O'Reilly Family History Page 3

Brian, son of Conn of the hundred battles became King of Connaught in the fourth century. He was known to have had twenty-four sons (records of how many were legitimate seem to have been lost). Collectively, his descendants became known as Ui Briuin, the race of Brian. One of his sons, Dui Galach was the ancestor not only of the O'Reilly's but the O'Flaherty's, the O'Connor's, and the O'Rourke's. His son Fergus fathered Feargna who is the direct line to Ui Briuin Breffni, the people now named O'Reilly and O'Rourke.

As the sixth century came around, Feargna is known to have migrated to the north, migration being a well-noted Celtic tradition. He left his son Aedh Finn to continue as King. Aedh Finn means Hugh the Fair. Hugh is known to have died in 611AD and it was his son Maelmordha who gave direct ancestry to the O'Reilly clan. This is the reason that they ruled much of what is now County Cavan but was known at the time as the country of Maelmordha's people, Muinter Maelmordha.

Later the name Maelmordha (Pron. Mulmora) was translated into Latin as Milesius from where it became Anglicised as Miles or Myles. It grew popular as a name within the clan.

The family name still had to become established and the line moved on towards this through Maelmordha, Dubhcren and Catalan, Raghallach came along. It is rumoured that Raghallach was killed at the Battle of Contarf on April 23rd in 1014 while fighting alongside Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland (Ard ri) but no actual records exist of the event. What is known is that his descendants became known as son (grandson etc) of Raghallach and hence all O'Reilly's owe their name to him. After his death, his descendants were inaugurated as Kings of East Breffni.

One odd note here is that the Muinter Maelmordha stood with the Viking army against the Ard ri so Raghallach stood against his tribe if this is so. The Ard ri won the battle but later died to a surprise party of fleeing Danes who happened upon his tent when he was alone.

The O'Reilly clan were true to their ancestors in Celtic traditions. The ancestral inauguration site of King's and later Chief's was at an ancient stone circle on Se�ntomon Hill (Pron. Shantomon) 3 miles (5km) north-east of Cavan town. The stones were fondly known as the fingers of Fin MacCumhail (Pron. McCool) , a legendary Celtic hero.

The Stone Circle on Shantomon Hill

The King or Chief was known simply as "The O'Reilly" in line with Celtic tradition.

First references to the O'Reilly's in official records shows them ruling a small area to the north of Lough Ramour. By this time, it is true to say that their blood cousins the O'Rourke's had grown to become a mightier tribe. They governed the area now known as County Leitrem. In true Celtic Warrior style, a clash was inevitable between the two, now distinct, clans.

Each tribe stood resolute, but the O'Rourke's power crushed the O'Reilly tribe in a severe battle in 1161. Here, Godfraid (Raghallach's son) was slaughtered near Kells in County Meath by Melaghin O'Rourke and under a strong King (Tiernan), the O'Rourke's grew in numbers and strength, ever spreading further into County Meath. The O'Reilly's took a long time to recover and must have seemed like an insignificant threat to the mighty O'Rourke's.

But times and tides were turning. What goes around...


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