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O'Hart provides this text as part of his Heremon Genealogies
and provides generation numbers [e.g. 92.] with Heremon as generation # 37
(see cautionary notes)
O'Rourke, Princes of West Brefney
Feargna, a younger brother of Eochaidh Tiormach, was the ancestor of O'Roairc; anglicized O'Rourke, O'Rorke, O'Ruarc, Rourke, Rooke, and Rorke.
Feargna [92.], son of Fergus, had two sons -- 1. Hugh Fionn [93.], and 2. Brunan (by some incorrectly written "Brennan"). Fergus [91.], father of Feargna, was the son of Muiredach [90.] and grandson of Eoghan Sreibh [89.] and great-grandson of Duach [88.], the 5th Christian King of Connacht.
[begin page 748] 1. Hugh Fionn had a son named [94.] Scanlan, who had a son named [95.] Crimhthann, who in turn had a son named [96.] Felim. Felim's son was named [97.] Blamhach, who had a son named [98.] Baothan, who in turn had a son named [99.] Donchadh. Donchadh's son was named [100.] Dubhdara, who had a son named [101.] Cobthach (by some called Carnachan), who in turn had a son named [102.] Aodh (or Hugh). Aodh had a younger brother named Maelmordha (or Myles), who was the ancestor of O'Reilly, lords and princes of East Brefney, now the county Cavan.
Aodh's son [103.] Tighearnan (or Tiernan) was prince or lord of West Brefney; which contained the three lower baronies of the county of Leitrim. Tighearnan had 12 sons, the twelfth and youngest son named [104.] Roarc ("ro:" Irish, very; "arc," swift, small), a quo O'Roairc, by some written O'Ruairc. Roarc died in A.D. 893 leaving a son named [105.] Art (or Arthur), who in turn had a son named [106.] Feargal Sean ("sean;" Irish, old). Feargal Sean was the 39th Christian King of Connaught, who died in 954, leaving a son named [107.] Hugh. Hugh had a brother named Art Coileach ("coil-each:" Irish, a cock), a quo O'Coileaigh, anglicized Colly.
Hugh, brother of Art Coileach, had a son named [108.] Arthur the Righteous, King of Connaught, who was slain in 1046. Arthur (the Righteous) had a son named [109.] Hugh who was slain in 1077. Hugh, son of Arthur, had a son named [110.] Niall (or Neil), who in turn had a son named [111.] Uailarg ("uail:" Irish, a wailing, Lat. "ulu-latio." and "arg," Irish, milk. Uailarg had, among others, two sons named 1. [112.] Tiernan and 2. Donal. Donal was the ancestor of another MacTighearnain family, of Brefney. Uailarg's eldest son Tiernan married Dearvogal; daughter of Murcha, the last king of Meath: that Dearvogal, whose abduction by Dermod MacMurrough, King of Leinster, was the ostensible occasion of the invasion of Ireland by King Henry the Second of England.
Tiernan, son of Uailarg, had a son named [113.] Donal, who was the last Prince of West Brefney. The O'Rourkes were inaugurated as princes of Brefney at a place called Cruachan O'Cuprain, supposed to be Croaghan, near Killeshandra. Donal had a son named [114.] Fergal, lord of West Brefney.
Fergal, son of Donal, had a son named [115.] Donal who was lord of West Brefney. This Donal had five brothers, the fifth of whom, Congal, was the ancestor of MacNeill and McNeill, modernized Neilson, and Nelson. Donal, son of Fergal, had a son named [116.] Arthur who had two brothers named Hugh and Lochlann.
Arthur, son of Donal, had a son named [117.] Amhailgadh [awly] who was lord of West Brefney. Amhailgadh's son was named [118.] Donal who had three brothers named Tiernan, Connor and Rory. This Donal had six sons, one of whom was [119.] Uailarg Mór. Uailarg Mór had a son named [121.] Tiernan Mór, who in turn had a son named [121.] Teige na Goir ("goir:" Irish, to call; Lat. "gar-uo," to prate or prattle; Syriac, "kar-o," to name; Gr. "ger-uo," and "gar-uo," to prate).
Teige na Goir was lord of West Brefney, a quo MacGoir (Gore, Parrot, Pratt), and he had eight brothers, one of whom was Tiernan, from whom descended the O'Rourkes of Dromahaire, county Leitrim. Teige na Goir had a son named [122.] Tiernan Oge.
Tiernan Oge, son of Teige na Goir, lord of West Brefney, had two younger brothers. One of Tiernan Oge's brothers was Arthur, the ancestor of the Chiefs of Carrha. Tiernan Oge had a son named [123.] Donogh, who in turn had a son named [begin page 749] [124.] Owen, lord of West Brefney. Owen's son was named [125.] Brian Ballach, lord of West Brefney who died in 1562.
Brian Ballach's son was named [126.] Brian-na-Mota [Murtha], who warred with Queen Elizabeth, and was beheaded in England. There was an indenture between Brian-na-Mota and Sir H. Sidney in 1578, and between Brian-na-Mota and Sir John Perrott in 1585. Brian-na-Mota had a younger brother named Owen, who was the ancestor of the O'Rourkes of Innismagrath.
Two of Brian-na-Mota's sons were named [127.] Teige an-Fhiona and Brian Oge. Teige had a son named [128.] Brian, who in turn had a son also named [129.] Brian. Brian, grandson of Teige an-Fhiona, was the father of [130.] John O'Rourke and grandfather of [131.] Thomas O'Rourke. Thomas' son was [132.] Edmond Roche O'Rourke, who was living in Nancy, in France, in A.D. 1777.
Source: O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees
O'Rourke, Chiefs of Carrha, County Leitrim
[122.] Arthur, one of the two younger brothers of Tiernan Oge, was the ancestor of this branch of the O'Rourke family. The main line descends from Arthur to [123.] Loghlan, his son; to Shane, son of Loghlan; to Shane Oge, son of Shane; to Owen, son of Shane Oge. Owen married Margaret Nugent, of the family of the Earls of Westmeath. Owen's son was also named Shane Oge, and he had a son named [128.] Brian. Brian married Bridget O'Rourke, who was the daughter of Owen Oge, son of Owen Mór, son of [126.] Tiernan (brother of Brian na Mota). Brian and Margaret had a son named Owen, who in turn had a son named [Count] John O'Rourke, who was living in 1782.
Count John O'Rourke had two brothers -- 1. Brian; 2. Con. This Con, who was a colonel of horse, was married to a niece of Count Lacy, who was a field marshal in the service of Austria. Count John O'Rourke was born at a village near the ancient castle of Woodfort, in the county of Leitrim, which was the residence of his ancestors. In his 25th year of age he went to London, where he remained five years, experiencing many disappointments, but ultimately [begin page 750] fixed on the military profession as the best suited to his genius and disposition. In the first troop of Horse Guards he received the rudiments of arms; but, being a Roman Catholic, he was forced to resign.
John O'Rourke then went to France, and presented to the King, at Versailles, a petition, specifying his princely origin, and praying for a regiment. In consequence of which he was, in the year 1758, made a Captain of the "Royal Scotch" in that service. As a few instances of irregular promotions had been made in the brigade, the lieutenants were hurt at his appointment, and resolved to contest the matter with him. Accordingly, this John O'Rourke, in the space of a few days, fought four duels, in which he gained great reputation -- not more by his gallantry in the field, than by his honourably confessing that he thought it an injury to the national regiment, that he as a foreigner should be thrust upon them. He therfore gave up his commission, informing the French monarch that it was a dear purchase to fight for it every day.
With strong recommendations from France to the Court of St. Petersburgh, John O'Rourke went to Russia, which being engaged in a war with Prussia, was a scene for adventure and fame. He was appointed first major of horse cuirassiers in the regiment of body guards; and, in the course of the war, he greatly distinguished himself, in particular, by storming the City of Berlin, which he laid under contribution.
At the end of that war he returned to France with certificates of his gallant conduct from Peter the Third, Prince-General Wolkousky, and General de Sonverow; and was appointed by King Slanislaus one of his chamberlains in the year 1764. In 1770 he was appointed by the French king a colonel of horse, was enrolled among the nobility of France, was granted a pension from the French civil list, and in 1774 was honoured with the order of St. Louis.
For interesting incidents in the life of Count John O'Rourke, the reader is referred to the Hibernian Magazine for March, 1782.
Source: O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees
O'Rourke, of Innismagrath, County Leitrim
Owen, younger brother of Brian-na-Mota, was the ancestor of this branch of the family. [begin page 751] His father was [125.] Brian Ballach, last lord of Brefney, who died A.D. 1562. Brian was the man to whom Sir Henry Sydney alludes in the following passage, which has been quoted by Dr. Donovan: "I found him (O'Rourke) the proudest man that I ever dealt with in Ireland." This Brian built Leitrim Castle, in A.D. 1540 -- that famous castle in which his grandson, the chivalrous Brian Oge O'Rourke, son of Brian-na-Mota, who was beheaded, A.D. 1592, received the brave Donal O'Sullivan Beare after his retreat from Dunboy, A.D. 1602 -- a retreat described by Davis as "the most romantic and gallant achievement of the age."
Besides Leitrim Castle, which, most probably, was built for military purposes, this Brian [Ballach] possessed two other castles in Brefney: Castle Carr, evidently a military stronghold, having been built on a Crannoge (or artificial island) in a small lake in the romantic and picturesque valley of Glencarr ("The valley lay smiling before me," of the immortal Moore), between Manorhamilton and Sligo; and the Castle of Dromahaire or "Ballyrourk" as it was then called, where, on the left bank of the "Bonet" (Buaniad or lasting river), near its entrance into Lough Gill, the parents of this Brian, namely, Owen O'Rourke and Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Conor O'Brien, King of Thomond, founded in A.D. 1508 the Franciscan Abbey of Crevelea, now a ruin, on the spot known to be Leac Phadric or "Carrick Patrick." Here the said Margaret O'Brien, who founded it, was buried, A.D. 1512; and "The Abbey" continued long afterwards to be the Natale Solum of the O'Rourkes, and doubtless still does, for the branches of that ancient sept who live in its vicinity. In his "Records relating to the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise," p.379, the Very Rev. John Canon Monaghan, D.D., P.P., V.G., Cloghan, King's County, says of this Abbey: "The walls of the abbey are still entire, and the altar is nearly so. There are several curious figures inserted in the walls and over some graves of the Murroghs, the Cornins -- a very ancient family, the O'Ruarks, etc., etc.; The Great O'Ruark lies [begin page 752] at full length on a tomb over the burial ground of this family."
It is only simple justice to the memory of the dead to state here, that, of the few people in Leitrim who take any interest in such matters, most of them believe that Centy (Hyacinth) O'Rourke, a gentleman who lived at a place called Carrigeenboy, county Sligo, on the border of Roscommon, and who died in the early part of the present century, was the lineal descendant of Brian Oge O'Rourke. This Centy had a brother, Hugh Buidhe (his father also was Hugh), who died in the middle of the present century, leaving one son (Hugh), who died in 1886, in the Colony of Victoria, Australia.
Centy O'Rourke was nephew to another man of the same name (Centy), who fell in a duel, about the year 1770, with one of the Percevals, of emplehouse, county Sligo. It was believed by many of his numerous friends and admirers in Leitrim, that he was murdered: that he fought with a pistol handed to him by his second, and charged with powder only. Up to the middle of the present century, when the people declined in their use of the Irish language, the valour of this popular favourite, handed down in "song and story," was a favourite topic at all social gatherings.
[126.] Owen O'Rourke, son of Brian Ballach, and ancestor or the O'Rourkes of Innismagrath, had a son named [127.] Tiernan Bán. By referring to the Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 1590, it will be seen that Tiernan Bán was in alliance with his kinsman Brian Oge O'Rourke, in resisting the encroachments of Sir Richard Bingham, then the Queen's Governor of Connaught. Doubtless, he was among "wild Breffny's warlike band," who, led "by gallant Brian Oge, turned the scale of victory" against Sir Conyers Clifford, at "Curlieu's Pass," near Boyle, on that memorable Feast of the Assumption, A.D. 1600.
Tiernan Bán's son was named [128.] Owen O'Rourke, who fought against Sir Frederick Hamilton. This Owen had two brothers -- 1. Brian and 2. Con: the former slain during the events of 1641-9, and the latter executed during the same unhappy period. Tradition tells that this execution took place in the presence, or within view, of his brother Owen, and in front of, or convenient to their father's house.
This is the "Owen O'Rourke, who live on the banks of Lough Allen, in Leitrim." for whom (according to Hardiman), Carolan, the last of the Irish bards, composed his "Dirge on the death of Owen O'Rourke," and for whose wife, Mary McDermott, he composed the song Mhaire-an-Chulfhin, or "Fair-haired Mary." [begin page 753] The spot, "on the banks of Lough Allen in Leitrim," where Owen O'Rourke lived is about two hundred yards from the water's edge. -- See Hardiman's Memoir of Carolan, Vol. I., pp. liii. and lxii.
Owen O'Rourke, son of Tiernan Bán, had two sons named [129.] Hugh and Owen. Hugh, the elder son, was living in 1688. Before the events of 1641, these brothers Hugh and Owen lived in the parish of Drumlease, but possessed several quarters (townlands) of land in the parish of Innismagrath, all of which were confiscated. Hugh's portion having been "conveyed" to a man named Richard Barry; and Owen's to a man named Hugh Campbell. The brothers, Hugh and Owen, were soldiers, and took part in the campaign of 1688-91, ending their career fighting under that brave man, Sir Teige O'Regan, author of an expression which has become historic, an expression which is characteristic of the man's valour. "Let us change commanders, and we will fight the battle over again." After these events the brothers Hugh and Owen lived in Innismagrath.
Hugh O'Rourke's only son was named Con. The place where Con lived is still called Alla Cuinn, which means "Con's Hall," but in English it is called by the name of "Grouse Lodge." He left three children: one son, and two daughters. One of the daughters, Ellen O'Rourke, lived down to about the year 1820. She died unmarried at a very advanced age: she died in poverty and obscurity in that parish, a portion of which was wrested from her grandfather in 1641, and the whole of which was ruled by her ancestors long before the Norman Barons assembled at Runnymede. Con's only son was [131.] Donoch (or Denis).
Donoch (or Denis), son of Con, had four sons: 1. John, 2. Frank (d. 2 Feb 1854), 3. Teige, and 4. Michael. Donoch's eldest son, John, had three sons: 1. Hugh (d.1866), 2. Con (d. 1846), and 3. Michael. Michael, the youngest son of John O'Rourke, died 13 April, 1859, leaving five sons: 1. Denis (b. 1836), 2. John (b. 1838 and living in the parish of Innismagrath, county Leitrim), 3. Michael (b. in 1848 and living in Knoxville, Tennessee), 4. Francis (b. in 1851 and living in Sydney, New South Wales), and 5. James (b. 1856, and Teacher of Tarmon National School, Drumkeerin, co. Leitrim).
Denis, the eldest son of Michael O'Rourke, was born 22 Sept., 1836, and was living at Mount Allen, county Roscommon, in 1887. He married 30 June 1860, Julia, daughter of Thomas Clarke, of Geevagh, co. Sligo, and they had issue thirteen children (seven sons and six daughters), of whom six sons and one daughter died in infancy. The surviving children were -- 1. Kate; 2. Mary (d. 20 February 1883); Julia-Bridget; 4. Elizabeth-Mary; 5. Teresa-Mary; 6. Francis-Joseph, living at Mount Allen in 1883.
Erratum: The Owen O'Rourke, to whom Hardiman refers to in his Memoir of Carolan, Vol I., pp. liii and lxii., was not Owen (No. 128), son of Tiernan Ban, as some readers might suppose from reading pp.752-753, supra; but his younger son Owen, brother of Hugh, who is No. 129 on that pedigree. The said younger son Owen, who "lived on the banks of Lough Allen," is the man whose name appears on the souvenir referred to in Note, p. 752; his father Owen (No. 128) lived in the parish of Drumlease.
Souvenir (Note. p.752): It is believed this Owen's (No. 129) issue is extinct. A souvenir of him, preserved with jealous care in the family, made of cast iron, having thereon the armorial bearings of the O'Rourkes, and dated A.D. 1688, is now (1882) in the possession of Denis O'Rourke (b. 1836), who is No. 134 on this pedigree.
SOURCE: Irish Pedigrees; or The Origin and Stem of The Irish Nation. Volumes 1-2. New York: Murphy & McCarthy, 1923.
Cautionary Notes:
Earlier Irish genealogy sources conflict with key aspects of O'Harts citations. References and timelines within the Irish annals also point to additional problems with his account of O'Rourke lineage. Here are a few examples.
Two Tiernans - As in the case with Linea Antiqua, O'Hart confuses Tiernan Mor (who married Dearvogal) with Tiernan, son of Ualgarg. The latter Tiernan, son of Ualgarg, was born over 100 years earlier than Tiernan Mor (who married Dearvogal), and was father of Domnall the last O Ruairc king of Connacht who died in 1102. O'Hart does show the correct descendants of Tiernan, son of Ualgarg (i.e. Donal, son of Fergal, son of Donal, son of Tiernan, son of Ualgarg). This confusion is confirmed when comparing the older genealogies, which include the Book of Leinster, the Book of Ballymote, O'Clery's genealogies, and other source genealogies. This is also confirmed in Francis Byrne's study in Irish Kings and High-Kings.
An extra Aodh - Another error is O'Harts citation of Aodh (or Hugh), as the son of Carnachan (Cobthach, by some called Carnachan). All the early genealogies, including the 12th century Book of Leinster, cite Tighearnan, son of Sellachan, son of Cernachan (Cobthach, by some called Carnachan). This is also supported by an entry in the Irish Annals, citing the death of "Tighearnan, son of Seallachan, lord of Breifne" between the years 888-892. For further reference see Early O'Ruairc Lineage.
Two Teige's and the Chiefs of Carrha - Another issue in O'Hart is a confusion between Teige, son of Tiernan Mór, and that of Teige na Goir. Teige na Goir was a son of Ualgarg mór, as referenced in the earlier genealogies and in the story of Taidhg na gCaor, 'of the berries' as given in RIA MS.C.iv.1. This confusion leads to various issues, including the dubious lineage of the Chiefs of Carrha. Teige na Goir was a brother of Tiernan Mór (father of Tiernan Oge and Teige). Teige na Goir and his descendants are described 'in keannallohan' (Cenel Luachain) in the Compossicion Booke of Conought 1585, an area of southern County Leitrim.
The Chiefs of Carrha, of northern county Leitrim, descend from Tiernan Oge, a brother of Teige son of Tiernan Mór. The Chiefs of Carrha are embodied in Tiernan Oge's son Donnchad (King of West Breifne, d. 1449) and grandson Felim (King of Bréifne, d. 1500). For further reference see O'Rourkes of Carha.
O'Roukes of Innismagrath - O'Hart also appears questionable in his lineage for the O'Roukes of Innismagrath. He describes Tiernan Ban, son of Owen, son of Brian Ballach as an ancestor of this family, and then refers to him as the Tiernan in the Annals of the Four Masters for the year 1590. The actual entry in the Annals says, " Tiernan Bane, the son of Brian, son of Owen O'Rourke". Tiernan Ban from the 1590 Annals was a son of Brian ballach mór son of Owen according to the early genealogies. It was the latter Tiernan Ban who had a son named Owen [mór], as wells as sons named Brian [ballach óg] and Con, as suggested in land records for the barony of Dromohair in 1629 and 1641. O'Hart mentions Owen, Brian, and Con as sons of Tiernan Ban son of Owen.
If O'Hart is inaccurate in his account, who was the ancestor of the O'Roukes of Innismagrath? Many derive their descent through Aedh gallda, son of Brian ballach mór, in the person of Hugh O'Rourke of Kilnargan, Innismagrath parish. Hugh of Kilnargan received land grants there in 1641, and in the 1659 'census' he was the only O Rourke "titulado" in County Leitrim. It is Hugh of Kilnargan who was father of "Hugh and Owen" that O'Hart mentions. Owen son of Hugh of Kilnargan was the one who married Mary MacDermot, and the one "Hardiman refers to in his Memoir of Carolan". Hugh son of Hugh of Kilnargan is the likely candidate to be ancestor of "Denis, the eldest son of Michael O'Rourke, [who...] was living at Mount Allen, county Roscommon, in 1887 ".
Return to: Genealogy Sources -- History Index -- Ua Ruairc of Bréifne -- Lords & Kings of Breifne -- Descent from Ruairc
External Reference: Milesian Genealogies, e.g. the Line of Heremon (#37). These are also extracts from O'Harts Irish Pedigrees.
