While Muhammad Ali's biographer, Thomas Hauser, established some years ago that Ali's great-grandfather was Abe Grady from County Clare, the Heritage Centre in Corofin, County Clare, has now established that Grady was an Ennis man. Born in the 1840s, Grady settled in Kentucky and married an African-American woman. Their son also married an African-American woman and the … [Read more...] about Ali’s Irish Roots
Irish roots
Irish Roots: The McNamaras
The hotel lobby buzzed with conversation. Irish inflections mingled with accents from New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada, and various parts of the U.S. And above the hum the name would grab my ear. "McNamara." "McNamara." As a reflex, I'd ram. And almost instantly smile and shake my head, laughing to myself at how often I kept doing that. Back in America, if I heard my … [Read more...] about Irish Roots: The McNamaras
The Origins of
The Clan McNamara
The roots of the McNamara family are in the distant past of Thomond, the region of Ireland that today is known as County Clare. By the 11th century the sept (or clan) had become the Lords of Clancullen, the territory comprising most of East Clare. The Irish form of the surname, MacConmara, which means "son of the hound of the sea," eventually evolved into the two most common … [Read more...] about The Origins of
The Clan McNamara
Anjelica’s Irish Memories
Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston spent part of her youth in Craughwell, Co. Galway where her father, legendary movie director John Huston, owned an estate called St. Clerans. Anjelica lived with her mother and younger brother Tony, in what was known as the estate's "little house," and the place still seems to have a place in her heart. Some ten years ago, Anjelica brought … [Read more...] about Anjelica’s Irish Memories
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