The Origin of the GALLINAGH name
By Robert Gallinagh
There have been many ideas as to the origin of the Gallinagh name.
One of them is that we are descendents from Spanish sailors from the Spanish Armada.
In 1588 the Spanish Armada set sail for England; The Spanish were defeated by the English in the English Channel and the Spanish ships escaped by sailing up the east of England, around the north of Scotland and down the west coast of Ireland. Some ships were shipwrecked off the coast of Donegal. It was rumoured that the Spanish survivors settled in Donegal and that the Gallinagh name came from one of the Spanish survivors. Sounds convincing since Gallina is a very common Spanish name. But this can be dismissed since the Gallinagh name was in Donegal for at least 300 years prior to the Armada.
Reference Burkes: O�Gailinigh from the gaelic gailineach which means �flattering�. Records exist of a Gavin O�Gailinagh in 13th century Donegal, Ireland, and a Richard Gallinagh in 1379 in Yorkshire, England. This clearly shows that the Gallinagh name was around in Donegal several hundred years before the Spanish Armada.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AT HAND FOR THE FOLLOWING CONJECTURE
Margaret Gallinagh received the Royal Red Cross medal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London, England. In conversation with the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother remarked on the name and Margaret said she had no idea where the name came from. It is rumoured that the Queen Mother initiated a research which gave the following information:
The Gallinaghs were one of the first celts to come to Ireland. They lived in Florence and near Rome, Italy. In 750 B.C. they came to Ireland and landed on Innis Saimer, an island in the Ballyshannon estuary. They were road maker and road menders. They went 3 miles inland between the Erne and Finn rivers. They were know as �Rickeys�- those who dwell between the rivers
The Gallinaghs had 5 rules to observe
1) Thou shall never seek publicity or permit thy name to be published
2) Thou shall never own or use a weapon of war
3) Thou shall play no part in politics
4)Thou shall live with the people for its people but never on or off the people
5) Thou shall always be a peacemaker and intercessor
R.Gallinagh- I would love this to be true. I like the 5 rules. In the violent world that existed in those days, the above rules are very laudable.
The Third and Last Conjecture
I have read the following:
The Gallinagh name is derived from
�Gailineach who was the son of Teige and a grandson of Cormac�
Now is this Cormac the same as Cormac MacArt the most celebrated King of Ireland who ruled between 226 and 253 AD. He is regarded as a very noble and wise King.
My limited research (mainly through the internet) so far has failed to find this connection. (It does not mean it is not true).
I have found :
�Cormac Gaileang was son of Teige, son of Cian, son of Olioll Olum, (King Of Munster) who was a relative of King Cormac MacArt�
The Galenga territory comprised the entire of the Diocese of Ardagh. Galenga was called in 1537, "MacJordan's Country" and derived from Cormac Gaileang who was given the lands by King Cormac MacArt, in the 3rd century.
((Gaileanga was the original name. Changed many hundreds of years later to Galenga. R.Gallinagh�s speculation))
((Cormac Gaileang was the ancestor of the "O'Hara" and "O'Gara" families.))
Ireland had a violent pass with tribal wars throughout hundreds of years and then meeting the English enemy. What about this speculation; that some of the Gaileanga tribe fled for their lives either from another tribe or from the English and put down their roots in Donegal. (There is absolutely no doubt that Gallinagh is a Donegal name). Here they would retain their name more or less in the original form. The anglicising of names would have less affect in the parts of Ireland where the English influence was late in arriving and the local tradition was to still use the gaelic.
Gaileang to Gaileanga to Gailinagh to Gallinagh
Gallinagh has changed in spelling and pronouncation but in essence this is the natural change to a name occurring over the hundred years. It is essentially a gaelic name which has not been anglicised (changed to an English form)
From the ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS
A history of the Gaileanga---------they were violent times;-- read on
Beginning the age of Christ 903
Laidhgnen, son of Conghalach, lord of Gaileanga, was slain by the Feara-Cul.
Ruadhacan, son of Eitigen, lord of East Gaileanga; Faelan, son of Tadhg, Tanist of Ui-Ceinnsealaigh; and Duibhginn, son of Cuileannan, lord of Ui-Duach, died on the same day. The plundering of Inis-Doimhle and Inis-Uladh by Amhlaibh Cuaran and Tuathal, son of Ugaire.
The battle of Teamhair was gained by Maelseachlainn, son of Domhnall, over the foreigners of Ath-cliath and of the Islands, and over the sons of Amhlaeibh in particular, where many were slain, together with Raghnall, son of Amhlaeibh, heir to the sovereignty of the foreigners; Conamhail, son of Gilla-Arri; and the orator of Ath-cliath; and a dreadful slaughter of the foreigners along with them. There fell also in the heat of the battle Braen, son of Murchadh, royal heir of Leinster; Conghalach, son of Flann, lord of Gaileanga, and his son, i.e. Maelan; Fiachna and Cuduilich, the two sons of Dubhlaech, two lords of Feara Tulach; and Lachtnan, lord of Mughdhorn-Maighen. After this Amhlaeibh went across the sea, and died at I-Coluim-Cille. After Domhnall, the son of Muircheartach of the Leather Cloaks, son of Niall Glundubh, had been twenty-four years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he died at Ard-Macha, after the victory of penance. In commemoration of this, Dubhdalethe
The Sinnach Ua Leochain, lord of Gaileanga, died.
Fogartach, son of Diarmaid, son of Uathmharan, lord of Corca-Firtri in Connaught, was slain by the Gaileanga of Corann.
Conghalach, son of Laidhgnen, i.e. Ua Gadhra, lord of Gaileanga, died. Maelcairearda,lord of Ui-Briuin; Aedh, son of Dubhghall, son of Donn-chadh, lord of Magh-Ithe, and royal heir of Oileach, died.
Meirleachan, i.e. the son of Conn, lord of Gaileanga, and Brodubh, i.e. the son of Diarmaid, were slain by Maelseachlainn
Donnghal, son of Donncothaigh, lord of Gaileanga, was slain by Trotan, son of Bolgargait (or Tortan, son of Bolgargait), son of Maelmordha, lord of Feara-Cul, in his own house.
Madadhan, son of Aenghus, chief of Gaileanga-Beaga and Feara-Cul, was slain.
Cathal, son of Dunchadh, lord of Gaileanga-Mora, was slain.
Muireadhach, a distinguished bishop, son of the brother of Ainmire Bocht, was suffocated in a cave, in Gaileanga of Corann.
A great depredation was committed by Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and the son of Niall O'Ruairc, and the men of Teathbha in Gaileanga; but a few good men of the household of Maelseachlainn overtook them, and being at that time intoxicated after drinking, they imprudently gave them battle, through pride. There were slain in it Donnchadh, son of Maelseachlainn; Dubhtaichligh Ua Maelchallann, lord of Dealbhna Beag; Donnchadh, son of Donnchadh Finn, royal heir of Teamhair; Cearnachan, son of Flann, lord of Luighne; Seanan Ua Leochain, lord of Gaileanga; and many others along with them. Maelseachlainn after-wards overtook them with his forces, and the spoils were left behind to him; and Ualgharg Ua Ciardha, lord of Cairbre, and many others besides them, were slain.
Maelan, son of Egneach Ua Leocain, lord of Gaileanga and all Tuath-Luighne, was killed by the Saithni. Cearbhall, son of Maelmordha, royal heir of Leinster, was slain by treachery.
Aileni, son of Oissene, lord of Mughdhorna; and Ossene Ua Cathasaigh, lord of Saithne, were slain by the Gaileanga.
Cugaileang and the son of Seanan Ua Leochain, two royal heirs of Gaileanga, mutually fell by each other.
Flann Ua Flainn, lord of Gaileanga, died penitently at Ceanannus.
Donnghal, son of Donncathaigh, lord of Gaileanga, was slain by Ua Carraigh.
Laidhgnen Ua Leocain, lord of Gaileanga, was taken prisoner.
Laidhcenn, son of Maelan Ua Leocain, lord of Gaileanga, and his wife, the daughter of the Gott O'Maeleachlainn, went on their pilgrimage to Rome; and they died in the east, on their return from Rome.
A predatory excursion was made by Leathlobhar, son of Laidhgnen, lord of Oirghialla, against the Gaileanga and the fugitives of the men of Meath and Breagha, and he carried off many cows and prisoners; but Conghalach, son of Seanan, lord of Gaileanga, went in pursuit of them, and overtook the cattle spoil of the Feara-Manach; but the Fir-Manach, with their lord, Domhnall, son of Maelruanaidh, resisted, and slew Conghalach, son of Seanan, lord of Gaileanga, with many others besides him.
Leochan, i.e. the son of Laidhgnen, lord of Gaileanga, was slain by Conchobhar Ua Maeleachlainn.
Mac Seanain, lord of Gaileanga, was killed.
An army was led by Toirdhealbhach into Leath-Chuinn; and he took countless preys from the Gaileanga, and slew Maelmordha Ua Cathasaigh, lord of Breagha.
Murchadh, son of Flann Ua Maeleachlainn, at the expiration of three days and three nights after his having assumed the supremacy of Teamhair, was treacherously killed in the Cloictheach of Ceanannus, by the lord of Gaileanga, i.e. Amhlaeibh, the grandson of Maelan; and the latter was himself immediately slain in revenge, through the miracles of God and Colum-Cille, by Maelseachlainn, son of Conchobhar.
Ceinneidigh Ua Briain assumed the lordship of Gaileanga
Donnchadh, son of the Caileach Ua Ruairc, with the people of East Connaught, the Cairbri and Gaileanga, proceeded into Leinster, where the foreigners, the men of Leinster and Osraighi, and the Munstermen, under the conduct of Muircheartach Ua Briain, came up with them, and a fierce and bloody engagement took place between them at Moin-Cruinneoige, on the fourth of the Calends of November, where many fell on both sides. There fell there Donnchadh Ua Ruairc, Ceinneidigh
Laighgnen, i.e. the Buidheanach Ua Duinncothaigh, lord of Gaileanga, was slain by the Ui-Briuin
Cugaileang Mac Gillaseachnaill, lord of South Breagha, was slain by the foreigners of Ath-cliath.
The Gaileanga took a house at Daimhliag-Chianain upon Murchadh Ua Maeleachlainn, King of Teamhair; and they burned eighty houses around it, and killed many of his people, on that occasion. Ua Maeleachlainn escaped being killed or burned, by the protection of Cianan.
Domhnall, son of Donnchadh, royal heir of Teamhair, was slain by the Gaileanga.
A battle was gained at Sliabh-Guaire by Tighearnan Ua Ruairc and the Ui-Briuin, over the men of Meath, wherein were slain Diarmaid Ua Maeleachlainn, King of Teamhair; Amhlaeibh, son of Mac Seanain, lord of Gaileanga; Oenghus Ua Caindealbhain, lord of Ui-Laeghaire; the son of Mac Gillafhulartaigh, lord of South Breagha, and others not enumerated.
The son of Mac Maelain, lord of Gaileanga-Breagh, was killed.
An army was led by Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain to Loch Ua nGobhann, in Machaire-Gaileang, and he plundered Slaine. Ua Cearbhaill and Ua Ruairc overtook them, and slew some of their people, among whom was the son of Ua Ifearnain. In the absence of the men of Munster, Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair marched with an army into Munster, and plundered the plain of Munster, and carried off many cows; but he lost some of his people, and among the rest Ua Rodhuibh.
Fearghal, grandson of Cinaeth Ua Maelbrighde, fell by the lord of Gaileanga.
Domhnall Ua Raghallaigh was slain by the Gaileanga.
The victory of Ath-an-chomair, at Druim-criaigh, was gained by Ua Maeleachlainn and the people of West Meath over the battalion of Tuath-Luighne, wherein many were slain, together with the son of Gairbheth Ua Sirten, of the Gaileanga; and Conchobhar, the son of Mac Carrghamhna, was killed in the heat of the conflict.
A predatory incursion was made by Tighearnan Ua Ruairc into Gaileanga and Saithne, and he carried off many cows
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Latter annals 1511
A great war broke out between O'Donnell and O'Neill (Art, the son of Hugh). And another war also broke out between O'Donnell and Mac William Burke (Edmond, the son of Rickard). O'Donnell hired fifteen hundred axe-men in Tirconnell, Fermanagh, and the province of Connaught, and billeted them on those places. He and Manus afterwards marched with their forces from Derry, until they reached Lower Connaught, and from thence into Gaileanga; and they besieged the castle of Bel-an-Chlair; and they took the town, and left their warders in it; they then returned over Sliabh Gamh, into Tireragh, where they remained for some time. When Mac William Burke heard of this occurrence, he marched with all his forces, and surrounded the castle of Bel-an-Chlair, in which O'Donnell had left his warders; but when O'Donnell heard that Mac William was besieging the town, he returned vigorously and expeditiously over Sliabh Gamh. Mac William, being apprized of O'Donnell's approach, left the town, so that O'Donnell was not able to overtake him. Mac William then proceeded into Tireragh, and placed provisions and warders in the castle of Eiscir-Abhann, having previously taken that castle from its hereditary possessors, to whom O'Donnell had sometime before given it up. When O'Donnell was informed that Mac William had gone into Tireragh, he followed him eagerly and expeditiously back again over Sliabh Gamh; but Mac William being made aware of this, he left his son and heir, Ulick, son of
O'Donnell committed great havock in Gaileanga; he burned and plundered the country as far as Cruachan-Gaileang, and slew O'Ruadhain, and many others.