The Molloy’s are descended from the famous Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland in the fifth century. The noble clan of Molloy originated from the ancient territory of Firceall, which is in modern day County Offaly in the midlands of Ireland.
Following the battle of Druim Deirg in the year 515, the descendants of Niall established control over extensive lands including Firceall, which stretched from north of Tullamore as far south as the edge of Birr. Ownership of these lands remained with the Molloy’s until the first half of the seventeenth century, when the area was subjected to the plantations of James I and Cromwell.
Following the battle of Druim Deirg in the year 515, the descendants of Niall established control over extensive lands including Firceall, which stretched from north of Tullamore as far south as the edge of Birr. Ownership of these lands remained with the Molloy’s until the first half of the seventeenth century, when the area was subjected to the plantations of James I and Cromwell.
Firceall means ‘Men of the Churches’, due to the great number of ancient churches in the area such as Durrow, Drumcullen, Killyon, Kilcormac, Lynally and Rathline. Firceall was comprised of the baronies of Eglish, Ballyboy and Ballycowan. Surrounded by strong warlike septs such as the O’Carroll’s of Ely, the MacCoughlan’s of Delvin Eathra and the O’Connor’s of Offaly, the O’Molloy territory was the scene of regular conflict over the centuries with neighbour and Crown forces alike. The ruins of a number of important castles are found here, such as Broughal, Eglish, Ballindown, Dowras, Le Porte near Whigsborough, Kiltubrid, Rathmackilduffe (Rath), Ballyboy, Derrydolny, Rathline, Rathrobin, Garbally, Cully, Killooly and Pallas.
Let us now look further back to the first mention of O'Molloy which was anglicized from Maolmhauidh, the clan name of "Finnguine Ua Maelmhuaidh” lord of Feara Ceall. Whilst it is generally accepted that change was 1019 further research relates back to the use of O’Molloy as far back as 920AD, though it should be noted that the Irish sept’s have slightly different spellings, Maolmhauidh and Maelmhuaidh. Furthermore the fact that this is O'Molloy implies that the first Molloy was some time before this still.
(Date is confirmed in the Annals of Clonmacnoise Ffingonie O'Molloye King of Fear Keall died in 920AD)
Most Irish clan names stabilized around 900 AD with the clans adopting the name of a clan leader or patron. Many clans adpoted the "Mac" or "son of" nominclature that is still used in Scotland. Most Galic clan names based on the name of a former clan ancestor or famous chief were converted to names the British could wrap thier tounges around and spell. It is around this time period we see the "O" prefix added to the English versions of the clan names. The O'Molloy is basically "son of" or "a son of" Molloy much as the Galic Scotts used the "Mac" prefix or the Norse used the suffix "son".
As far as a reference to a clan leader being reffered to as Molloy or O'Molloy, most sagas and references were written down later so the reference may have been applied after the fact. Any Clan leader after Maolmhauidh could have been refered to as O'Maolmhauidh, or in English O'Molloy.
OK, so what about the historical home of the Molloy’s. The territory of Cinel-Fhiachach, originally extended from Birr; in the present King's County, to the hill of Uisneach, in Westmeath; but subsequently the O'Molloys and Mageoghegans, who were the principal families of the race of Fiacha, son of Niall, became independent of each other, and divided the original territory into two parts, of which O'Molloy retained the southern portion, called Feara-Ceall, and Mageoghegan the northern portion, which retained the original name of the tribe
I ought to remind you, that all this good information and more is in the Annals of the Four Masters, which is a complicated read at best and our old friend wiki can assist.
Let us now look further back to the first mention of O'Molloy which was anglicized from Maolmhauidh, the clan name of "Finnguine Ua Maelmhuaidh” lord of Feara Ceall. Whilst it is generally accepted that change was 1019 further research relates back to the use of O’Molloy as far back as 920AD, though it should be noted that the Irish sept’s have slightly different spellings, Maolmhauidh and Maelmhuaidh. Furthermore the fact that this is O'Molloy implies that the first Molloy was some time before this still.
(Date is confirmed in the Annals of Clonmacnoise Ffingonie O'Molloye King of Fear Keall died in 920AD)
Most Irish clan names stabilized around 900 AD with the clans adopting the name of a clan leader or patron. Many clans adpoted the "Mac" or "son of" nominclature that is still used in Scotland. Most Galic clan names based on the name of a former clan ancestor or famous chief were converted to names the British could wrap thier tounges around and spell. It is around this time period we see the "O" prefix added to the English versions of the clan names. The O'Molloy is basically "son of" or "a son of" Molloy much as the Galic Scotts used the "Mac" prefix or the Norse used the suffix "son".
As far as a reference to a clan leader being reffered to as Molloy or O'Molloy, most sagas and references were written down later so the reference may have been applied after the fact. Any Clan leader after Maolmhauidh could have been refered to as O'Maolmhauidh, or in English O'Molloy.
OK, so what about the historical home of the Molloy’s. The territory of Cinel-Fhiachach, originally extended from Birr; in the present King's County, to the hill of Uisneach, in Westmeath; but subsequently the O'Molloys and Mageoghegans, who were the principal families of the race of Fiacha, son of Niall, became independent of each other, and divided the original territory into two parts, of which O'Molloy retained the southern portion, called Feara-Ceall, and Mageoghegan the northern portion, which retained the original name of the tribe
I ought to remind you, that all this good information and more is in the Annals of the Four Masters, which is a complicated read at best and our old friend wiki can assist.