Thomas Eagan 1821 : Short Biography

Comments

Hi 

 

I am a researcher of Clan Aedacain and descend from County Longford Keegans.
 

My research has Loughrea near two important places for the Clan Aedagain, Duniry and Athenry.

 

Athenry being the place where a Mac Aeducain Chief, Brehons to the O'Conchobair was killed in the two Battles of Athenry, 1249 (Baethgalach Mac Aedacain) and 1316 (John Mac Aedhagain) .

 

Duniry being home to Aed mac Conchbair Mac Aodhagáin (1330–1359). Mac Aodhagáin was a member of a bardic family who originated from Park, in north County Galway. He was a scribe and based in Dún Daighre, (Duniry), County Galway, and was an ollamh in law for the Clanricarde.

 

I will include a snippet of my research into the homeland of Clan Aedacain, circa 1200AD
 

Annála Connacht

1260.3

Macwilliam Burke made an expedition against Fedlimid [O Conchobair]. He came to Roscommon, from where he sent a raid into Cruffon, plundering the Clann Aedacain.

Cruffon

Located in Galway, containing the Barony of Killian and a large part of Ballymoe.

Clann Aedhagáin

MacEideadhain or Mac Aodhagain (anglicised "MacEgan") were chiefs of Clan Diarmada, a district in the barony of Leitrim, county Galway; and had a castle at Dun Doighre, now "Duniry." The MacEgans were Brehons in Connaught, and also in Ormond; and many of them eminent literary men. The Mac Egans supplied hereditary Brehons to different parts of Ireland. MacEgans were marshals of the forces to the O'Kellys, princes of Hy-Maine; and of the same descent as the O'Kellys, namely that of the Clan Colla.

The Uí Maine were traditionally thought to be descended from Colla da Crioch, one of the Three Collas. Their original homeland was Oirghialla.

The O Kellys of east Galway are an offshoot of the wider Uí Maine family group, whose ancestor has traditionally been held to be one Maine mór, son of Eochaidh feardaghiall, chief of a tribe of people who established themselves as the dominant group in the south-eastern region of Connacht by about the end of the fifth century.[ii]

The ancient Irish tract ‘life of St. Grellan’ describes this family grouping as ‘the race of Colla da Chríoch,’ from whom they were said to be descended and relates the story of their migration from Oirghialla in Ulster, by way of an area known as Druim clasach and Tír Maine (later Anglicised ‘Tir Many’) in what would later be known as County Roscommon. In this account their leader Maine, son of Eochaidh, is said to be of Goedilic descent, a race of people who came to dominate the earlier tribes of Connacht. The historian Rev. Patrick K. Egan, however, in his book ‘the Parish of Ballinasloe’ was of the opinion that it is more likely that Maine mór and his tribe originated in County Roscommon rather than Ulster and were of an earlier race settled in Ireland before the Goedelic.

Maine mór and his descendants appear to have subjugated many of the existing tribes and peoples that inhabited their land and established a petty kingdom, covering much of the later east Galway named from their progenitor as Uí Maine (later Anglicised as ‘Hy Many’). The senior-most family descended from this Maine was the O Kellys, from whom the rulers or chieftains of Uí Maine were drawn.

DNA testing of descendants of Uilliam Buidhe Ó Cellaigh, however, speculates that the Uí Maine were not descended from the Three Collas.[2]

Kind Regards

Col Keegan

Australia

Keeg

Monday 5th April 2021 03:03AM

 

 

Greetings Col Keegan, As an history enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed your email. Thank you! My father was a Larkin and my mother was an Eagan. Over the years, my uncle has received emails about gatherings in Ireland at a castle for clan MacAodhagain.

My DNA indicates that I am an astounding 99.8% Ireland/British Isles. This was really no surprise as I knew of my Irish roots. A map included with my results indicates that my DNA comes from the western counties of Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Donegal, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Cavan. 

I have visited Galway County. I hired a researcher from the East Galway County History Centre in Loughrea to verify my ancestor Thomas Eagan's birth in Loughrea. My Eagan family lived in eastern Galway County. Thomas was a son of Mathias and Honora Griffin Eagan. Mathias was found in a census as living in nearby Kilreekil. It was in Kilreekil that I found the gravesite of Honora Griffin Eagan, who lived twenty-five years post-famine. Sadly, she never saw her son Thomas again as he came to America in 1849. I was unable to locate Matthias' gravesite nor the names of his parents.
 

I have additional information on Thomas after he came to America. I found the land he farmed and how he made an "X" for his name on the official papers at the county clerk's office to purchase the land. It was there I learned he could neither read nor write. If you are interested in hearing about how Thomas prospered in America, I would be please to share it. 
 

The Eagans were tenement farmers on the Blake Plantation near the hamlet of Drought(Droot). I found the land and met the current owner who just happened to share my Larkin surname! He told me that on occasion he still finds stones in his field that were once part of the foundation of the tenement homes. The Eagan's were evicted from their home during the famine. I strolled, along with several sheep, through the ruins of the Blake Plantation house, which was quite large. I called my mother back in America to tell her that I was standing among the ruins of the home of the people who had evicted her family. 

My trip to Ireland is an experience I will always remember. Thomas's wife, Alice Ryan Eagan, also from Ireland, sorely missed her homeland. My grandfather would take her on Sunday drives in our hometown. She would look at the wide river and the green hills across the river and ask him if that was Ireland. She was ninety years old. Out of the kindness of his heart, he would lie and tell her yes, that was Ireland! Both Thomas and Alice lived to be ninety, which was remarkable considering their hardships. I felt like I was returning for them. Upon landing in Shannon, tears flowed.

It is cumbersome to share using this link. If you have any other information for me or would like any information I have, I can be reached at thewolfs@conwaycorp.net. By the way, my childhood next door neighbors were Keegans. Sincerely, Patty Larkin Wolf 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patty Larkin

Monday 5th April 2021 04:49PM

Thank you Patty 

What a wonderful response to my Post. Where do I start, well firstly I YDNA match two American Eagans, we Egan, Eagan, Eagen and Keegan under Haplogroup R-BY198 are the descendants of the Mac Aodhagain Ollhm and Brehons. I would suggest your Eagan ancestors were part of the Ui Maine I mentioned in my Post.

Incidently there are a large number of Larkin FTDNA YDNA Testers who are also R-BY198, meaning a close Clan relationship with the Mac Aodhagain in the early Medieval times in the lands of ther Ui Maine.

I visited Ireland in 2017 and walked the land of my Keegan ancestors in Ballymakeegan, County Longford. Such a beautiful Country, so much pain and suffering.

Stay safe.

Col K

Tuesday 12th July 2022 02:33AM