Clan Sweaters

This name is one of the most common and one of the most important names in Ireland. Originally there were many distinct septs of the name in Counties Cork and Kerry – where Ross Castle was their fortress in Killarney. This name is from the Irish...

The Donovans are descended from the sept of Ó Donnabháin who were from County Limerick in the south west of Ireland. The name comes from the Gaelic Ó Donndubháin meaning ‘descendant of the dark brown-haired one’...

The surname O’ Driscoll comes from the Irish O hEidirisceoil, from eidirisceoil meaning ‘go between’ or ‘bearer of news’ Few Irish names have been so continuously associated with their territory of origin as the Driscolls or...

Dwyer is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Duibhir or Ó Dubhuidhir, from “Dubh” meaning dark, and “odhar”, meaning sallow. The clan originated in County Tipperary, where they were a strong force of resistance against...

Statistics show that the name O’ Flaherty is still most numerous and common in their original habitat in County Galway, than elsewhere in Ireland. The same name is found in Ulster, but there the initial F is silent producing the name O’...

This name means illustrious, and originated in County Clare, but also had very strong associations with County Limerick. Nowadays the name is also found in abundance in Counties, Mayo and Roscommon. The hand knit O’ Grady sweater has a honeycomb...

The name O’ Hara is a phonetic pronunciation of the Irish name Ó hEaghra. O’ Hara’s today are chiefly found in Counties Sligo and Letrim. The actress Maureen O’ Hara has made the name famous all over the world. The hand...

Ó Caoimh comes from the word “caomh” which means ‘gentle’ or ‘kind’. The family is descended from Art Ó Caom, who himself was descended from the King of Munster. The clan’s territory was originally...

This has always been essentially a County Cork name. They are most commonly found in Inchigeela in West Cork. It is still a very popular name being no 64 in the most popular 100 Irish names. The hand knit O’ Leary sweater has an intricate central...

The name O’ Malley is one of the few names from which the prefix O has not been dropped. It is not a very numerous name but is very well known. It has always been almost exclusively associated with County Mayo. The O’ Malleys were always...

The name O’ Meara has always been associated with County Tipperary. Records show that over 60 years ago less than one third of the people of the name used the prefix O, today it is rare to find the name without the prefix – listed as Meara or...

Ó Néill comes from the personal name Niall, which possibly means ‘passionate’ or ‘vehement’. The O’ Neills were the leading family of the Cineál Eoghan tribal grouping, who ruled the ancient territory of...

The name O’ Reilly, and its variations, is extremely common throughout Ireland. The clan is descended from the Ó Raghailligh of Breffny, which comprises the modern areas of counties Cavan and Longford, and their influence also extended to...

Ó Ríordáin comes from the Gaelic “riogh”, meaning ‘royal’, and “bardán”, meaning poet. The clan originated in the areas of the modern counties Offaly and Tipperary. The clan subsequently...

Ó Ruairc comes from the personal name Ruarc, which is derived from the Norse “Hrothekr” meaning ‘famous king’. The person from whom the O’ Rourkes claim descent was the King of Breifne in the ninth century, and there...

The O’ Shaughnessy sept were considerably important in County Galway and are still a very popular name there. It is also found in parts of County Limerick. The O' Shaughnessy sept are believed to be descended from the last pagan king of Ireland. ...