Ó Gadhra or O'Gara is an
Irish surname which originated in the kingdom of
Luighne Connacht. Variants include
Garry,
Geary,
Gerry
Gerry is both a surname and a masculine or feminine given name. As a given name, it is often a short form (hypocorism) of Gerard, Gerald or Geraldine. Notable people with the name include:
Surname
* Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), fifth US vice pre ...
, and
Guiry.
[
]
Irish Names and Surnames
', pp. 100. Patrick Woulfe, Dublin : M. H. Gill, 1922
Background
The first O'Garas were descendants of the
Gailenga people. Their descendants were located in Sliabh Lugha (later known as the
barony of
Gallen Gallen may refer to:
;Places:
* Gallen (barony), a barony in Ireland
* Sankt Gallen (disambiguation), various German-speaking countries
;People:
* Saint Gall, Irish missionary, ''Sankt Gallus'' in German
* Conal Gallen, Irish singer/comedian
* Her ...
), the southern part of the territory ruled by the Kings of Luighne Connacht.
In the 13th century they were expelled from the area (by the
Clan Mac Siúrtáin) and moved to Cul Ui Fionn, later known as the barony of
Coolavin
Coolavin ( Irish ''Cúl ó bhFionn'') is a barony in south County Sligo, Ireland. It was created from the ancient túath of An Corann.
The O'Garas were originally Lords of Coolavin. They were succeeded by the MacDermotts, a family of the ...
,
County Sligo
County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the loc ...
.
Notable bearers of the name
*
Domhnall mac Gadhra
The Kings of Luighne Connacht were rulers of the people and kingdom of Luighne Connacht, located in what is now County Mayo and County Sligo, Ireland.
The southern area was originally known as Gailenga but by the 12th-century called Sliabh Lu ...
, King of Luighne Connacht, died 931.
*
Toichleach Ua Gadhra, King of Gailenga, died 964.
*
Donn Sléibhe Ua Gadhra
Donn Sléibhe Ua Gadhra, King of Sliabh Lugha, died 1181.
The Annals of Lough Ce
Annals ( la, annāles, from , "year") are a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used ...
, King of Sliabh Lugha, died 1181.
*
Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra
Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra (died 1256) was an Irish people, Irish king of Sliabh Lugha and Chief of the Name.
During Ruaidrí's lifetime the territory of Sliabh Lugha was conquered by the Sheriff of Connacht, Jordan de Exeter (died 1258), ancestor of the ...
, last King of Sliabh Lugha, died 1256.
*
Ruaidri Ó Gadhra
Ruaidri Ó Gadhra (died 1285) was an Irish Lord.
The Annals of the Four Masters record, ''sub anno'' 1285, ''"Rory O'Gara, Lord of Sliabh-Lugha, was slain by Mac Feorais Bermingham on Lough O'Gara."'' However, by this stage the family had been ex ...
, Irish lord, died 1285.
*
Fearghal Ó Gadhra, lord of Coolavin, patron of the
Annals of the Four Masters
The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or mediev ...
, c. 1597-after 1660.
*
Oliver O'Gara
Oliver O'Gara was an Irish politician and soldier of the 17th and 18th centuries who was closely identified with the Jacobite cause.
Family background
He was descended from the Ó Gadhra's of Luighne Connacht. After the Reformation his family h ...
, Irish soldier and politician of the 17th century
*
John Patrick O'Gara
John Patrick O'Gara was a French-born soldier of Irish descent who served in the Spanish Army during the eighteenth century.
He was the son of Colonel Oliver O'Gara, a Jacobite exile who left Ireland for France following the surrender of forces ...
, French-born soldier in the Spanish Army
*
Charles O'Gara
Charles O'Gara (born 1699 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain, d. 1777) was a French-born courtier of Irish parentage who rose to prominence in the service of Leopold, Duke of Lorraine and later his son Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. Like the ...
(1699-1777), courtier and official of the Holy Roman Empire
*
Matt O'Gara, Irish sportsperson, fl. 1960.
*
Ronan O'Gara
Ronan John Ross O'Gara ( ga, Rónán Ó Gadhra; born 7 March 1977) is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's second most-capped player and highest ever points scorer. He is currently ...
, Irish rugby union rugby player, born 1977.
*
Eoghan O'Gara
Eoghan O'Gara (born 24 September 1985) is a Gaelic footballer who played as a forward at senior level for the Dublin county team. O'Gara attended St. Josephs BNS primary school in Terenure.
Playing career
O'Gara made his Championship debut fo ...
, Irish sportsperson, alive 2010.
See also
*
Ó Gadhra Chiefs of the Name
*
Kings of Sliabh Lugha
The Kings of Sliabh Lugha were rulers of the district of Sliabh Lugha located in what is now the barony of Costello, County Mayo, Ireland.
The Sliabh Lugha area was originally part of Gailenga but by the 12th-century was separately called Sli ...
*
Kings of Luighne Connacht
References
Further reading
* ''The History of the County of Mayo to the Close of the Sixteenth Century. With illustrations and three maps'',
Hubert T. Knox. Originally published 1908, Hogges Figgies and Co. Dublin. Reprinted by De Burca rare books, 1982. .
*
Irish Names and Surnames', pp. 100. Patrick Woulfe, Dublin : M. H. Gill, 1922
* ''Muintir Ghadhra'', an t-Athair Fearghus Báiréad,
OFM, pp. 45–66, ''Measgra i gcuimhne Mhichíl Uí Chléirigh. Miscellany of historical and linguistic studies in honour of Brother Michael Ó Cléirigh, chief of the Four Masters, 1643-1943'', ed. by Father Sylvester O'Brien, Assisi Press, Dublin, 1944.
* ''The Surnames of Ireland'',
Edward MacLysaght
Edgeworth Lysaght, later Edward Anthony Edgeworth Lysaght, and from 1920 Edward MacLysaght ( ga, Éamonn Mac Giolla Iasachta; 6 November 1887 – 4 March 1986) was a genealogist of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames ...
, Dublin, 1978.
External links
*
Irish Times database
{{DEFAULTSORT:O Gadhra
Surnames
Surnames of Irish origin
Irish families
Irish-language surnames