My ancestors - O'Rahilly - Contents

Morgan O'Rahilly

The oldest dated item in my entire family tree (excluding Blennerhassett).
"Murrogh O'Rahilly" in Exchequer Bill, 26 May 1701.

Morgan O'Rahilly,
Murtagh, born est c.1675,
of Raheen, Co.Kerry (thought to be Raheen, Aghadoe par, E of Killarney).
Brother of the Gaelic poet Aodhagán Ó Rathaille.

See note on the wives of Morgan O'Rahilly and Fionn O'Rahilly.
According to our theory, Morgan probably married Julia O'Donoghue "Mourney".
We think this is who he married, rather than Mary O'Donoghue "Mourney", or a dau of Donal O'Sullivan of Meentogues.

Morgan and his wife had issue:

1. Dónall 'ac Murchadha ó Rathaille, the poet.
   His name means "Daniel son of Morgan" ('ac short for Mac).
   Also seen as: Domhnall 'ac Murchadha, Domnall Ac Murchadha, Dónall mac Murchadha, Donal O'Rahilly.
   He had a farm at Raheen, Aghadoe parish, Co.Kerry.

   
   

2. Fionn O'Rahilly,
   of Lower Lisbaby, Co.Kerry,
   born est c.1710.

   
   

3. Eoin O'Rahilly,
   John.

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"Morganus Rahilly" the father of Rev. Florence Rahilly

Morgan may be identical with:

Morganus Rahilly,
of "Sancti Cumini" (Kilcummin parish), Co.Kerry,
mar Julia O'Donoghue,
had issue:

1. Rev. Florence Rahilly,
   born est c.1715.
   Catholic priest during the Penal Laws.
   He was educ at the Irish College, Bordeaux, France.
   He was ordained a priest in 1739.

The parents of Rev. Florence Rahilly (see bottom footnote) are listed in [Walsh and Pelette, 1950, p.127].

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Note on the wives of Morgan O'Rahilly and Fionn O'Rahilly

 
The O'Rahilly pedigree in [King, 1910] says that:

• Morgan O'Rahilly married a dau of Donal O'Sullivan of Meentogues.
• His son Fionn O'Rahilly married Mary O'Donoghue "Mourney".

However, we find a couple, "Morganus Rahilly and Julia O'Donoghue", in the right time and possibly right place. They have a son Rev. Florence Rahilly.
[Fitzelle, 1986] proposed a theory that this is our Morgan, and we swap the wives round as a result.
Fitzelle's theory would be that:

• Morgan O'Rahilly married Julia O'Donoghue "Mourney".
• His son Fionn O'Rahilly married Mary O'Sullivan, dau of Donal O'Sullivan of Meentogues.

Evidence against this theory:

• It is not the theory in our family tree.
• Rev. Florence Rahilly is not mentioned in our family.
• There could be two Morgan Rahillys in the same generation.
• Rev. Florence's father is of Kilcummin parish, which may not be the right Raheen.

More confirmation is needed of this theory.

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Raheen, Aghadoe par, and Raheen, Kilcummin par

There are two Raheens in the area.
To the W, Raheen in Aghadoe parish (beside Lisbabe and Annaghilymore).
To the E, Raheen in Kilcummin parish (the neighbouring parish, SE of Stagmount).

The evidence seems clear that the O'Rahilly property was Raheen, Aghadoe par:

• [P102/207(5)] said all the traffic from Killarney to Kanturk used go through Raheen, and Dónall 'ac Murchadha ó Rathaille had a stage house there. This can only apply to Raheen, Aghadoe par, which is on the old road.
• Morgan O'Rahilly may be "Murrogh O'Rahilly" of Annaghilymore, Aghadoe parish, who is party to Exchequer Bill, 26 May 1701.
• Annaghilymore is on NE side of Raheen, Aghadoe par, right next to it.
• [Dineen and O'Donoghue, 1911] (see p.xii) say the poet's relations were of Raheen near Annaghilymore.

The evidence it was Raheen, Kilcummin parish, is weaker:

• Extract from [King, 1931] says our Morgan was of Raheen in Kilcummin.
• The records of Rev. Florence Rahilly say his parents are of "Sancti Cumini" (Kilcummin parish). Of course this may not be our family.
• The records of Rev. Florence Rahilly also say he is from "Aghadoe", but looking at other people's records this clearly refers to the Diocese, not the parish.

The two Raheens on the same map.
To the NW, Raheen, Aghadoe par (beside Lisbabe and Annaghilymore).
To the SE, Raheen, Kilcummin par (SE of Stagmount).
See full size. From here.

Raheen, Aghadoe par, on 1829 to 1842 map.

Raheen, Kilcummin par, on 1829 to 1842 map.