Kings of Hy-Many earlier known as Ui Maine

The O'Kelly

 

INTRODUCTION:

In Pre history (400 AD or earlier) Ui Maine, (Hy-Many since 1500 AD), was the Kingdom of O'Kelly (Ua Cellaigh). It extended from the south of Province Connacht, included all of County Galway east of Athenry, and southern and central County Roscommon, an area of about 1,000,000 acres.....or 200 square miles.

At times it was believed to have crossed the Shannon River east into Royal Meath and south Galway Bay.

Ui Maine existed as an independent kingdom from prehistoric times, was there while the Romans were in England, and existed as a kingdom reduced in size to the early 1700's

Descendants of this Family today share two known branch names, O'Kelly of Gallagh and O'Kelly of Tyrcooly. These are Counts of the Roman Empire. How they became Counts is another interesting story.

Our ancestor or relative from that era we believe was Colla O'Kelly whom died with a  English title around 1615. He evidently was descended from the O'Kelly Kings, but was in that late a time himself a  king as he is not listed in the line of descent of the O'Kelly kings, record posted below, so probably a brother or nephew  of the king of that era. He has otherwise been described as a Chief.

Source***: Two O'Kelly Family bibles published between 1690 and 1710 in London, and according to the inside cover purchased in Dublin.

PRELUDE:

Before Brian Boru, the Dalcassiun 940 - 1014, the O'Kelly Clans according to annuls owned up to 80 castles, but we don't yet know exactly where in Ui Maine they actually lived. We know that during the life of Brian Boru he lived at Castle Kincora at Lough Derg, nearest village Killaloe, on the Shannon River. O'Kelly lived in a castle near Lough Ree and upriver on the River Suck, nearest village apparently Athlone, just a few miles up the Shannon River. We also know from family stories these two families collaborated to deny access to the River Shannon by the Vikings who enjoyed sacking monastic sites.

ABOUT SURNAMES:

It is interesting to note from the record below that before the year 1,000 the Gaelic Societies had no surnames. So the ruler of the clan went by his Gaelic name as recorded by history. Therefore from times unknown of the past, Gaelic names took the form of persons name - father's name - grandfathers name. We note that many had more than three names, so may have gone back to grandfathers four or more generations removed.  

Notes:

After the year 1,000 the ruling Gaelic clan name Ua Cellaigh and later O'Cellaigh, settled into general use until about 1600 when the Irish name O'Kelly came into vogue. Later the English Crown would force many to drop the O and take the English name, and in some cases with an English title, Kelly.

This list is found on a hundred or more websites and while formats change, the names are always the same. We assume someone did a lot of work compiling these names from many different annals. We wish to thank person unknown who did all of this research.

Gaelic name Ua Cellaigh first taken.

O'Cellaigh (O meaning son of) change to the Irish translation O'Kelly

We will pick up this line from Colla O'Kelly (1608), evidently the last to use the ***O in in the name, as data is compiled. Colla was of the Hy Many clans, but he was listed as a chief and was evidently not a King of the line. Information about the succeeding Kelly line.

***our line of descent arrived in Virginia Colony as O'Kelly, changed to Kelly before 1755. These were Revolutionaries and not counted among the Tories, in US History other Kelly's, country of origin unknown, were found among the Tories.

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