MacCoghlan family genealogy

Of Cloghan, King's County

Arms[1]: Gu. three lions pass. guard in pale ar. Crest: A dexter arm embowed, vested gu. holding in the hand a sword, both ppr.

ACCORDING to some genealogists, the MacCoghlans derive their descent and sirname from Coghlan, son of Flatile, of the race of Cormac Cas; as we are informed by O'Cleary in his dedication of the Reim Rioghraidhe (or succession of Irish Kings) to Torlogh MacCoghlan, Chief of his name, in the second quarter of the seventeenth century.—See "Coghlan," which is taken from the Linea Antiqua.

92. Dealbha, 9th son of Cas.

93. Aindealaig: his son.

94. Sithe: his son.

95. Blad: his son.

96. Comghal Breac: his son.

97. Braccan: his son.

98. Saraan: his son.

99. Comghal: his son.

100. Clochcon: his son.

101. Dougosa: his son.

102. Caindighe: his son.

103. Coghlan: his son.

104. Mulvihill: his son.

105. Coghlan: his son.

106. Fionn: his son.

107. Uathamaran: his son.

108. Faghartagh: his son.

109. Anbith: his son.

110. Gormagan: his son.

111. Flatile: his son.

112. Coghlan: his son.

113. Murtogh: his son.

114. Longsidh: his son.

115. Hugh: his son.

116. Connor: his son.

117. Awly: his son.

118. Melaghlin: his son.

119. Awly: his son.

120. Melaghlin: his son.

121. Fergus: his son.

122. Donagh: his son.

123. Torlogh: his son.

124. Felim: his son.

125. James: his son.

126. James (2): his son.

127. James (3): his son.

128. James (4): his son.

129. Torlogh: his son.

In 1498, Cormac MacCoghlan, son of Eoghan, son of the Bishop, an official, of Clonmacnoise, died; and in 1533, Cormac MacCoghlan, lord of Delvin (i.e. of Clan Conor), and Cahir MacCoghlan, died; in 1585, John, son of Art, son of Cormac, Lord of Delvin, attended Perrott's Parliament; he died in 1590, and was succeeded by his son, John Oge. This John Oge, who is the last chief of the sept mentioned by the Four Masters entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with Hugh O'Neill, Prince of Ulster, in 1598. His son Torlogh was lord of Delvin, in 1620. In 1622, Mathew de Renzie [2] obtained a grant of 1,000 acres of the forfeited estates of the MacCoghlan, on the condition that he should not take the name or title of O'Rourke, O'Mulloy, Fox, MacCoghlan, or O'Doyne, "nor receive, nor pay any Irish rent, taxes, or services, nor divide his land according to the Irish custom of gavelkind." Sir Arthur Brundell, had also a grant of a large portion of the MacCoghlan estates; and several burgesses of Banagher obtained districts or cantreds.

The Rev. Charles MacCoghlan, vicar-general of Leighlin, John MacCoghlan, of Garrycastle, Terence MacCoghlan, of same place, and Teige MacCoghlan, of Kilcolgan Castle, were the representatives of the borough of Banagher in James's Parliament.

In 1790, Thomas MacCoghlan, the last independent representative of this once illustrious family died, leaving no legitimate male representative to inherit his name. None of his descendants were suffered by the "Ma"[3] [Maw] to use the prefix Mac, or to claim any relationship with himself. His great estates passed at his decease to the Right Hon. Denis Bowes Daly, who likewise had no children, and who shortly before his death, in 1821, sold the MacCoghlan Estates to divers persons; the chief purchaser being Thomas Bernard, Esq., M.P. The last MacCoghlan represented the King's County in several Parliaments.

Notes

[1] Arms: Another branch of this family had: Arms—Gules three lions passant combatant argent. Crest: A fret or.

[2] De Renzie: Mathew de Renzie died on the 29th August, 1634; as appears by the following epitaph, copied from the tomb of the family, in the Church of Athlone:—"This monument was erected by the Right Worshipful Mathew de Renzie, Knight, who departed this life, August 29th, 1634, aged 57 years. Born at Cullen, in Germany, and descended from the renowned warrior, George Castriot, alias Seanderberg, who in the Christian wars fought 52 battles, with great conquest and honour, against the Turks. He was a great traveller and general linguist, and kept correspondence with most nations, in many weighty affairs, and in three vears gave great perfection to this nation, by composing a Grammar, Dictionary, and Chronicles in the Irish tongue; in Accounts most expert, and excepding all others in his great applause. This work was accomplished by Mathew de Renzie, his son, August 29th, 1635."

[3] Ma: This was a title by which The MacCoghlan was then generally known.