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Roots Archive

Roots: The O’Sullivans Past & Present

The O’Sullivan Clan of Munster has produced fine military leaders, sporting heroes, politicians, movie stars,…

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Roots: The O’Briens

The O’Briens are one of the great Gaelic families of Ireland, and were the rulers…

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Roots: Byrnes and O’Beirnes

The names O’Byrne and O’Beirne (or Byrne and Beirne) are often regarded as variants of…

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Roots: The Burkes
1998In This Issue 1997July August 1998 IssueRoots

Roots: The Burkes

By James G. Ryan

July/August 1997
Feb 14, 20254 min read
Burke (or Bourke) is one of the most popular Irish names of Norman origin. The name was introduced to Ireland through the person (and presumably extended family) of William Fitzadelm […]
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Roots: The O’Reillys
1997In This Issue 1997May June 1997Roots

Roots: The O’Reillys

By James G. Ryan

May/June 1997
Feb 8, 20254 min read
The O’Reilly family name is derived from the Gaelic “O’Raghailligh,” which means descendants of Raghaillach. The O’Reillys were the most powerful sept of the old Gaelic Kingdom of Breffny, and […]
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Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan
Fall 2024In This Issue 2024Roots

Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan

By James G. Ryan

Fall 2024
Oct 18, 20246 min read
The families of McMahon and O’Mahoney are related only by the common derivation of their names from the Irish name Mahon (in Gaelic Mathuna) which was a personal name, meaning […]
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Roots: Malone and Moloney
1998In This Issue 1998November December 1998 IssueRoots

Roots: Malone and Moloney

By James G. Ryan

November/December 1998
Sep 20, 20245 min read
This month’s pair of sound-alike names are Moloney and Malone. As with others that have been featured, they bear no relationship to each other. Moloney is derived from the Gaelic […]
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Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan
1998In This Issue 1998RootsSeptember October 1998 Issue

Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan

By James G. Ryan

September/October 1998
Sep 11, 20244 min read
The families of McMahon and O’Mahoney are related only by the common derivation of their names from the Irish name Mahon (in Gaelic Mathuna) which was a personal name, meaning […]
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Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon
1999April May 1999 IssueIn This Issue 1999Roots

Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon

By James G. Ryan

April / May 1999
Jun 13, 20244 min read
The origin of the names Phelan and Whelan is an excellent example of the vagaries of Anglicization of Irish names. Both of these names are derived from the same Gaelic […]
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