At this point, it might be a good idea to give some more information about the Annals of the Four Masters which has been mentioned more than once. For excellent background information on the writing of the Annals and those involved, go to: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online where you will find fourteen choices to select from, one of them titled Annals of the four Masters. They were translated from Old Irish, Middle Irish and Latin by John O'Donovan (1809-1861) and consist of six volumes. For more information re O'Donovan and other Celtic scholars, go to the same site.



Extracts from the Annals are online through that site or at: http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~jdana/irehist.html. Both of these sites have a wealth of data on all things Irish Celtic; a student of history will find it hard to stay away from these rich sources.



Many researchers of particular septs or clans have found it helpful to excerpt those parts of the Annals which specifically mention their ancestors, and compile them. James J. Duignan has done that also re his own sept.



The earliest record of an O Duigeannain in the Irish Annals occurs at A.D. 1296. It reads: Maoil Peadair O Duigeannain, Archdeacon of Breifne, quievet in Christo-rested in Christ.



At A.D. 1323, we find the entry: Giolla Patraice O Duigeannain, a learned historian, and his son Lucas, were slain by Conchobair Mag-Uidhir.



1347 A.D. - Fionuala, daughter of MacFinghin, wife of Ferghal O Duigeannain, the best woman in Eirinn in her own sphere, as the wife of a learned man, died this year.


1357 A.D. - Ferghal Muimhnech O Duigeannain, Airchinnech (erenagh) of Cill Ronain, in Christo quievit-rested in Christ. He was a doctor of learning and a Warden of church lands.



Note that the spelling of the surname is already shortened at this time, and spellings for church-Kil/Cill-vary. You'll see this with other words along the way; there was a kind of fluidity in language, and therefore spelling, moving
from Old Irish to Middle Irish, with a little Latin thrown in for good measure.

1357 A.D. - Clement o Duigeannain, Vicar of Cill Ronain, quievit in Christo-rested in Christ. He was known as Sagart na Sionnach-Priest of the Foxes. The Foxes were Chiefs of Teffia , which comprised Westmeath and also parts of County Longford. Granard is in N. Teffia, Ardagh is in S. Teffia.

1362 A.D. - Cu-Connacht O Duigeannain, Vicar of Cill Ronain rested in Christ. The name Cu-Connacht-the Champion of Connacht-is common among the old Irish families of Connacht and Ulster.


1381 A.D. - Lasairiona, daughter of Ferghal O Duigeannain, wife of O Mithin (Meehan), of Bealach ui Mithin, died. Ballaghameehan-is a parish in the diocese of Kilmore, Co. Leitrim. O'Donovan wrote in 1834 that an O Meehan still farmed the church lands of St. Mogue. Indeed there are many Meehan connections to the O Duigeannains over the centuries.


1398 A.D. - David O Duigeannain, Coarb of the Virgin St. Lasair, chief chronicler of MacDiarmuda (MacDermott) and his great favorite, a hospitaller for all comers of Eirinn in general, a reverend attendant of a nobleman, and one that never refused anyone for anything he had until his death, died in his house and was interred in the Church of Cill Ronan.

1426 A.D. - O Duigeannain of Cill Ronan, i.e.Philip, Mac David died. He was ollamh in History to the Clann Maolruanaigh-the MacDiarmuda and MacDonehadha families.


1432 A.D. - O Duigeannain of Cill Ronan, a learned professor of History, died. This was Matthew Glas, son of Ferghal Muimhneach (the Munsterman).



1466 A.D. - O Duigeannain of Cill Ronan, i.e. Dubhach, son of Matthew Glas, ollamh of Muintir Maolrunaigh, a learned historian, who maintained an open house of hospitality, died.



This will be continued in the next segment. Check those sites mentioned above, they're really good!