Clan McGrath (Clann Mac Craith)
| McGrath Mac Craith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Parent house | O'Brien |
| Titles |
|
| Founded | Early 11th century |
| Current head | By sept Chief |
| Ethnicity | Gaelic Irish |
The Clan McGrath (Irish: Clann Mac Craith), is an Irish Clan. The name McGrath is derived from Mac Craith, recorded in other written texts as Mag Craith, Mag Raith and Macraith, including the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Ulster. McGrath is a surname of ancient Irish origin, ans borne by the descendants of a number of septs, each with a common origin in the Kingdom of Thomond, a Kingdom that existed before the Norman invasion and located in north Munster.[1]
Tradition states the McGraths are of Dál gCais or Dalcassian ancestry, stemming from Cormac Cas, King of the Province of Muster in the 3rd Century AD. The Irish surname Mac Craith is considered to be patronymic in origin, being a name derived from the first name of the original bearer. The prefix ‘Mac’ in Mac Craith, denotes ‘son of’ and the commonly accepted translation of ‘Craith’ is Grace / Prosperity or Divine Grace. Therefore the literal translation of McGrath is ‘son of divine grace’.[2]
As the native Irish language was replaced by English, so the spelling of the family name Mac Craith was transformed. The most widely used anglicised spelling of Mac Craith is McGrath. However other variants exist, including Magrath, McGraw, Macrae, MacCrae, McCreagh, MacGraith, Megrath, MacReagh, MacCraw, McCreath, MacGrae, Makrayth, McKray. These are simply anglicised variations of the same name.[3][4]
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (941 - 1014AD)
During the High Kingship of Brian Bóruma Mac Cennéide or Brian Boru as he is more commonly referred, the Mac Craith Clan as a separate entity did not exist and the ancestors of the Mac Craith possibly formed part of a wider family group.[5]
Historical sources state these proto-Mac Craiths were the descendants of Cinnéide (Kennedy), the Father of Brian Boru, and when Brian died they were within the generational range that made them eligible for the leadership position within the wider Clan group, they were part of the deirbhfhine. This allowed any man whose father, grand-father or great grandfather eligible for election as King. In the lifetime of the king, one man of the deirbhfhine was nominated Tánaiste, or heir, to succeed on the king’s death.[6] With the election of one of Brian’s sons as King and the passage of time, these proto-Mac Craiths were no longer eligible for leadership of the O'Brien dynasty (descendants of Brian Boru) Clan, and so developed into a separate dynasty. [7]
Brian Boru’s Father Cinnéide had the support of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in his rise to power.[8] This link may have drawn the Mac Craith Clan north to Ulster to settle the lands around Lough Derg in Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The Mac Craith Clan formed established a buffer zone, insulating the Uí Néill of Tyrone from the other powerful dynasty in Ulster, the O'Donnell dynasty of Tyrconnell (Co. Donegal).[9]
Earliest References
The earliest reference to the name McGrath occurs in a citation from 1086AD[10] referring to a McGrath who was described as the Chief Poet of the Province of Munster. This McGrath, the progenitor of the Clan Mac Craith, was related to the O’Briens of Thomond and served them as poets. The Mac Craith lineage is as follows:
Lórcan → Cinnéide → Etchtighern (Brother of Brian Boru) → Flan → Craith.
Craith may have been born around 970AD. In 1097AD the Annals of Innisfallen record the "Son of Mac Craith the poet died". This is the first instance of Mac Craith being used as a family name. As poets the Mac Craiths are important enough to be recorded in the Annals.[11]
McGrath Sept of Ulster - Tearmann Mac Craith
Termonmcgrath (in Gaelic: Tearmann Mac Craith) Termonmcgrath (also known as Termonmagrath) exists in the Barony of Tirhugh in South Donegal. The territory incorporates the modern town of Pettigo and the ancient pilgrimage island and lake of Lough Derg. Termonmcgrath is also the location of Castle McGrath (also known as Termon Castle). To the north of the McGrath territory and just outside Ballybofey is Carraig McGrath, possibly the inauguration site of the McGrath Chieftains. [12]
The Clan McGrath were the hereditary Corabs of the famous pilgrimage islands of Lough Derg and controlled the routes to the pilgrimage island and the revenues gained from pilgrims making their way from across Europe to the site. The Annals of Ulster detail the names and lineage of the McGrath Chieftains of Ulster from the 12th century until the eventual dispossession of McGrath lands in the 17th century. This valuable source also gives information on the Termon.[13]
The Termon was under the divine protection of the local Saint Davog (Dabhog) and the McGrath Chieftain. We find the annals describing this Termon as Tearmann Dabhog (St. Davog's Termon) until the end of the 15th century when in 1496 the Annals of Ulster begin to refer to it as Tearmann Mhic Craith (McGrath's Termon) from the Clan who held the hereditary office of Corab (in Gaelic: Comharba). [14]
Archbishop Miler McGrath 1523 - 1622AD
Perhaps the most infamous of the McGraths of Termonmcgath is Archbishop Miler McGrath (also spelt Myler Magrath 1523–1622AD). Miler was the son of the McGrath Chief, Donnchadh and was destined for the religious life. He became a Franciscan and studied in Rome where he acquired the Roman Catholic bishopric of Down and Connor. Although kinsman and foster brother of the Gaelic Lord Shane 'The Proud' O'Neill, Miler was himself a master in the game of politics and alliances. In 1569 he conformed to the reformed faith and was initially granted the Protestant bishopric of Clogher, thus holding a Roman Catholic and Protestant bishopric at the same time. This continued until 1580 when he was eventually deprived of the Catholic bishopric for heresy.[15]
Miler would expand his influence and power across Ireland and in 1571AD became Archbishop of Rock of Cashel in Tipperary. Miler brought 200 armed men from his ancestral home at Termonmcgrath, consisting mainly of his McGrath kinsmen.[16] Their descendants are still found today in Co. Tipperary. Miler patrolled his lands in Tipperary, carrying a sword and wearing armour, a sign perhaps of the dangers in which a man such as he found himself. Miler married Amy, the daughter of the O'Meara Chieftain and fathered four sons and two daughters.[17]
In 1622 aged 100 years Miler died. Prior to his death he commissioned his tomb stone which today bears an effigy in the robes of a Catholic bishop. It is debated as to whether this is an actual representation of Miler or a later addition to the tomb. It is a tradition that Miler converted back to the Catholic faith before his death. Miler had his coat of arms carved on his tombstone, these are re-created in the above artwork. Miler's arms are the earliest depiction of the McGrath Arms that we know of and are almost 500 years old.[18]
Annals of Ulster and Annals of the Four Masters
From the 13th century the story of the Termon has been the story of the Clan McGrath. The first Chieftain and Corab (Comharba) is recorded in 1290. The following is the record of the McGrath Chieftains of Termonmcgrath compiled from the ancient Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters.
1290 - Giolla Adhamhnain Mac Craith, Comharba of Terman Dabhoig died. (Nicholas Mac Craith inherits title)
1340 - Nicholas Mac Craith, the Comhraba died.(Muiris Mac Craith inherits title).
1384 - Lucia, wife of Muiris Mac Craith Comhraba dies. (Mark son of Muiris inherits title)
1423 - The Mac Craith of the Termon (Chieftain) Mark, Son of Muiris dies. (Sean Mor, inherits title)
1435 - The Mac Craith of the Termon, Sean Mor died; "a gentlemen who maintained a house of hospitality for all". (Matthew, Sean's brother inherits the title)
1440 - The Mac Craith of the Termon, Matthew son of Mark died. (Sean Bui the fair haired son of Sean Mor inherits the title)
1463 - Torlough, son of Mark Mac Craith died.
1465 - Art, son of Sean Mor Mac Craith and dean of Lough Erne Deanery, died.
1469 - Sean Bui, son of Sean Mor died. (Diarmuid son of Mark, son of Muiris inherits title)
1470 - Catherine, wife of Diarmuid Mac Craith died.
1491 - Rory son of Diarmuid Mac Craith becomes Comharba and inherits title. Diarmuid is gravely ill.
1492 - The Mac Craith of the Termon, Diarmuid, son of Mark, son of Muiris died.
1499 - Grainne wife of The Mac Craith, Rory died this year.
1504 - Andrew son of the Chieftain of the Termon died, "And there was not, during his lifetime in Ireland at that time a Termoner's son that had greater respect and honour and kept a better house of hospitality than he."
1507 - Donncha Mac Craith at this time was Prior of Lough Derg.
1524 - Sean Bui, son of Andrew Mac Craith a man of most esteem and influence in Ulster, died.
1527 - William, son of Andrew Mac Craith, a man of wealth who kept a house of hospitality for all, and his wife both died within one day and one night.
1528 - The Mac Craith of the Termon, Rory son of Diarmuid, son of Mark, died, "And a noble Chieftain was that man, and he was generous to strangers, intelligent, informed, cheerful and virtuous. And he was a learned antiquarian and a man that kept a general guest house among Ulstermen." (Torloug, son of Andrew McGrath inherits title).
1538 - Annabel, daughter of The MacCraith died.
1542 - The Mac Craith of the Termon, Torlough son of Andrew, died.
1549 - Fr. Brian Bocht Mac Craith OFM, noted preacher and miracle worker, native of the Termon, died in Donegal Friary. This is also where Miler McGrath began his ecclesiastical career.
1562 - The Mac Craith of the Termon died. (Donncha Mac Craith inherits title).
1593 - Petition of Archbishop Miler McGrath for the surrender of the Termon lands of his Father to Queen Elizabeth I.
1596 - On 5 May, Donnchadh Mac Craith, "Chieftain of Termon McGrath, surrendered all his Termon lands to the Queen for reduction to English tenure and re-grant to himself and his Clan. On the 13th May the same lands were re-granted to Donnchadh by Queen Elizabeth I. These included all the lands of Termonmagrath as well as the lands of Termonnamongan. These lands spanned three counties and the diocese of Clougher and Derry."
1603 - Chieftain of Termonmagrath, Donnchadh Mac Craith died. (James, son of Archbishop Miler Mac Craith inherits title).
1610 - James McGrath, esq., Chieftain and Lord of Termonmagrath receives a Grant of Title of lands from King James I of England, VI of Scotland.
1641 - Castle McGrath comes under siege by the Lagganers, a force of northern settlers who oppose the Kilkenny Confederacy. The Clan McGrath burn the castle rather than let it be used as a military post by the enemy. The Clan McGrath are disinherited.[19]
The Ulster McGrath Chiefs of Termonmcgrath 1290 - 1641AD
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Giolla Adhamhnain Mac Craith
Nicholas, son of Giolla Mac Craith,
Muiris son of Nicholas Mac Craith
Mark son of Muiris Mac Craith
Sean Mor son of Muiris Mac Craith
Matthew brother of Sean Mor Mac Craith
Sean Bui 'the fair haired' son of Sean Mor Mac Craith
Diarmuid son of Mark, son of Muiris Mac Craith
Rory son of Diarmuid, son of Mark Mac Craith
Torlough, son of Andrew Mac Craith
The Mac Craith (First Name Unknown) Chieftain between 1549 and 1562
Donncha Mac Craith, Father of Archbishop Miler McGrath
James, son of Archbishop Miler Mac Craith
James, son of James Mac Craith
McGrath Sept of County Tipperary
The Civil Survey of 1654AD for Co. Tipperary effectively groups together three main clusters of McGraths. One are the descendents of Archbishop Miler McGrath and his kinsmen in central Tipperary, the other is a family listed as McCragh in northwest Tipperary and the third was again listed as McCragh in the Cahir area. Members of the Thomond branch of the McGraths migrated to the Cahir area of Tipperary in the late 16th Century and established a bardic school.
A McCraith family occupied the tower house at Loughlohery both before and after the Cromwellian transplantation that removed many Irish families from their homesteads. Their descendants still occupy the townland of Loughlohery to this day. Over the subsequent years some of these McCraghs migrated into Co. Limerick, Co. Cork and Co. Waterford.[22]
McGrath Sept of County Waterford
The best known Waterford McGraths, often referred to as McCragh, were located on the eastern slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains. These families were descended from the Mac Craiths of Thomond and were associated with the Fitzgerald family (Earl of Desmond). The McGraths and O’Briens were invited to occupy the slopes of the Knockmealdown and Commeragh Mountains respectively to protect the Fitzgerald territory from incursion from the North.[23]
The head of the clan in the early 1600's was Philip McCragh of Sliabh Gua who constructed a castle called Sleady Castle in 1628 at Curragh na Sleady. The walls of this impressive 17th century, four story structure are still standing. Sleady Castle is located just east of Cappaquin a little off the road to Clonmel. The family also had a castle at Mountain Castle (which is still standing), where Philip lived prior to building Sleady Castle.[24]
A tower house at Abbeyside across the river from Dungarvan was built by a member of this family in the mid 1500s. They were portectors and patrons of the nearby Augustinian Abbey. The castle was finally demolished in the 1960’s. The site of the castle was marked with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in 2015. The Clan McGrath of Thomond and Ulster came together with the local council and dignitaries for the unveiling. The Clan McGrath of Thomond and Ulster were represented by their respective Ceann Fine.[25]
The Clan McGrath Today
The Clan McGrath today is represented by two active Septs, these Septs are located in the ancient Clan territories of Ulster and Thomond. Both Septs are registered Clans of Finte na hEireann (Clans of Ireland). Each Sept is headed by a Ceann Fine. The Ceann Fine of the Clan McGrath of Ulsteris Seán Alusdrann Mac Craith. The Ceann Fine of the Clan McGrath of Thomond is Dan McGrath.[26]
Arms
The McGrath family are armigerous in Ireland and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The earliest recorded McGrath Arms are that of the McGrath Chieftain of Ulster. These are recorded as 'argent, three lions passant gules' in the book Irish Pedigrees: The Stem of the Irish Nation by John Hart[27] and in Irish Families, Their Names, Arms and Origins by Edward MacLysaght.[28]
Heraldry in medieval Ireland could often be a movable feast, however the theme of the lion and cross pattee fichee still appears in McGrath heraldry as depicted in the personal arms of the current Ceann Fine of Ulster. Any person wishing to acquire a grant of arms or research arms they may be entitled to bear should contact the appropriate heraldic authority in their own country. In Ireland this is the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, in Scotland this is The Court of the Lord Lyon, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this is the College of Arms.[29]
"Armorial bearings, or coats-of-arms, originated during the late medieval period as a means of recognition on the battlefield and at the tournament. They were soon employed also to attest documents and identify property. Clearly, a system of identification, to be effective, required regulation because use of the same arms by more than one person would result in confusion. Specialists, known as heralds, were therefore employed to keep the necessary records and advise on all related matters. Such officers of arms have functioned for Ireland since 1382. The post of Ulster King of Arms, Herald of all Ireland, was created by the Crown in 1552 and continued under the name until 1943 when the Office of Arms was transferred to the Government of Ireland and renamed the Genealogical Office. Since then, the Office has operated as a branch of the National Library and under the direction of the Chief Herald of Ireland."[30]
References
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.2
- ↑ http://www.ancestry.co.uk/name-origin?surname=mcgrath
- ↑ https://www.houseofnames.com/mcgrath-family-crest
- ↑ http://www.clan-macrae.org.uk/
- ↑ http://www.vikingage.mic.ul.ie/pdfs/lecture_brian-boru_ancestry-and-descendants.pdf
- ↑ Brian Boru, King of Ireland, Roger Hatterton Newman, Anvil Books, Dublin, 1996, p.23
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.3
- ↑ Chatterton Newman, Roger, Brian Boru, King of Ireland, Anvil Books, Dublin, 1996, p. 50.
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.3
- ↑ Frost, James M.R.I.A., The History and Topography of the County of Clare, Soaly, Bryers & Walker, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1893.
- ↑ Extracts From The Annals of Innisfallen, Kerry Archaeological Magazine, Vol 3, No 14, Page 140-151
- ↑ Pettigo and its People, Including a History of the Clan McGrath by John Cunningham
- ↑ Pettigo and its People, Including a History of the Clan McGrath by John Cunningham
- ↑ Pettigo and its People, Including a History of the Clan McGrath by John Cunningham
- ↑ Archbishop Miler Magrath, The Enigma of Cashel, Patrick J Ryan 2014
- ↑ Pettigo And Its People by John Cunningham
- ↑ Archbishop Miler Magrath, The Enigma of Cashel, Patrick J Ryan 2014
- ↑ Pettigo And Its People by John Cunningham
- ↑ http://www.ulsterancestry.com/newsletter-content.php?id=509
- ↑ Pettigo And Its People by John Cunningham
- ↑ http://www.clanmcgrath.org/clan-chiefs
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.8
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.9
- ↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.10
- ↑ Plaque Marks Site of McGrath Castle, Dungarvan Observer, 17 April 2015
- ↑ Register of Clans, Clans of Ireland, www.clansofireland.ie
- ↑ Irish Pedigrees: The Stem of the Irish Nation by John Hart
- ↑ Irish Families, Their Names, Arms and Origins by Edward MacLysaght, May 1986
- ↑ Royal Roots Republican Inheritance, by Susan Hood, 2002
- ↑ Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland
- "The Dal gCais Tribe and Their Clans". Battle of Clontarf. Retrieved 29 November 2015.