Ó Maolchonaire, sometimes Ó Maoil Chonaire, sometimes Ó Mhaoil Chonaire, Ó Maolconaire, Uí Mhaoil Chonaire etc., was the surname of a family of professional poets and historians in medieval

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Traditionally it would have been spelled without the 'h', but with a dot over the 'c', either of which indicates aspiration. In a period prior to the surrender of the

Ó Conchubhair Donn The O'Conor dynasty (Middle Irish: ''Ó Conchobhair''; Modern ) are an Irish noble dynasty and formerly one of the most influential and distinguished royal dynasties in Ireland. The O'Conor family held the throne of the Kingdom of Connacht up ...

and the other Connacht chieftains, it was anglicised O'Mulconry. Specific families, particularly the educators, were systematically targeted as part of the plot to destroy the Irish culture and language, as well as the Catholic religion. This can add great confusion to researchers of this important literary and religious family. It is now rendered most commonly Conry, sometimes Conroy, and possibly sometimes King. There are many distinct groups of Conroys, some of whom also, though less commonly, use Conry, which are Anglicisations of disparate Irish Gaelic names.

Overview

A bardic family descended from Maine of Tethba, based in County Roscommon in

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

, many members of the Ó Maol Chonaire family were successive

Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh An or ollamh (; anglicised as ollave or ollav), plural ollomain, in early Irish literature, was a master in a particular trade or skill. Bard Generally, ''ollam'' referred to a professional poet or bard of literature and history, and a membe ...

to the

Síol Muireadaigh The Síol Muireadaigh or Síol Muireadhaigh (; Anglicized ''Sil Murray'' or ''Silmurray''), was a leading sept of the Connachta group of Gaelic dynasties in medieval Ireland. The name Síol Muireadaigh was also used to refer to the territory occu ...

and other Irish dynasties from the 12th to 17th centuries. Their principal seat was at Cluaine na-hOidhche near Strokestown and their primary patron was the Ó Conchobhair Donn, but they also served the MacDermot

Kings of Magh Luirg The Kings of or Moylurg were a branch of the , and a kindred family to the Kings of Connacht. Their ancestor, , was a brother to , King of Connacht 967–973, ancestor of the O Connor family of Connacht. is said to have made a deal of some natu ...

, among many of the other principal chieftains of the

, as well as various other dynasties throughout Ireland. As chiefly historians and poets of the royal variety, they had immense land holdings on account of their profession. In

Gaelic Ireland Gaelic Ireland () was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late Prehistory of Ireland, prehistoric era until the 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Norman invasi ...

the filídh and séanachie were held in high esteem, with the

Ollamh An or ollamh (; anglicised as ollave or ollav), plural ollomain, in early Irish literature, was a master in a particular trade or skill. Bard Generally, ''ollam'' referred to a professional poet or bard of literature and history, and a membe ...

considered to be of equal stature to the Ard-Rí.

Notability

Among their principal surviving works are the

Annals of Connacht The ''Annals of Connacht'' (), covering the years 1224 to 1544, are drawn from a manuscript compiled in the 15th and 16th centuries by at least three scribes, all believed to be members of the Clan Ó Duibhgeannáin. The early sections, commenc ...

, which covers the years 1224 to 1544. Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire was one of the "four masters" who were credited with compiling the

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

. The family was also responsible for the literary manuscript now known as

23 N 10 Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 N 10, formerly Betham 145, is a Gaelic– Irish medieval manuscript. Overview MS 23 N 10 is a late sixteenth-century Irish manuscript currently housed in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. It w ...

, and Egerton 1782. Students of the family included John de Burgh,

Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam ( ; ) is an Episcopal polity, archbishop which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Cathol ...

. In a much later period,

William J. Higgins William John Higgins (1880 – October 7, 1943) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's East in the House of Assembly from 1913 to 1928 as a member of the Newfoundland People's Party, Liberal Pr ...

, Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly, and leader of the Liberal-Labour-Progressive Party, was the student, law partner and protégé of Charles O'Neill Conroy, only son of

James Gervé Conroy James Gervé Conroy (April 12, 1836 – January 28, 1915) was an Ireland, Irish-born lawyer, judge and political figure in Colony of Newfoundland, Newfoundland. He represented Ferryland on the Irish Shore in the Newfoundland and Labrador Hou ...

. Flaithri Ó Maolconaire, also Florence Conry (Conroy, O'Mulconry), Irish Franciscan and theologian, founder of the College St. Anthony at Louvain, and Archbishop of Tuam.

Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh

* Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire, d. 1231 *

Máeleoin Bódur Ó Maolconaire Máeleoin Bódur Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He is the second of the family listed as t ...

, d. 1266 *

Dubsúilech Ó Maolconaire Dubsúilech Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He appears to have been chief ''ollamh'' of Conn ...

Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire was a member of the Ó Maolconaire family of Connacht, who served as historians and poets to the Síol Muireadaigh, and their rulers, the Ó Conchubhair Kings of Connacht. He became Ollamh in 1270, succeed ...

, 1270–1310 *

Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin (died 1375) was an irish people, Irish poet. Ó Domhnalláin was a member of the Donnellan, Ó Domhnalláin bardic family of Ui Maine (now south-west It is unknown if any examples of his work survive. Referenc ...

, ''Ollav of Sil-Murray in particular in poetry, and the most learned man in all Ireland in the same art, died of Fiolun'' in 1375 *

Tanaide Ó Maolconaire Tanaide Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh for an unknown number of years prior to his death in 1385. Tanaide Mor mac Dúinnín Ó Maolconaire, who died in 1310, was the only such ''Ollamh'' recorded in the annals for the 14th centur ...

, d. 1385 *

Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síl Muireadaigh from 1385 to 1404. Very little is known about Donnchad Baccach. The ''Annals of Connacht'' merely relate that he was ''Ollam of the Síol Muireadaigh in history.'' Given that all known past ...

, d. 1404 *

Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin was ''Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh'' for an unknown time in 1404. The annals record an unusual number of bardic deaths in 1404. Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire died, leaving the office of vacant. His death was f ...

, d. 1404 * Dauid mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, d. 1419 *

Cormac Ó Domhnalláin Cormac Ó Domhnalláin, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1436. The Annals of Connacht state: ''1436:Cormac O Domnallain, ollav of the Sil Murray in Poetry, died.'' Sources *''The Encyclopaedia of Ireland'' 2003; . * ''Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The ...

, d. 1436 * Mailin mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, d. 1441 * Sadhbh Ó Mailchonaire, d. 1447 *

Torna Ó Maolconaire Torna Ó Maolconaire was Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh from 1447- 1468. The Annals of Connacht, ''sub anno'' 1468, say of him: ''Torna O Mailchonaire, ollav of Sil Murray in History and Poetry, died after a victory of repentance in his own house ...

, d. 1468 *

Urard Ó Maolconaire Urard Ó Maolconaire, Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1482. The Annals of Connacht The ''Annals of Connacht'' (), covering the years 1224 to 1544, are drawn from a manuscript compiled in the 15th and 16th centuries by at least three scribes, al ...

, d. 1482 *

Sigraid Ó Maolconaire Sigraid Ó Maolconaire was the Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh, died 1487. The Annals of Connacht, ''sub anno'' 1487, state: * ''O Mailchonaire, that is Sigraid son of Sean Ruad, died.'' The later compilation known as the Annals of the Four Masters pr ...

, d. 1487 ** Mailin mac Torna Ó Maolconaire, d. 1519 ** Domhnall Ó Maolconaire, fl. 1487 * Torna mac Torna Ó Maolconaire, d. 1532 * Conchobar mac Domnall Ruad Ó Maolconaire, 1532–15?? * Muirges mac Paidin Ó Maolconaire, d. 1543 * Lochlainn mac Paidin Ó Maolconaire, d. 1551

Ó Maolchonaires in the Annals

* ''Néidhe Ó Maolchonaire, the historian, rested..'', 113
The Annals of Tigernach
* ''Maeleoin Bodar (the Deaf) O Mailchonaire took Cluain Bolcain this year'', 1232 * Dauid mac Tanaide Ó Maolconaire, 1404–1419 * ''Donnchadh Ua Mail-Conaire the Fair, namely, ollam of the Sil-Muiredhaigh in history, died this year.''

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luin� ...

, 1405 * Diarmait Ruad Ó Maolconaire, d. 1441 * Tanaide mac Mailin Ó Maolconaire, d. 1446 * Maelsechlainn mac Urard Ó Maolconaire, 1452 * Diarmait mac Domnall Ó Maolconaire, son of Domnall, son of Eoin, son of Sitrice Ruad, d. 1465 * ''M1487.9 Maurice, the son of Loughlin O'Mulconry, teacher of his own art poetry, died in Tirconnell, after a long illness, and after the victory of penance, and was interred at Donegal.'' * ''M1488.44 Mulconry, the son of Torna O'Mulconry, died of a short fit of sickness at Cluain-na-hoidhche.'' * ''M1489.40 Melaghlin, son of Loughlin O'Mulconry, died while on his bardic circuit through Munster.'' * ''M1495.17 Donnell O'Mulconry, Ollav of Sil-Murray, died; and two O'Mulconrys were set up in his place, namely, John, son of Torna, and Donough, son of Athairne.'' * ''M1506.10 Paidin O'Mulconry, only choice of Ireland in his time for history and poetry, died.'' * ''M1519.10 Maoilin, son of Torna O'Mulconry, OIlav of Sil-Murray, a man full of prosperity and learning, who had been selected by the Geraldines and English to be their Ollav, in preference to all the chief poets of Ireland, and who had obtained jewels and riches of all from whom he had asked them, died in Mainistir-derg in Teffia.'' * Lochlainn Ó Maolconaire * Cu Choicriche Ó Maolconaire * Sean Ó Maolconaire of Baile in Chuimine, fl. 1575 * Fintan mac Illann meic Dubhthach "''intended ollave of Síl-Muiredhaigh''," d. 1585 * Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire, fl. c. 1585 * Senchán, d. 1588 * John Ruadh mac Lochlainn meic Paidin, d. 1589

Later descendants of the Ó Maol Chonaires

John Conroy Sir John Ponsonby Conroy, 1st Baronet, KCH (21 October 1786 – 2 March 1854) was a British military officer best known for serving as comptroller to the Duchess of Kent and her young daughter, the future Queen Victoria. Born in Wales to Iri ...

, Welsh-born Protestant, absentee landlord, baronet and comptroller to the

Duchess of Kent Duchess of Kent is the principal Courtesy titles in the United Kingdom, courtesy title used by the wife of the Duke of Kent. There have been four titles referring to Kent since the 18th century. The current duchess is Katharine, Duchess of Kent ...

, rumored true father of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, lawyer, judge, and MHA for Ferryland and the Avalon Peninsula in

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

, leader of the

Anti-Confederation Party ''Anti-Confederation'' was the name used in what is now the Maritimes by several parties opposed to Canadian Confederation. The Anti-Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by the Confederation Party, that is, the Conservative and Libera ...

, founder and editor of the

Irish Catholic Irish Catholics () are an ethnoreligious group native to Ireland, defined by their adherence to Catholic Christianity and their shared Irish ethnic, linguistic, and cultural heritage.The term distinguishes Catholics of Irish descent, particul ...

newspaper Terra Nova Advocate

Genealogy

From 180.7, pp. 402–03,

Leabhar na nGenealach ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' ("Book of Genealogies") is a massive genealogical collection written mainly in the years 1649 to 1650, at the college-house of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway, by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. He continued to add m ...

, volume I. * ''Brian Óg s. Maoilín s. Torna s. Maoilín s. Tanaidhe s. Páidín s. Néidhe s. Conaing Buidhe s. Tanaidhe Eólach s. Conaing Eólach s. Tanaidhe s. Duinnín s. Dúnlang Consoileach s. Maol Póil s. Maoilín Mear s. Maol Conaire, from whom is the family, s. Flaithfhile s. Brógan s. Dubh Dhá Thuath s. Flann s. Maol Dúin s. Forannán s. Ainmhire s. Criomthann s. Brian s. Maine s.

Niall Niall is a male given name of Irish origin. The original meaning of the name is unknown, but popular modern sources have suggested that it means "champion" (derived from the Old Irish word ''niadh''). According to John Ryan, Professor of Early and ...

.''

References

Notes

Sources

* ''The learned family of Ó Maolconaire'',

Paul Walsh (priest) Paul Walsh (; 19 June 1885 – 18 June 1941) was an Irish priest and historian. Life and career Walsh was the eldest of the five sons and three daughters born to Michael Walsh and Brigid Gallagher of Ballina (aka Balliea), in the parish of Mull ...

, ''Catholic Bulletin'' 26 (1936), pp. 835–42. * ''The O'Maolconaire family'',

Edmund Curtis Edmund CurtisIrish: ''Éamon Cuirtéis'' (1881–1943), was born in Lancashire to Irish parents. He worked in a rubber factory until he was 15 when he continued with his education. His education was paid for through donations when it was heard ...

, ''Journal of the

Galway Archaeological and Historical Society The Galway Archaeological and Historical Society was founded on 21 March 1900. It promotes historical preservation, as well as the study of the archaeology and history of the west of Ireland. As of January 2002, the Society had published 53 cons ...

'' 19 (1941), pp. 118–46. * ''The O Maolconaire family: a note'', E. de Lacy Staunton, ''J.G.A. & H. S.'' 20 (1942), pp. 82–88. * '' Ballymulconry and the Mulconrys'', M. J. Connellan, ''Irish Ecclesiastical Record'' 5th series, 90 (1958), pp. 322–30 * ''Marbhna ar Mhuiris Mac Torna Uí Mhaoilchonaire'', Réamann Ó Muireadhaigh, ''Eigse'' 15:3 (1974), pp. 295–21. * ''A New History of Ireland VIII: A Chronology of Irish History to 1976 – A Companion to Irish History Part I'' edited by T. W. Moody, F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, 1982. * ''Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family'' Dermot Mac Dermot, 1996. * ''The Celebrated Antiquary'' Nollaig O Muralie, Maynooth, 1996. * ''The Encyclopaedia of Ireland'' 2003; . * ''Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages'' Fr. Paul Walsh, 2004. (ed. Nollaig O Muralie). * '' Muirgheas Ó Maolconaire of Cluain Plocáin: an early sixteenth-century Connacht scribe at work'', Bernadette Cunningham and Raymond Gillespie, ''Studia Hibernica'' 35 (2008–09), pp. 17–43. * ''The Uí Mhaoilchonaire of

Thomond Thomond ( Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the Kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nena ...

'', Brian Ó Dálaigh, unpublished lecture delivered at Tionól, DIAS, 29 Nov. 2008. * '' Fearfeasa Ó Maolconaire'', in ''Dictionary of Irish biography'' (9 vols,

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

, 2009) * '' Muiris Ó Maolconaire'', in ''Dictionary of Irish biography'' (9 vols,

, 2009) * ''"The Annals of the Four Masters: Irish history, kingship and society in the early seventeenth century'', pp. 50–2, 244; 255–67, 286; 262–3; 263–8, 285; 256; also pp. 344–5,

Bernadette Cunningham Bernadette is a French name, a female form of the name Bernard, which means "brave bear". Notable persons with the name include: People * Bernadette (singer) (born 1959), Dutch singer * Bernadette Allen (born 1956), American foreign service ...

Four Courts Press Four Courts Press is an independent Irish academic publishing house, with its office at Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Founded in 1970 by Michael Adams, who died in February 2009, its early publications were primarily theological, notably ...

, 2010. .

External links

List of Published Texts at CELT
–

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) () is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork (city), Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Universit ...

's ''Corpus of Electronic Texts''
Ria.ie – Journals – Eiru
{{DEFAULTSORT:O Maolconaire Surnames of Irish origin Gaelic-Irish nations and dynasties Irish Brehon families Irish-language surnames Families of Irish ancestry