Irish America

Irish America

James G. Ryan

Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan

By James G. Ryan

Fall 2024

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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 a bear. The O’Mahoney or Mahony name is derived from Mathuna, a grandson of Brian Boru. The family were the Eoganacht, the regal dynasty of Munster and were one of the most prominent of West Munster. … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan

Roots: The Connolly Family

By James G. Ryan

August / September 1999

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The Connolly family are an ancient sept of Ireland's western province of Connacht. The Gaelic form of the name is O'Conghaile. The original sept dispersed and in time three separate families developed based in Cork, Meath and Monaghan. However, the name is mainly found in Monaghan and in its native Connaught where it is sometimes spelled Connelly. There is also an unrelated … [Read more...] about Roots: The Connolly Family

Roots: The O’Neill Family

By James G. Ryan

June / July 1999

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There are several different septs of the O'Neills in County Clare (where the name is also spelled O'Nihill), in Waterford and in Carlow. The most famous of the O'Neills, however, are the O'Neills of Tyrone, in the province of Ulster. The name in Gaelic means descendant of Neil or Niall, which was, and still is, a popular personal name in Ireland. In the U.S. the name is … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Neill Family

Roots: The Brady Family

By James G. Ryan

February / March 1999

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The Brady family name derives from the Gaelic McBradaigh which was originally anglicized as McBrady, but the "Mc" is very seldom used in modern times. The vast majority of this power clan of Breffny, now the County of  Cavan, come from Ulster. A smaller group of Bradys (formally O'Brady) come from County Clare. The Bradys were a gentler sort and their prominent kinsmen have … [Read more...] about Roots: The Brady Family

Roots: The O’Neills

By James G. Ryan

January/February 1997

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There are several different septs of the O'Neills in Counties Clare (where the name is also spelt O'Nihill), Waterford and Carlow. The most famous of the O'Neills, however, are the O'Neills of Tyrone, in the province of Ulster. The name in Gaelic means descendant of Neil or Niall, which was, and still is, a popular personal name in Ireland. In the U.S. the name is sometimes … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Neills