|
I am extremely grateful to V. McClurkin Jones's contribution to this page. It is the most comprehensive piece of information that I have seen on this name.
REFERENCES TO THE CLEIRCHIN (Clerkins)
In THE ANNALS OF THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND by the Four Masters for The Earliest Period to the Year 1616, edited by John O'Donovan, Dublin, 1854. For the year 1013
Cairbre, son of Cleirchen (MacCleirchen), Lord of Ui Fidhgeinte [died]. (A note for this entry says: "CLEIRCHEN--He was the ancestor of the family of O'Cleirchen, now pronounced in Irish O'Cleirachain and anglicised Cleary and Clarke, a name still extant in the County of Limerick") Ui Fidghenti was a large tract in the County of Limerick (Keating, p. 476)
For the year 1018 Ua Cleircein, Lord of Caille-Follamhaim, was wounded, and died after a short period.
For the year 1043 ...Cellach Ua Cleircein, successor of Finnen and Mochomolg...died on
pilgrimage at Ard-Macha. (Ard Macha, now Armagh, was founded by St. Patrick as his "see." It was the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, with its church, monastery, and school. THE STORY OF THE IRISH RACE by Seumas MacManus.)
For the year 1045 ...Gluniarn Ua Clercen, lord of Ui-Cairbre, died. (The note for this entry says: 'UI-CAIRBRE: i.e. Ui-Cairbre-Aebhdha, in the present county of Limerick. The O'Cleircheans, now O'Clerys, are still in this territory.
For the year 1089 In the description of a battle, Druim-Ui-Clerichein is mentioned. A note for this enty says: "DRUIM-UI=CLEIRCHEIN: i.e. O'Cleirchein's Ridge or Long
Hill. In the Dublin copy of the ANNALS OF INNISFALLEN, and the CHRONICON SCOTORUM, it is called Drumain-Ui Cleirchein, which is theform of the name still retained. It is now anglicised Drummin and is the name of a townland and parish, in the barony of Coshma, and County of Limerick, about three miles north of Kilmallock."
For the year 1108 ...Oenghus Ua Clercein, Patrick's steward in Munster...died
For the year 1186 Maelcallan, son of Adam MacClerken, Bishop of Clonfert-Brendan, died.
(According to a note for this entry: "The church of Clonfert (is) the head of an ancient bishop's see, in the barony of Longford, and county of Galway.
REFERENCES IN THE ANNALS OF ULSTER (To AD. 1131)
For the year 1012 I.Kalends of January third feria, fourth of the moon. AD 1011 alias 1012. An affliction of the colic in Ard Macha in the above year, and a great number died of it. Mael Brigte son of the smith, lector of Ard Macha, died of it, and Scoliage, son of Cleirchene (Mac Clerchin), priest of Ard Macha...died
For the year 1043 Cellach ua Cleircine (O'Clerchin), successor of Finnen and MoCholmoc… fell asleep in peace.
For the year 1045 Congalach ua Lochlainn, king of Corcu Mrud, Glun Iarainn ua Cleirchein
king of Ui Chairpri, Flaithbertach ua Canannain, king of Cenel Conaill,
[and]Domnall ua Cetfada, the glord of Mumu, died. (Mumu is Munster and
Ui Chairpri is Ui Cairbre)
For the year 1053 Lochlainn's son and the men of Mag Itha made a raid on the Cenel
Binning of son of Cinaed, prior of Cluain Fiachna, and Cu Macha son of Cleirchen (Mach Clerchen) steward of the Dal Cais. (The Dalcassians were a large tribe whose
chiefs were the O'Briens. "Cenel" or Cineal, etc. means kindred, race, descendants of.
Continued on next page Home
|
|
