Walsh
Walsh is among the 5 most common surnames in Ireland, found throughout the country, with particular concentrations in Connacht in counties Mayo and Galway, in Munster in counties Cork and Waterford, and in Leinster in counties Kilkenny and Wexford. It is a semi-translation of the Irish surname Breathnach, meaning "British" or "Welsh", also sometimes anglicised as "Brannagh".
The surname thus has the same historical origin as Wallace, but arrived at it's present form by a more circuitous route. Unlike most of the other Hiberno-Norman families such as the Burkes, the Fitzgeralds etc., who can trace their ancestory to a small number of known individuals, the Walshes have many different origins, since the name arose independently in many different places.
Walsh was the name used to designate the hundreds of Welshmen who accompanied the Normans to Ireland. Two exceptions should perhaps be mentioed: the descendants of Haylan Brenach, one of those who arrived in 1172, became very well known and prosperous in the south and east of the country, While "Walynus", who arrived in 1169 is said to have been the progenitor of the Walshes of Tirawly in County Mayo, and the brother of Barrett, the ancestor of the Barretts of the same county.There are many placenames which record the surname, including at least 12 places called Walshetown. The varient "Welsh" is perticularly noted in County Antrim.
Maurice Walsh (1879-1964) of Kerry, began to write seriously when he was in his forties and quickly gained a large measure of fame. The film, The Quiet Man is based on a short story of his,
of the same name. John Walsh (1830 - 1898), originally from Co. Kilkenny, became the first Catholic Archbishop of Toronto. William Walsh (1841-1921_ was Roman Catholoc archbishop of Dublin from 1885 0 1921 and became the first Chancellor of the University of Ireland. Antoine Vincent Walsh (1703-1765) son of an Irish emigre to France, was captain of the ship which landed the Young Pretender, Charlles Stuart, in Scotland in 1745, for which service he was knighted. Joe Walsh is a famous guitarist for the rock group, The Eagles. And Steve Walsh was a guitarist for the 70's rock group, Kansas. |
