The McKiernan History
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thighearnáin, McKiernan is not one of the more common Irish family names. Searching the McKiernan family history on the internet will not yield much information. However a good resource for the history of the McKiernan family, my direct ancestors, was published last year, is a book called “Turbulance in Tullyhunco”, Written By Tomàs Ó Raghallaigh and published by Harvestmoon Publishing Ltd. In 2010.
In this book, Tomàs has traced back the McKiernan Clan to the ancient Gaelic State of Teallach Dhonnchadha (Barony of Tullyhunco) which was ruled by the McKiernans for hundreds of years from the Hill of Croghan. In the time of Saints and Scholars, McKiernan’s were the gaurdians for the Hill of Croghan, where the Kings of Breifne were inaugurated and nearby to where St. Patrick toppled Crom Cruach and his 12 sub gods. On today’s map this land lies in Co Cavan, between Killeshandra and Ballyconnel, where my parents are from, and where the McKiernan’s are still land owners to this day.
Some of the McKiernan history was recorded in the middle ages, flashing up from time to time in Annals of Connaught, which details the McKiernan's from 1258 to 1523.
Details such as in 1258 when Conor McKiernan was killed on the instructions of Matthew O’Reilly and in 1259 when Donal McKiernan was killed in Tullyhunco by Donall O’Reilly. Needless to say as my mother is an O’Reilly and I’m half O’Reilly, a definitive son of Cavan, despite being born and raised in Dublin, we can consider this family rift resolved, a mere seven hundred years later!
Things were tough in the early McKiernan households, in 1314, according to the Annals of Ulster, Matha Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, was killed in treachery by Cathal son of Domnall O Ruairc, his foster-son, on the floor of his own house and in 1315 Domnall Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, who used to be called the Saitnech, was killed by Cathal na Taisech (of the Chieftains) O Ruairc.
Its clear why there are not so many McKiernans around today, as it seems many of them were killed off in the middle ages as is documented in this report from 1317; "Defeat of Mac Ruaidri and the men of Brefne at Kilmore. Seven score gallowglasses of the followers of Mac Ruaidri were killed there, and two sons of Aed Brefnech O Conchobair were captured; Donnchad son of Niall O Ruairc, Conchobar Buide Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, Mathgamain Mag Tigernain, Gilla Ruad son of the Erenagh Mag Tigernain, Nicol son of the Master and many others of their kin were also killed."
In 1412 "Cuconnaught Mac Tiernan, Chief of Teallach Dunchadha [Tullyhonco], was killed by the people of Fermanagh, in a nocturnal assault, in his own house at Cruachan Mhic-Tighearnain. And they massacred men, women, and children, and burned the whole town, and then returned [home]. "
Some, even get an honorable mention, in 1365, " Brian son of Matha Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, the most famous man of the Brefnians, died. As the poet says: ‘Brian Mag Tigernain of the encounters, no bounty should be compared with his bounty; peacefully he ever practised hospitality; Heaven was the end of his career.’ "
So why were so many people trying to kill my ancestors, well it looks like they may have been up to a few shenanigans themselves as was detailed in 1367 "The Clan Murtagh migrated into Mag Nisi this year. They made an expedition into Moylurg—Tadc son of Ruaidri O Conchobair and Fergal Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, and Diarmait Mag Ragnaill, chieftain of the Muinter Eolais, together with some gallowglasses—and burnt the stronghold of Aed Mac Diarmata. Fergal Mac Diarmata, king of Moylurg, and Aed caught up with them and gave battle to them, and killed some of their men.
Although it looks like we had some good ones in the family too, as detailed in 1523 when "Mag Tigernain, Fergal son of Gilla Isa Oc son of Gilla Isa son of Brian, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, a charitable humane man, died at his own residence and his brother succeeded him."
My uncle and namesake Fr. Fintan McKiernan follows in a long link with the church, dating back to 1398, when Pope Boniface IX decreed that the rectory of Tullyhunco, which included the church at Killeshandra, be assigned to and conferred upon John McKiernan.
In this book, Tomàs has traced back the McKiernan Clan to the ancient Gaelic State of Teallach Dhonnchadha (Barony of Tullyhunco) which was ruled by the McKiernans for hundreds of years from the Hill of Croghan. In the time of Saints and Scholars, McKiernan’s were the gaurdians for the Hill of Croghan, where the Kings of Breifne were inaugurated and nearby to where St. Patrick toppled Crom Cruach and his 12 sub gods. On today’s map this land lies in Co Cavan, between Killeshandra and Ballyconnel, where my parents are from, and where the McKiernan’s are still land owners to this day.
Some of the McKiernan history was recorded in the middle ages, flashing up from time to time in Annals of Connaught, which details the McKiernan's from 1258 to 1523.
Details such as in 1258 when Conor McKiernan was killed on the instructions of Matthew O’Reilly and in 1259 when Donal McKiernan was killed in Tullyhunco by Donall O’Reilly. Needless to say as my mother is an O’Reilly and I’m half O’Reilly, a definitive son of Cavan, despite being born and raised in Dublin, we can consider this family rift resolved, a mere seven hundred years later!
Things were tough in the early McKiernan households, in 1314, according to the Annals of Ulster, Matha Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, was killed in treachery by Cathal son of Domnall O Ruairc, his foster-son, on the floor of his own house and in 1315 Domnall Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, who used to be called the Saitnech, was killed by Cathal na Taisech (of the Chieftains) O Ruairc.
Its clear why there are not so many McKiernans around today, as it seems many of them were killed off in the middle ages as is documented in this report from 1317; "Defeat of Mac Ruaidri and the men of Brefne at Kilmore. Seven score gallowglasses of the followers of Mac Ruaidri were killed there, and two sons of Aed Brefnech O Conchobair were captured; Donnchad son of Niall O Ruairc, Conchobar Buide Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, Mathgamain Mag Tigernain, Gilla Ruad son of the Erenagh Mag Tigernain, Nicol son of the Master and many others of their kin were also killed."
In 1412 "Cuconnaught Mac Tiernan, Chief of Teallach Dunchadha [Tullyhonco], was killed by the people of Fermanagh, in a nocturnal assault, in his own house at Cruachan Mhic-Tighearnain. And they massacred men, women, and children, and burned the whole town, and then returned [home]. "
Some, even get an honorable mention, in 1365, " Brian son of Matha Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, the most famous man of the Brefnians, died. As the poet says: ‘Brian Mag Tigernain of the encounters, no bounty should be compared with his bounty; peacefully he ever practised hospitality; Heaven was the end of his career.’ "
So why were so many people trying to kill my ancestors, well it looks like they may have been up to a few shenanigans themselves as was detailed in 1367 "The Clan Murtagh migrated into Mag Nisi this year. They made an expedition into Moylurg—Tadc son of Ruaidri O Conchobair and Fergal Mag Tigernain, chieftain of Tullyhunco, and Diarmait Mag Ragnaill, chieftain of the Muinter Eolais, together with some gallowglasses—and burnt the stronghold of Aed Mac Diarmata. Fergal Mac Diarmata, king of Moylurg, and Aed caught up with them and gave battle to them, and killed some of their men.
Although it looks like we had some good ones in the family too, as detailed in 1523 when "Mag Tigernain, Fergal son of Gilla Isa Oc son of Gilla Isa son of Brian, chieftain of Tullyhuncoe, a charitable humane man, died at his own residence and his brother succeeded him."
My uncle and namesake Fr. Fintan McKiernan follows in a long link with the church, dating back to 1398, when Pope Boniface IX decreed that the rectory of Tullyhunco, which included the church at Killeshandra, be assigned to and conferred upon John McKiernan.
Boniface IX
Things improved for a while, by 1419 Aodh Bui McKiernan was the King of West Breifne. But military collapse of Gaelic Ireland at Kinsale in 1601, spelt the end for the McKiernan King’s, Chieftains and Lords finally being deposed by the British after the arrival of Sir James Craig in 1610. I guess this is the point where a lot of McKiernan’s decided to pack up and head for pastures new, hence today, for a small Family name, there is a wide dispersion of McKiernan "survivors" around the globe.
