Feely (Irish:Ó Fithcheallaigh) is anIrish Gaelic clan or family from northernConnacht, Ireland, primarily the counties ofSligo,Roscommon andLeitrim. They are a member of theSíol Muireadaigh, a tribal confederation of clans that descend from a common ancestor. The Síol Muireadaigh are the leading group of theUí Briúin Ai, who ruled Connacht for over 700 years with only one exception. The Síol Muireadaigh claim descent fromMuiredach Muillethan (meaning the broad-crowned sea warrior) King of Connacht (died 702). The Feely family are closely linked with theO'Conor Don family and share the same clan crest, only without the motto.[1]
The Feely clan has a long history of enlistment with theConnaught Rangers ("The Devil's Own') ofBoyle, Roscommon. A Feely is noted as being involved in the Connaught Rangers Mutiny in India of 1920, saying to Captain LC. Badham "Private Feely said to me 'You are not going to shoot down any more innocent unarmed Irishmen' or words to that effect.". The mutiny was in response to the many atrocities being committed by the British army in Ireland during theWar of Independence.[2] Many Feelys lived in Boyle and continue to live there today. Feelystone, a stone masonry business open since 1780, was founded by Christy Feely.[3]
James E. Feely is noted as being involved in one of the first engagements of the Irish war of Independence, an Irish Republican Brotherhood raider during the Rockingham raid.[4] Henry J. Feely is noted as being a Prisoner of War and Commandant of the Irish Republican Army. Many Feelys were active in the IRA and IRB during the War of Independence. Colonel Peter Feely was one of three platoon commanders in the now infamousSiege of Jadotville during theUnited Nations Operation in the Congo of 1961.[5]
Anglicized versions of the originalÓ Fithcheallaigh spelling include but are not limited to Feeley, Feely, O'Feely, O'Feeley, Fehilly, O'Fehilly, and Field.
