Book of Ryans - From Heremon Comes
From Fiacha Baiceadha, the youngest, are descended the royal family, and the considerable tribes of this ancient province. His descendants included the MacMoroughs, <Cavanaghs,> O'Morochus <Murphy,> O'Broins <Byrnes>, O'Tuathails, <O'Tools,> O'Dowlings, O'Moel-Ryans <O'Riains>, O'Kinsealaghs, O'Mulduins, O'Cormacs, and O'Duffy's, and others. The names of the families were often derived from their position or occupation which, in some cases, were derived from physical features or personal dispositions.
Name Ancient Name Meaning of Name
McMorough Morough Chief
McMorra Morough Chief
McMore More Chief
O'Byrne Broin Sorrow
O'Breen Composer
O'Cavanagh Caoimheachan Entertainer
O'Cormac Cormac Son of Wrestler
O'Cullen Culluins Fairhaired
O'Dowling Dubhlan Defiance
O'Duffy Dubha The dark
O'Friell Friell Man of Science
O`Kinsellagh Cuinsealeach Bloodstained
O'Larkin Loiorchan Inquirer
O'Murphy Murchuda Superior
O'Mulroy Maoilruadh Red
O'Mulrenan Maoilrenan Ready
O'Muldoon Maoilduin Governor of Fort
O'Mulrian Maolriain Ambassador
O'Toole Tuathal Left-handed
Because the actual derivation of the Ryan surname is uncertain and highly suspect, many have attempted to define its origin. John O'Hart suggested that Ryan meant "sluggish" or "dilatory" coming from the Gaelic word 'righin`. [1] It has been speculated that it meant 'illustrious', and still another definition showed the name originated from the Gaelic word 'country boy'. The uncertainty in identifying the root meaning of 'Riain' has been a contributing reason for the confusion surrounding this surname's origin, however, Dr. John Ryan developed a theory based upon his personal research.
Reverend John Ryan, was born in County Limerick in 1894, son of James Ryan, and was ordained into the Jesuit order in 1911. While professor of early and medieval Irish history at University College in Dublin he wrote a letter describing his theory regarding the derivation of the surname:
What the name Rian in the surnames O'Riain and O'Maoilrian is has never been satisfactorily explained. Riain, like Niall , seems to be so ancient that its meaning was lost before records began. It is tempting to think of the old Irish word rian, `water', which goes back to form , found in Rhenos, the Rhine, and to connect the personal name with the cult of an ancient water deity. But Rian, in this sense, has a genitive, rein, found in Ireland in the place name Mag Rein County. A genitive riain seems to be etymologically impossible. For that reason the surname O'Maoilriain must be excluded from the category of such names as O'Maolanfaidh and O'Maolgaoitha which preserve a memory of the cult of natural elements, the storm and the wind. [2]
Another professor of Irish history, Dr. M.A. O'Brien, in his index to the `Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae' says that Rian should be pronounced with a silent `i' and a long `a'. He did not associate Rian with `Ri' which is Irish for king because this would equate to Rigan <righin>.[3] With these interpretations, Dr. Ryan goes on to say that:
Another suggestion would be the Irish riin cognate with latin ritus. In this case the personal name Rian would mean a person who sets in order or marshals.[4]
The ruling families descended from Fiacha, and they along with the ancestors of the Ui Riains became very important in early Leinster's social and political history. The Ui Riains presence in the South had been recorded as early as the fifth century, and they prospered in Idrone as late as the 12th century. The journal entries observed significant events during this period, and consequently information regarding the activities, lifestyles, and lives of many of these descendants are scarce. One page of information may contain a single year of data regarding the province if times were quiet and warfare nonexistent.
The kingship of Tara in the fifth and sixth centuries was contested by the Ui Neill and the Laigin. The Ui Neill tradition states that they possessed the Ard Ri to the exclusion of all other tribes in Ireland, nevertheless, this claim is countered by the tribal histories of the Laigin who also affirmed the ownership of Tara. The stories which showed the Ua Neills as the sole proprietors of Tara emanated from the propaganda created by the 5th and 6th century Connachta to compensate for the failings of the earlier Ua Neill kings. In these revisionist historical perspectives, "the rivers of Ireland were overflowing with fish, forests were difficult to travel due to the amount of fruit on the trees, and the plains were difficult to travel because of all the honey." [5] A resurgence of myths were created surrounding Cormac Mac Art and his son Cairbre Lifeachair to support the historians retailored versions of the Ua Neill's hold on Tara. These invented biographies became instilled in Irish folk lore, and for many centuries were accepted and modified by later historians to explain the Ua Neill origin. These fanciful versions of the Ua Neills pre-eminence in early Irish history was also used as a justification for their claim that only among its members would a high king for Ireland be elected.
The Leinster journals documented that Cathoir Mor and Fiacha Baiceadha ruled Ireland from Tara, however, Laighin tradition also states that Fiacha's son, Breasal Belach, also laid claim to Tara. Beyond this allegation, there is minimal information regarding Breasal Belach other than he was the grandson of Cathair Mor and the son of Fiacha Baiceadha. The annalists nevertheless did describe a confrontation Breasal had with the Ui Neills as they tried to re-impose the Boru tribute on the Laigin. Breasal clashed with the Ui Neills commanded by Cairbre Lifeachair, son of Cormac. With the help of Fionn and his Fian, Cairbre met with overwhelming defeat at the battle of Cnamros where it is said to have left nine thousand dead upon the battlefield (this figure was undoubtedly manufactured - large numbers that were divisible by 3 usually indicated that the number was so large that an accurate count would be difficult to obtain). From the journal entry, Fionn whom was the prince of the mensual lands of Meath was able to assemble a large number of men to aid the Laigins. Fionn traced his lineage to Cobtech, the son of Ugani Mor, who killed Laegaire Lorc whose descendants made up the majestic families of the Laigin.
Breasal died in 435, and was succeeded by Eudna Eimiolla (also referred to as Enna Ceinnselaigh). Enna, the great grandson of Fiacha Baicedha ruled at Ailenn (Knockcaulin on the Upper Liffey River). He was widely regarded for his military skills, and the annalists described him as one of the most powerful warriors living in Ireland in his day. Enna Ceannselaigh's tenure as high king of Ireland was highlighted as a period of great warfare, and his reputation would be later compared to his son Crimthan whose reign was filled with battles. Enna appears to have been more ruthless in his pursuit of war, as this passage shows: [6]
"Though many did Crimthann (his son) give of battles about roads, much more did Enna give of battles against warriors."
From the casual reader's interpretation of the early annals, it would seem that the descendants of Cathair Mor were constantly at odds with one another. In reality, the militancy described in these journals were short-lived with many lasting only several hours and very few lasting longer than several days. The large losses of human life described in these entries may have been exaggerated, still the loss of human life presented itself because the warriors fought "naked", that is they wore no armor. Enna's throne was at the ancient site of Ailenn which was located on the upper Liffey river in Knockaulin. He was recognized to be the most powerful and fearless warrior of his time as this commentary by one of his contemporaries noted:
Though many did Crimthan (his son) give of battles about roads, much more did Enna give of battles against warriors. (22)
Among the earliest battles recorded before Enna's reign was between the Ui Neills and the Laigin in 452 in which the annals documented a great slaughter of the Laigin. A few years later another battle between the Laigin and Niall Noigiallach's son, Loegaire, transpired in 459 and Niall Noigiallach was defeated in the battle of Ath Dara which indicated that Loegaire was the attacker. Three years later Niall died perhaps as a result of depression, and was buried, according to tradition, on a hill at Tara, standing upright and facing the Laigin to the South. The defeat, coupled with Niall's death, irritated Loegaire's grandfather, Eochaid, so he opened an old sore by trying to impose the Boru tribute on Leinster again. Enna Ceinnselaigh had several times defeated Eochaid, the father of Niall and claimant of the Ard Ri of Ireland and Meath. Eochaid continued his hatred of the Laigin until he died, at which time Niall became Ard Ri of Tara. Niall, in his desire to seek revenge for his father's unhappiness, also had the same trouble exacting tribute from Enna Ceinnselaigh as his father had. The inability to collect this tax frequently pushed these two powerful kingdoms into battle, however, most conflicts were small involving the loss of only a few soldiers in total. Later when Niall went on a military expedition in Britain, Eochu, son of Enna Ceinnselaigh, expropriated the Ard Ri of Tara while Niall's armies were busy elsewhere. When Niall returned he captured Eochu, but Eochu managed to escape his captor and attempted to return to Leinster.
On his way home he met Niall's court poet <poets had high stature in early Ireland>, and in revenge for his loss of Tara killed the poet's son. This prompted the bard to seek vengeance for his son's death, so he satirized Leinster by foretelling of the great hardships which would befall upon the kingdom so that:
"neither corn nor grass, nor other green things, grew therein.[7]
Once Niall had learned of Eochu's actions he invaded Leinster and remained there until Eochu was handed over to him. The Leinstermen feared Niall's wrath, so they bound him to a stone pillar at Ath Fhadat. Niall sent in nine men to retrieve the captured Eochu, but they were slain by Eochu who somehow managed to escape his bonds. This angered Niall further, and the Leinstermen assured him that they would again capture Eochu and present him to Niall. Eochu was brought to Niall's court, but when Laidcheann began to satirize Leinster again, Eochu broke loose and threw a stone at the poet which immediately killed him. Niall, showing a great deal of restraint, sentenced Eochu to stay away from Ireland forever. He left Leinster and was sheltered by Gabran, king of the Dal Riada, in Scotland. Eochu was greatly angered by his banishment, and later gained vengeance by slaying Niall in France during one of his campaigns against the Gauls. Although vindicated, Eochaid, son of Enna Ceannselaigh and tanist for the Leinster throne, never returned to Ireland. This ostracism allowed Crimthann, another O'Ryan ancestor, to assume the tribal leadership after his father, Enna, died. Like his illustrious progenitors his reign was also filled with hostilities. The early registers documented that at the great battle at Ath Dara Crimthann was commander of the Lagenians against the armies of Laeghaire. In a later battle in 482, Fergus Cerrbel, Fiachra Lond, king of the Dal hAraide, and Crimthann, king of the Laigin fought against Ailill. This battle represented the last time the Connachta, of which Ailill was affiliated, interfered with the internal affairs of the Ui Neill.
Little information exists which describes Crimthann's reign. This probably suggested extreme confusion among the Laigin during the latter part of the 6th century. The annals reveal that he was High King of Ireland when St. Patrick came to Ireland, and St. Patrick's journals supports the annals notation of Crimthann’s reign because Patrick mentions that he baptized two kings of Ireland: Dungalach, king of Connaught; and Crimthann, son of Enna, the ruler of Leinster. A later entry in the Irish journals cites that St. Patrick lived "in the 122nd year of his age died in 489." [8] Other journals witnessed that he arrived in Ireland in 432 and died in 461, and these conflicting dates regarding St. Patrick's life eventually spawned multiple theories including one that suggested Patrick was actually two individuals. Another theorized that he never lived at all. The latter is not well supported because "Patrick" left a manuscript entitled 'Confessions' that detailed his evangelical mission in Ireland.
St. Patrick's arrival into Ireland was one of the most significant events that occurred in this island kingdom. He undoubtedly was not the first Christian missionary to enter the Ireland as the annals mentioned others who tried to spread the Christian faith among the Celts, but his efforts represented the most significant attempt to convert the inhabitants of Ireland to Christianity. The 'Confession' is one of the earliest biographies of Patrick, and it outlines his life as a youth, his captivity and eventual slavery in Ireland, his escape and finally his missionary work. Along with the biographies, unusual or mystical stories surrounding his life developed in Irish legends. These stories were created over the centuries to personify Patrick's (Padraig) saintly stature, and the more creative stories surrounding his life were written several hundred years after he died by Muirchu a cleric at Armagh. Muirchu had written fantastic tales of Patrick's conversations with a dead man concerning the placement of a grave-cross, his miraculous resurrection of a horse killed by poison, and other fabulous wonder tales [9] which strengthened the proposition that Patrick was no mere mortal when he wandered the wilds of Ireland. As Patrick traveled throughout Ireland, he converted hundreds of Hibernians including many of the royal families and their following. Many historians have speculated that Christianity had a foothold in Ireland long before St. Patrick's arrival, moreover, his manuscripts, supported by the ancient Celtic journals, clearly authenticated his missionary work showing that he converted the royal families, and subsequently their descendants, to Christianity. These early annals also showed that Crimthann and his wife bestowed gifts to St. Bridget:
Of the multitude of presents that were given to Bridget and her monastery and her church by those who were constantly thronging there, it is recorded that the queen of Crimthann, the son of Enna Ceannselach, gave to Bridget a silver chain of which the Book of Lismore says: "The semblance of a human shape was on one of the ends thereof, and an apple of silver at the other end."[10]
Brigit, a Leinster saint who died in 524, established a convent at Kildare, and during her ministry was closely associated with the north Leinster tribes, especially the emerging Fotharta sept. Most of what remains of her life today has been fictionalized through a laundry list of miracles and undocumented fables associated with her unfaltering logic, and it appears that stories surrounding her personal healings and saintly wisdom were accelerated during mediaeval times to accentuate her chastity and devotion to the christian church. The romanticism surrounding her life nearly rivals the stories associated with St. Patrick, but one thing is certain: she must have been an exceptionally holy person, perhaps in the same genre as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, as the peoples of the Fotharta, being so impressed with her Christian spirituality, carried her religious message and saintly devotion to other Leinster tribes.
Crimthann, as shown by his acceptance of Patrick and Brigit, helped stimulate the conversion of whole tribes to Christianity, and the cult following surrounding both saints would flourish into the 6th and 7th centuries. He died in 484 before both saints would finish their evangelical activities in Ireland. The 'Chronicum Scotorum' and other registers showed that he died from a mortal wound inflicted by Oichaidh Guinech of the Ui Barrache and the men of Aradh Cliah, both distant relatives of the Leinster royal family. Such references along with other similar recordings showed that the ancestors of Riain were aware of the peoples of Aradh Cliah which in time would become one of the ancestral homes for the O'Mulryans. There appeared to be a familial relationship between the Ryans and the men of Ara; however, the ancient chronicles documented problems between them, such as this battle which represents the types of problems typical of neighboring tribes. The real question was: how strong was this relationship? The relationship, was at best casual between these two families, and not as clearly defined, for example, as there was with the Ui Barrache, ancestors of the Mac Gormains, and the septs of Aradh Cliah. The Ui Cheinselaigh's influence in other parts of Munster, however, was quite strong as Crimthann was able to arrange a marriage alliance with the King of Cashel. These marriage alliances were created to forge relationships between two neighboring kingdoms, and was commonly employed by the Gaelic kingships before the Norman invasion. His daughter, Eithne the hateful, died in 487 after this marriage was consummated during the battle of Cill Osnaigh in Magh Fea. Her husband, Aengus MacNathfraeich, King of Mumhan <Munster> also died during this siege. One intriguing aspect of early Ireland was the use of nicknames which were commonly ascribed to note physical attributes or temperaments. Once the name was assigned it stayed with that person for their lifetime. With Eithne's nickname, it can be assumed that her personality was not pleasurable.
Ireland was divided into seven distinct divisions within Ireland by 432 A.D. These divisions were known as the Seven Kingdoms, and each of these kingdoms claimed descent to one of four distinguished second century rulers:
Ancestor Kingdom
Conn -----------------------------Meath
Oriel
Aileach
Cruachan
Cathair Mor ----------------------Laighin
Eoghan Mor -----------------------Munster
Conor Mac Nessa-------------------Ulaidh
The political organization of Leinster was almost exclusively dominated by the Celts of the North after 450. As for the branch of Crimthann, the amount of information remaining on his descendants varies. Dr. Michael Richter wrote that `on the assumption that a king reigned an average for fifteen years there would have been approximately three thousand of them in Ireland between 450 and 750." [11] Ireland was not a kingdom ruled by a singular king, but a kingdom ruled by tens of kings with some more powerful than others. Dr. Richter goes on to say, `about a third are known by name, and about a tenth of these, in turn, played a role which is discernible today.' [12] This may explain why limited information remains about many of the kingdoms of the South, and why the North appeared so prominently in early Gaelic history.
The two centuries between the death of Crimthann in 484 and 750 was regarded as Ireland's golden age. Irish antiquity and oral traditions were being recorded by men of letters, and art also blossomed during this time. This remote island had became a mecca for learning, and scholars entered Ireland carrying literature, poetry, and art from all over Europe. Europe at this time was undergoing a transformation in literature and the arts, described by later historians as the Dark Ages. Throughout the European continent books and art were being destroyed, and much of what remains today was preserved in the monasteries of Ireland.
Because of Ireland's eminence in academia, many scholars made their way to Ireland. As this flow of educators made its way onto the island, they also carried a disease which nearly destroyed European civilization, the Black Plague. This epidemic devastated many areas in Ireland in the 7th century, and although the total death count was not disclosed, the primeval archives describe the suffering in great detail. The Annals of Ulster described the epidemic <663-667>, and fortunately one of its side effects was that it forced the genealogists to document family histories so that ancient Celtic lineages would not be permanently lost.