Denis O'Conor Don

Denis Armar O'Conor, O'Conor Don (Irish: Donnchadh Ó Conchubhair Donn; 1912–10 July 2000) was hereditary Chief of the Name O'Conor and principal claiment to the High Kingship of Ireland.^[1]

The coat of arms of the O'Conor Don are, Argent an oak tree eradicated and adorned proper. For a crest, An arm embowed in armour holding a short sword entwined with a serpent all proper. As a Chief of the Name, the O'Conor Don is granted the privilege of bearing supporters in his armorial achievement.

Born in London in 1912 to Charles William O'Conor and Evelyn Lowry-Corry and grew up in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Downside School in Somerset,England, after this he went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and later served in India and was part of the retreat to Dunkirk but saw no further action as he was honorably discharged due to injuries to his face. He moved to Ireland some years later with his second wife Rosemary and bought a farm in Co Wicklow where he farmed until he moved to Dun Laoghaire in the 1970s.

He inherited his title in 1981 from his second cousin Fr. Charles O'Conor, a Jesuit priest. He used his position to promote an interest in Irish heritage from genealogy, local history to archaeology. He became President of the Dún Laoghaire Genealogical Society in 1991 and President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland in 1999. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains.

He married Elizabeth Marris and they had a son, Desmond a retired Banker. With his second wife, Rosemay (née O'Connell Hewett), he had two sons: Kieran a senior lecturer in Archaeology at the National University of Ireland Galway and Rory. A daughter, Gail, died aged thirteen.

His eldest son, Desmond, inherited his title of O'Conor Don.

Ancestory

Ancestors of Denis O'Conor Don

16. Owen O'Conor Don               8. Denis O'Conor Don                       17. Jane Moore of Mount Browne               4. Denis Maurice O'Conor                             18. Major Maurice Blake of Tower Hill               9. Mary Blake of Tower Hill                       2. Charles William O'Conor                                   10. Rev W.T Kevill Davies Esq of Croft Castle                       5. Ellen Issabella Kevill Davies                             11. Ellen O'Brien                       1. Denis Armar O'Conor Don                                         24.Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore               12. Armar Lowry-Corry, 3rd Earl Belmore                       25. Lady Juliana Butler               6. Admiral Hon. Armar Lowry Corry Royal Navy                             26. William Shepard of Brabourne               13. Emily Louise Shepard                       27. Anne Lovel Dawson of Edwardstown Hall               3. Lady Evelynn Lowry Corry                                   14. James King King MP of Staunton Park                       7. Geraldine King King                             30.Kenneth Francis Mackenzie               15. Mary Cochrane Mackenzie                       31.Anne Townshend

References

1. Curley, W. Vanishing Kingdoms.