MacEniry family genealogy
Lord of Connello, County Limerick
Arms: Ar. an eagle displ. vert. Crest: A falcon close belled ppr.
ACCORDING to the Genealogical Tables compiled by Dr. O'Donovan from the Book of Leacan, and O'Cleary's and MacFirbis's Genealogies, this ancient family is descended from Sedna the fourth son of Cairbre Aedhbha (ancestor of O'Donovan), the tenth in descent from Olioll Olum, King of Munster, who died A.D. 234. The sirname in Irish is MacIneirghe.[1]
The territory of the MacEnirys originally formed part of that of the Ui-Cairbre Aedhbha, and at one time extended from the river Maig to Abbey Feale on the borders of Kerry. It subsequently comprised that portion of the barony of Upper Connello formerly called Corca-Muichet, now the parish of Corcomohid, or Castletown MacEniry.
Up to the period of the Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland, the MacEnirys held considerable estates in the county of Limerick.
There are numerous references to members of this family in the Annals of the Four Masters and other authentic records:
Kennith MacEneiry, King of Conallo, slain in battle, A.D. 1029.
MacAngheiree, lord of Conaille (Connello), slain at the battle of Fermoy, near Thurles, A.D. 1081.
MacEineiry, erected a castle in Kilmoodan (Castletown MacEniry) in 1349.
William Oge McKynery of Ballyaudley, co. Limerick, an adherent of Desmond, slain at Aherb, 7th August, 1585.
John McEniry of Castletown McEniry, co. Limerick, "chief of his nation;" Gerald McEniry, his cousin, and Shane McThomas McEniry, of Kilmorie, co. Limerick, his brother-in-law, surrendered the lands possessed by them and their ancestors for 200 years in Cork and Limerick; receiving a re-grant thereof from the Crown, A.D. 1607.
Connor McEnnrey, Petitioner in "Court of Claims" (1666), under a decree to his father (a transplanter) at Athlone, in 1656.
Symon MacEneiry, forfeited (1641) the lands of Castletown, &c., in Connelloe, co. Limerick; and in the same year John MacEneery, Donagh MacEnery, Mortogh MacEniry, and Andrew MacEniry, Garret and Bryan McEnery, and Thomas McWilliam McEniry also forfeited estates in the same county.
Antoine Macenery, Lt.-Colonel of Dillon's regiment, Irish Brigade, in the service of France, in 1696.
Arthur Macenery, Brigadier-General in the French army, in 1748-61.
Dons Malachias and Juan MacEnery, Lieutenants in the regiment of Ultonia, in the Spanish service, in 1718.
The following is the pedigree of a branch of this ancient family:
1. McEneiry of Castletown, co. Limerick.
2. Thomas: his son; born circa 1672; will dated 1745.
3. Philip: his son; will dated 1752. Had two sisters, one named Bridget; and two brothers—John and Thomas.
4. Thomas: his son, died in 1807; will dated 1807. Had a brother John and two sisters, m.; the youngest, Elinor, d. in 1826.
5. Thomas: his son; a merchant in Dublin; d. 1852; will dated 1852. Had a brother Francis, who d. young; and two sisters, m.—Anne (d. 1812), and Elizabeth (d. 1861).
6. Lieutenant Henry - Francis MacEniry: son of Thomas; d. 1873, leaving issue, a son Thomas; had five brothers and five sisters. The elder brothers were: 1. Thomas, who d. young; 2. Charles-James, who died in 1822. The younger brothers were: 1. Major Robert-John, living in 1887; 2. George, who d. young; 3. Edmund Paul, who died in 1872, leaving issue a dau., Mary Marcella, living in 1887. The sisters were: 1. Margaret; 2. Anne; 3. Mary, who all died young; 4. Elizabeth Anne, who was married, and who d. in 1878, s. p.; 5. Harriette-Susanna, married, d. in 1854, leaving issue, Frederick Thomas Goold, living in 1887.
7. Thomas Robert MacEniry; son of Henry-Francis, living in 1887.
Notes
[1] MacIneirghe: This sirname ("eirghe:" Irish, a rising) is distinct from O'h-Ainnerraidh or O'h-Ainnearaigh ("an:" Irish, the definite article; "nearach," lucky, happy), chiefs of Cuilleanntrach, and a quo O'h-Inneirghe, anglicised O'Henery and MacHenery; and has been variously rendered as follows: MacInneirghe [Innery], MacAneiridh, MacAngheire, MacEineiry, MacEneiry, MacEniry, and MacInerny, (which now obtain in the family). MacEnrigh, MacIndereighe, MacInnerigh, McEndrie, McEnery, McEnnery, and M'Kynery; and in France, Mannery. From the spelling and pronunciation of "MacIneirghe" we are satisfied that it is the sirname from which Irwin, Irvine, Irving, MacNair, MacNeir, MacNeary, and Neary are derived. It was therefore our mistake to derive any of these sirnames from O'Conaire or MacConaire.