Donnellan is an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

surname and refers to the clan name Ó Domhnalláin or O'Donnellan. At least two unrelated families of the name existed in

Gaelic Ireland Gaelic Ireland ( ga, Éire Ghaelach) was the Gaelic political and social order, and associated culture, that existed in Ireland from the late prehistoric era until the early 17th century. It comprised the whole island before Anglo-Normans ...

. One in south-east

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label=Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

, another in south-east Connacht in the kingdom of Ui Maine. More recently, a number of Donnellans had their name changed from

Donnelly Donnelly is a surname of Irish origin. It is the anglicized form of the Gaelic ''Ó Donnghaile'' meaning ‘descendant of Donnghal’ a given name composed of the elements "donn" (dark or brown), plus "gal" (valour). O'Donnelly is derived from t ...

in the 19th century, located largely in the

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and is the sixth most populous city ...

Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an A ...

region. As such, their descendancy can be traced to the

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into t ...

, including the High King

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centurie ...

. The

patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

of the Donnellan's of Ui Maine is

Saint Grellan Saint Grellan is an Irish saint and patron saint of the KellyO'Donovan, ''Tribes and Customs of Hy Many'', pp. 8–12. and Donnellan of Uí Maine clans and of the parish of Ballinasloe, in County Galway, Ireland. Early life According to the ...

. The family derive their name from

Domnallan mac Maelbrigdi Domnallan mac Maelbrigdi, Irish dynast, fl. c. 9th/10th century. Biography Domnallan was the son of Maelbrigdi, a member of the Ui Maine dynasty, located in south-east Connacht. His pedigree is given as ''Domnallan mac Maelbrigdi mic Grenain ...

. First found in Galway, the family has held a seat from ancient times, dating back from at least the 1300s. One of the twelve ancient seats of Connacht, they resided over large areas of Galway, Roscommon and eventually West Meath. Ballydonnellan Castle was the seat of the Donnellans of Ui Maine. The heads of this family were the chiefs of Clann Bhreasail, the district lying between Loughrea and Ballinasloe. The original castle is said to have been erected as early as 936 but this, more likely than not, was probably a ring fort. Another castle built on the same site was destroyed by fire some time before 1412 when it was rebuilt by the Donnellans. During the 17th century the family added a long two-storey house to the side of the castle. During the following century the castle was renovated and extended to form an end pavillon wing, and a matching wing was added to the other end of the seventeenth-century structure. The wings were redesigned after 1787 when the façade of the central range was altered with a four-bay pedimented breakfront. One of the wings was destroyed by fire before 1913 but the entire house was in ruin by 1978. This is located about two miles north of Kilreekill.

Notable Donnellans

of Ui Maine, ancestor of the Donnellans of Galway, fl. c. 9th/10th century * Ainglioch Ó Dónalláin, poet, fl. mid-14th or mid-15th century *

Flann Óge Ó Domhnalláin Flann Óge Ó Domhnalláin (died 1342) was Chief Poet of Connacht. Ó Domhnalláin was a member of an Irish family of Bards, originally located in Ballydonnellan, County Galway. A sept of the Uí Maine called Clann Breasail, they held the posi ...

, Chief Poet of Connacht, died 1342 *

Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin Mael Sechlainn Ó Domhnalláin (died 1375) was an Irish poet. Ó Domhnalláin was a member of the Ó Domhnalláin bardic family of Ui Maine (now south-west It is unknown if any examples of his work survive. References See also * Domn ...

, Irish poet, died 1375 *

Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin Flann Óc mac Séoan Ó Domhnalláin was '' Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh'' for an unknown time in 1404. The annals record an unusual number of bardic deaths in 1404. Donnchad Baccach Ó Maolconaire died, leaving the office of ga, Ollamh vacant. H ...

Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh Ollamh Síol Muireadaigh was a hereditary post, held almost exclusively by members of the Ó Maolconaire family, from at latest the 13th century until the 17th century. The Síol Muireadaigh were a dynasty of regional clans, named after King Muired ...

, 1404 *

Nehemiah Donnellan Nehemiah Donnellan (a.k.a. Fearganainm Ó Domhnalláin) (fl. c. 1560-1609) was Archbishop of Tuam. Background Donellan was born in the county of Galway, a son of Mael Sechlainn Ó Dónalláin, by his wife Sisly, daughter of William Ó Cellaigh o ...

Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam ( ; ga, Ard-Easpag Thuama) is an archbishop which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Catholic Church. Histo ...

, fl. c. 1560–1609 *

James Donnellan Sir James Donnellan (c. 1588 – 1665) was an Irish lawyer and politician, who became Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas in 1660. He was unusual among the Irish judges of the time in being of Gaelic descent; and more remarkable in that his ...

, lawyer and politician, c. 1588 – 1665. *

Pádhraic Ó Domhnalláin Pádhraic Ó Domhnalláin () was an Irish duellist. Outline Ó Domhnalláin was the eponymous subject of a poem by Antoine Ó Raifteiri, concerning a duel he fought, which is believed to have been one of the last, if not the last, ever fough ...

, Irish duelist, fl. 1830. * Padraig Ó Domhnallain, short-story writer, born 1884. *

Martin Donnellan Martin Donnellan, Garda Síochána Detective Sergeant 17179D and recipient of the Scott Medal, born 1948. Donnellan was born at Ballymoe, County Galway, on 7 June 1948. He had been a cabinet maker prior to joining the force. Stillorgan bank ...

, recipient of the Scott Medal, born 1948. *

Declan Donnellan Declan Michael Martin Donnellan (born 4 August 1953) is an English film/stage director and author. He co-founded the Cheek by Jowl theatre company with Nick Ormerod in 1981. In addition to his Cheek by Jowl productions, Donnellan has made theat ...

, theater director *

John Donnellan John F. Donnellan (born 27 March 1937) is an Irish former politician and sportsman. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for twenty-five years and as a Minister of State from 1982 to 1987. He played Gaelic football for his local club Dun ...

, Irish politician *

Keith Donnellan Keith Sedgwick Donnellan (; June 25, 1931 – February 20, 2015) was an American philosopher and Professor of Philosophy (later Professor Emeritus) at the University of California, Los Angeles. Donnellan contributed to the philosophy of languag ...

, philosopher * Michael Donnellan, various including ** Michael Donnellan, Irish Clann na Talmhan politician ** Michael Donnellan, GAA footballer * Nanci Donnellan, sports radio broadcaster *

Pat Donnellan Pat Donnellan (born 1941 in Dunmore, County Galway) is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dunmore McHales and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1967. Donnellan is a ...

, GAA footballer *

Philip Donnellan Philip Donnellan (9 February 1924 – 15 February 1999) was an English documentary film-maker. Described in his ''Guardian'' obituary as "one of the greatest of all documentarists", Donnellan worked with the BBC for over four decades, producing ar ...

, English documentary film-maker * Steve Donnellan, Australian evolutionary biologist * Thomas Donnellan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta, 1968–1987

References

{{surname Surnames of Irish origin Anglicised Irish-language surnames