They came from Donegal. Legend says they are descended from the 5th-century Ulsterman Niall of the Nine Hostages, whose son Conall was baptized by St. Patrick. It is from Domhnaill (d.901), a descendant of that mythic Conall, that the family name, which has since been anglicized as O’Donnell, emerged. St. Patrick gave the O’Donnells their crest. According to the early 17th … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Donnells
Chris O'Donnell
Irish Roots : O’Donnell, McDonnell and Donnelly
These three names and others of a similar sound such as Donnellan and Donlon are sometimes confused, as spelling variations have occurred among emigrant families. They are, however, totally distinct, and indeed both the McDonnells and O'Donnells are made up of several distinct septs. The main branch of the O'Donnells, based in Donegal, is the most eminent of the Gaelic … [Read more...] about Irish Roots : O’Donnell, McDonnell and Donnelly
Circle of Friends
By Colin Lacey
March/April 1995
Scheduled for release later this month Circle of Friends the movie from the hugely popular novel of the same name by Maeve Binchy is reviewed by Colin Lacey. Near the beginning of Circle of Friends, college heartthrob Jack marvels at the forthright personality and self-awareness of fellow University College Dublin student Benny, the gauche young country girl whose life he … [Read more...] about Circle of Friends