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O'Leary is an Irish surname derived from the GaelicÓ Laoghaire, meaning "descendant of Laoghaire"—a personal name often interpreted as "keeper of the calves" or "calf herder." The name is historically associated with a prominent family lineage in County Cork, Ireland, where the O'Learys were chieftains in the ancient kingdom of Munster. Over time, individuals bearing the O'Leary surname have become notable in various fields such as politics, military service, literature, and religion, both in Ireland and abroad.
The Uí Laoghaire clan, today associated with the Uibh Laoghaire parish inCounty Cork, is considered by scholars[1][2] to have originated in the early Middle Ages on the south-west coast, in the area of Ros Ó gCairbre (Rosscarbery), of which the O'Leary were hereditary lords.[3]
The Annals of Innisfallen (Dublin copy) records St. Fachtna's (Saint Fachanan) death in 600 AD as occurring in "O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-Laeghaire Ruis".[4] The clan traces its lineage toLugaid Mac Con, an ancientKing of Tara andHigh King of Ireland, and descendant ofDáire Doimthech. In the 12th century the O'Leary's were recognised hereditary wardens of St Fachtna's monastery and seat of higher learning, theSchool of Ross.[5] In more recent times (since 1300 AD), the clan, of theCorcu Loígde, was pushed north and settled in an area west ofMacroom aroundInchigeelagh calledUibh Laoghaire (orUibh Laoire in modern Irish – the 'gh' is silent in the old Irish). Their presence in the area is marked by a four story stone tower house calledCarrignacurra Castle, which was built on a rocky outcrop on the south bank of theRiver Lee in the late 16th century, a mile east of Inchigeelagh.[6]
The Corcu Loígde were the rulers ofMunster, and of territories beyond the province, before the rise of theEóganachta in the 7th century. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Learys were one of the chiefly families of theCorca Laoghdne tribe who in turn came from theErainn tribe who were the second wave ofCelts to settle in Ireland from 500 to 100BC.[7] The port of Dún Laoghaire, near Dublin is not associated with the O'Leary sept(s), rather it is named for Lóegaire mac Néill, a 5th-century High King of Ireland.
The book of Lecan (A.D. 1397-A.D. 1418) details the early status of O'Leary as a Corco Laidetaisach duchusa (hereditary chieftain) in the tuath of Ross (Ruis), with associated families:
Tuath Ruis .i. Tuath in Dolaich, o Loch in Bricin co Faid Ruis -, o Thraig Long co Sid na Fear (i) Find. O Leagaire a taisach duchusa. Is iad so an oclaid duchusa .i. O Ruaidri -, O Lonan -, O Laidid -, O Torpa -, O hUrmoltaich -, O Mirin -, O Meic Dairic -, O Tuaraide -, O Trena -, O hUainidi -, O Cerdin[8]
The name also occurs in the Cineal Laoghaire branch of the Eoghanacht dynasty which later came to dominate Munster.[9] With the unrelated Corco Laidhe andEoghanacht branches of O'Learys settling in north-west Cork and nearby Kerry respectively, the tracing of lineage is complex.
Although almost nothing is known of their activities for several centuries, the O'Learys reappear as a still titled[10] family in the 16th century, and relatively wealthy, although they were subject to theMacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, from whom they received theWhite Wand (a symbol of authority).[11] They were the only other freeholders in Muskerry besides theO'Mahonys,[12] and had built several castles in their territories, including Carraignaneelagh, Drumcarragh and Carrignacurra, of whichCarrignacurra is the only one still standing.[13] The celebrated Irish language writerPeadar Ua Laoghaire was a descendant of the Carrignacurra branch of the family.[14]
Auliffe O'Leary joined the side ofHugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone in theNine Years' War, from the very inception of it, and took the field with William Bourke (Clanricarde) and others.[11] For this the chiefs of the O'Learys were eventuallyattained, and their lands parceled out, but because of the remoteness of their territory it was never carried out, and they remained safe there until theCromwellian confiscations decades later.Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty did however appear to do his best to allow them to stay on their lands through leasing.[15] The family became much more scattered during the laterWilliamite War in Ireland.
As an example of their wealth and capacity in the mid-16th century, an early O'Leary of Carrignacurra[16] is purported to be the fosterer ofDonnel na g croiceann, or Donnel of the Hides, ancestor of the modernO'Donovans of Clan Cahaill. His daughter Ellen married Donnell. Their issue wasDonnell II O'Donovan.
The last O'Leary lord of the Old Gaelic order was Donal MacArt O'Leary (1575–1657).[17]
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