
The O Callaghan
Family of County Cork: A History. By Joseph F. O' Callaghan
– The book is a 284 pg Hardback with numerous illustrations
(black & white). Size: 12 inches x 8.5 inches.
This extremely well researched history of a County Cork sept
traces its origins from Cellachán of Cashel, the progenitor
of the Cork O Callaghans, down to modern times.
Cellachán was the King of Munster in the middle of
the 10th century. Two great County Cork septs descended from
Cellachán, the O Callaghans and the MacCarthys.
It was not until the 16th century that factual detail began
to emerge and historians were able to get a clearer picture
of the territory occupied by the sept and the names of the
clan chieftains. At that stage the entire Gaelic way of life
had come under severe pressure and the land ownership was
passing into the hands of the adventurers, comprised of New
English and Anglo-Irish speculators.
By the middle of the 17th century the lands of the Gaelic,
Catholic O Callaghans had been confiscated and many of the
great lords now became the tenants of the new masters. Some
managed to survive the Penal Laws of the 18th century and
became the owners of vast estates in Clare and in Tipperary.
For the majority the transition was painful and they and their
descendants had to endure servitude and poverty until the
Land Acts of the late 19th and early 20th century, wrung from
a reluctant English government, restored their dignity and
paved the way for future prosperity.
In his chapter entitled The O Callaghan Diaspora the author
mentions many O Callaghans worldwide who have become very
successful people but of course they represent only the tip
of the iceberg. The many pages of genealogical tables will
be of interest to many.
What is remarkable about the O Callaghans is the fact that
despite the hundreds of years of penury and subjection their
native resilience and intelligence has enabled many proud
bearers of the name to rise to the top in practically all
areas of human endeavour.
The O Callaghan
Family of County Cork: A History. By Joseph F. O' Callaghan
– The book is a 284 pg Hardback with numerous illustrations
(black & white). Size: 12 inches x 8.5 inches.
Price: €59.90
US $72.00
(incl. postage) 
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