Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, composed " Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire" *

Daniel Florencio O'Leary Daniel Florence O'Leary (; 14 February 1801 – 24 February 1854) was a general, military general and aide-de-camp under Simón Bolívar. Life O'Leary was born in Cork (city), Cork, Ireland; his father was Jeremiah O'Leary, a butter merchant. ...

(1802–1854), military general under Simon Bolivar * Michael John O'Leary (1890–1961), Irish-Canadian recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

* William O'Leary (British Army officer), Deputy Commander Field Army (British Army) Bernard F O’Leary (British Army) Donald B O’Leary (British Army)

Religion

* Arthur O'Leary (preacher) (1729–1802), Irish Franciscan and polemical writer * Francis O'Leary MBE (1931–2000), founded the St Joseph's Hospice Association * Henry Joseph O'Leary (1879–1938), Bishop of Charlottetown and Archbishop of Edmonton * Louis James O'Leary (1877–1930), 6th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown

Poetry and literature

* John O'Leary (Fenian) (1830–1907), Irish poet who was imprisoned in England * Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire (1774–1849), Irish poet * Peadar Ua Laoghaire (1839–1920), Irish writer in Irish and Catholic priest * P. I. O'Leary (1888–1944), Australian poet and journalist

Politics and law

* Brendan O'Leary, Irish political scientist * Clement O'Leary, Canadian member of Parliament * Cornelius O'Leary, Irish historian and political scientist * Denis O'Leary (1863–1943), New York politician *

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (; born 8 February 1989) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since the 2016 general election. Ó Laoghaire is from Togher, Cork. As a youth, he w ...

(born 1989)

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

for

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...

* Grattan O'Leary (1888–1976), Canadian journalist and Senator * Harriet Wright O'Leary (1916-1999), American teacher and politician and first woman to serve on the tribal council of the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Choctaw language, Choctaw: ''Chahta Okla'') is a Indian reservation, Native American reservation occupying portions of southeastern Oklahoma in the United States. At roughly , it is the second-largest reservation ...

* Hazel R. O'Leary (born 1937), former

United States Secretary of Energy The United States secretary of energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the Cabinet of the United States and fifteenth in the United States presidential line of succession, presidential line of succession. The po ...

* Henry O'Leary, Irish-born businessman and political figure in New Brunswick * Hugh O'Leary (born 1974), English accountant and husband of

Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...

* Humphrey O'Leary (1886–1953), 7th Chief Justice of New Zealand * James A. O'Leary, member of the United States House of Representatives from New York * Jean O'Leary, American gay and lesbian rights activist, politician, and former nun * John O'Leary (ambassador) (1947–2005), mayor of Portland, Maine, and United States ambassador to Chile * John O'Leary (Kerry politician) (1933–2015), former Irish Fianna Fáil party politician and TD for Kerry South * John O'Leary (Wexford politician) (1894–1959), former Irish Labour party politician and TD for Wexford * Joseph V. O'Leary, NYS Comptroller 1941–1942 and founding member of the Liberal Party of New York *

Kevin O'Leary (judge) Kevin Fredrick O'Leary Queen's Counsel, QC (19 February 1920 – 3 August 2015) was the second Chief Justice of the Northern Territory, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. He was appointed to that position on 12 Se ...

(1920–2015), 2nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory * Michael O'Leary (politician) (1936–2006), former leader of the Irish Labour Party * Seán O'Leary (Irish politician) (1941–2006), former Irish senator * William O'Leary (Irish politician) (died 1955), Irish Fianna Fáil politician and TD for Kerry

Journalism and activism

* Émile-Dostaler O'Leary (1908–1965), Canadian journalist and writer * Grattan O'Leary (1888–1976), Canadian journalist and Senator * Jeremiah O'Leary, American journalist * John O'Leary (journalist), editor of the Times Higher Education Supplement *

Olivia O'Leary Olivia O'Leary (born 1949) is an Irish people, Irish journalist, writer and current affairs presenter. Education Educated at St Leo's College, Carlow and at University College Dublin (UCD), she worked with the The Nationalist (Carlow), ''Natio ...

, Irish journalist * P. I. O'Leary (1888–1944), Australian poet and journalist. * Walter-Patrice O'Leary (1910–1989), Canadian journalist, political activist and trade unionist

Arts and entertainment

* Arthur O'Leary (composer) (1834–1919), Irish composer and pianist *

Dermot O'Leary Seán Dermot O'Leary (born 24 May 1973) is a British-Irish broadcaster. He presented the television talent show ''The X Factor'' on ITV from 2007 until its final series in 2018, with the exception of 2015. Since 2021, O'Leary has presented ITV' ...

(born 1973), English television and radio presenter * Fletcher O'Leary, Australian child actor * Jane O'Leary (born 1946), American-Irish avantgarde composer * Karen O'Leary New Zealand comedian and television and film actress * Mary O'Leary (producer), American television producer * Matt O'Leary, American actor * Michael O'Leary (actor) (born 1958), in American soap opera ''Guiding Light'' * Patrick O'Leary (writer) (born 1952), American science fiction writer * Tim O'Leary, fictional character in the British soap opera ''Brookside'' *

Ursula O'Leary Ursula O'Leary (Birmingham, 10 March 1926 – 17 May 1993) was an English stage, radio and television actor.Deaths, The Times, 19 May 1993 O'Leary graduated in stage management from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in 1948. Her stage ...

, English actress * William O'Leary (actor), American actor

Sport

* Amanda O'Leary, American lacrosse coach * Bob O'Leary, American soccer player * Charley O'Leary (1882–1941), American baseball player * Clare O'Leary, first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest * Clare O'Leary (cricketer) * Dan O'Leary, American baseball player * Daren O'Leary, English rugby union player * David O'Leary, English-born Irish football (soccer) manager formerly of Aston Villa *

George O'Leary George Joseph O'Leary (born August 17, 1946) is a former American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1994 to 2001 and the UCF Knights from 2004 to 20 ...

(born 1946), American college football coach * John O'Leary (Gaelic footballer) * Kieran O'Leary, Irish Gaelic footballer * Kristian O'Leary, Welsh football (soccer) player * Mike O'Leary, American curler * Noel O'Leary, Irish footballer * Peter O'Leary (referee), New Zealand football (soccer) referee * Pierce O'Leary, Irish footballer * Pierce O'Leary (boxer) (born 2000), Irish boxer * Ryan O'Leary, Scottish footballer *

Seánie O'Leary Seán O'Leary (25 February 1952 – 1 December 2021) was an Irish Hurling, hurler who played as a left corner-forward at senior level for the Cork county hurling team, Cork county team. Career Born in Youghal, County Cork, Munster, O'Leary fir ...

(1952–2021), Irish hurler * Stephen O'Leary, English-born Irish footballer * Tomás O'Leary (born 1983), Irish rugby union player * Troy O'Leary (born 1969), American baseball player

Other

* Brian O'Leary, American "scientist-astronaut" *

Catherine O'Leary Catherine O'Leary (née Donegan; March 1827 – July 3, 1895) was an Irish immigrant living in Chicago, Illinois, who became famous when it was alleged that an accident involving her cow had started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Born Catherine ...

(1827–1895), owner of the property in which it was alleged the Great Chicago Fire started * Ciarán O'Leary, Irish professional poker player practicing in the USA * Daniel O'Leary (mobster), Irish American mobster * James Patrick O'Leary (c. 1860–1926), American mobster * Kevin O'Leary (entrepreneur), Canadian entrepreneur and venture capitalist * Michael O'Leary (Ryanair), CEO of the low-cost Irish airline Ryanair

Places

*Uibh Laoghaire, parish around Inchigeelagh, in

, Ireland. *

Dún Laoghaire Dún Laoghaire ( , ) is a suburban coastal town in County Dublin in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. The town was built up alongside a small existing settlement following 1816 legislation th ...

, Dublin, Ireland – Name means "Fort of Leary". * O'Leary, Prince Edward Island *Plaza O’Leary – major square in

Caracas Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

. Named for

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oleary Surnames Irish families Clíodhna