February 2024
Introduction
The Irish Brehons were male or female Gaelic speaking Celts in Ireland who were resposible for medating, arbitrating and interpreting the unwritten, verbal only, Brehon Laws in disputes for any lawbreaking event. The knowledge of these laws were generally taught by the elders and passed down through the generations within the family or sept. Brehons slowly superceded the DriudsDuring the last few years there has been increased interest in the Brehon Laws partly due to the realisation that they were ahead of their time in Europe. Much has been written about Brehon Law and Brehons who incidentally gradually superceded the Druids. Later, it was replaced by English law by the end of the 17th century.
O´Hagan peerage, 1870
The article below copied from The Tralee Chronicle and Killarney Echo,Tralee, Kerry, Ireland from Page 3 on Jun 14, 1870 gives details of the elevation of Thomas O´Hagan to a peerage. The "From the Nation" comment about the O´Hagan Brehons at Tullyhogue is interesting.Also from the same article:
Over the centuries many septs have descended from Eógan mac Niall and below is a pedigree of a member of an O´Hagan sept who became Baron O´Hagan. A successor married into the Towneley famly at Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire, England. The Hall was purchased from Lady O´Hagan by Burnley Corporation is 1902. It is now open as a museum.
The above tree shows O´Hagan arose from Ogain (Ocain and that Raghnall O´Hogan was the first person to use the name). Likewise O Cuinn arose later Muirchertach O Cuinn of Tyrone, Anglicised Quinn. Tyrone was so called through the conquests of Tir Eoghain - Land of Owen after they moved from The Grianan of Aileach eastwards.
These are clans arising from Éogain, (often his son Fhearghusa, Fergusa, Fergus is given instead):
Below is a part of a page copied from this Wikipedia page: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branches_of_the_Cenél_nEógain#Cenél_Feargusa"
- 1 Clann Néill (also Clan Neill)
- 2 Clann Aodha Bhuidhe
- 3 Clann Domnaill
- 4 Clann Birnn
- 5 Cenél Feargusa -> O´Hagan, ÓCoinne (Quinn), Ó Maelfabhail, Ó Mealláin, Ó Bruadair, Ó Cearnaigh, Ó Robhartaigh and Ó Doirighe
- 6 Cenél mBinnigh
- 7 Cenél Moen
- 8 Cenél Fearadhaigh
- 9 Cenél Tigernaich
- 10 Clan Diarmatta (also Clandermot)
- 11 O'Cahan of the Route
- 12 Cenél Aenghusa
- 13 Other Septs
Over the centuries many septs have followed from Eógan mac Niall. (Son of Niall)
My family Hagan descended from northern O'Hagan sept - y-Chromosome sequencing by FTDNA gives R-FT135792 subclade & Dal Cuinn has 12 sub-clades below Cland Ó hÓgain, R-FT165097 (300 CE?)> FT165098 (925CE?)>BY123238> BY219560> F17047 (at June 2022 & to March 2024).
Below is a (slightly edited) partial copy from an email from Mike Collins giving a breakdown and history of Irish surnames.
Go to his web site: Mike Collins at youririshheritage.com or see if you can find your name is here https://www.aletterfromireland.com
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