O'Lonergan family genealogy

Chiefs of Clar-Cahir, County Tipperary

The O'Longairgain family ("longair": Irish, a ship's crew; "gan," without), anglicised O'Lonergan, Lonergan, and Lunergan, derive their sirname and descent from Longairgan, son of Donchuan, son of Cineide, who is No. 104 on the "O'Brien, Kings of Thomond" pedigree. They were Chiefs of Clar Cahir or the plains of Cahir, the seat of the Kings and Princes of Tipperary; and a junior branch of this sept, which removed into Hy-Many, in South Conacht, in early times, became hereditary harpers to the O'Kellys, lords of that principality.

The castle of Ballinamanaley, in the parish of Fohenagh, barony of Killconnell, is said to have belonged to this family; and, according to tradition, Lowville, the seat of the MacDonaghs, marks the site of another of the residences of the music-loving O'Lonergans.

Frequent mention is made of this sept in the Irish Annals:—

In A.D. 1099. Annadh O'Lonergan, successor of Columb, Coarb of Creevan, in Hy-Many, died. We are inclined to believe this O'Lonergan was not a descendant of Donchuan; as it seems the family did not settle in Conacht at so early a period, when the Dal-Cassian O'Lonergans were few and in affluent circumstances; it is very probable this man was a member of some Hy-Manian family.

In A.D. 1131. Connor O'Lonergan was killed.

In 1147. Donal O'Lonergan, chief of Ormond, flourished.

In 1152. Donatus O'Lonergan was appointed to the see of Cashel; he died, 1158.

In 1161. Tadgh O'Lonergan, bishop of Killaloe, styled "of Thomond," died.

In 1206. Donal O'Lonergan, called "Donal II.," a Cistercian monk, a native of Muscry-Tire, in Ormond, was advanced to the see of Cashel; being confirmed in his see by Pope Innocent III. on 5th April, 1219. This prelate assisted at the fourth Council of Lateran, or twelfth general Council, held in the Basilica of the Lateran, A.D. 1215, at which 1185 Fathers attended, and Pope Innocent III., (Lathario Conte), who excommunicated John (Lackland), King of England, presided. The Annals of Ulster, and the Four Masters, state that he died at Rome; but other authorities affirm that he died at Burgundy, returning to Ireland, and that he was interred in the 'convent of Citeaux, in that city.

Donal O'Lonergan III. was consecrated archbishop of Cashel, in 1216; he resigned his sacred charge in 1223, and died nine years afterwards.

Allan O'Lonergan, a Franciscan friar, was consecrated bishop of Cloyne, in 1274; he died in 1283.

Frederick O'Lonergan, a Dominican friar, was elected to the vacant see of Killaloe, in 1437. He died in 1439, in the monastery of Holy Cross, co. Tipperary. At the dissolution of the monastic institutions, temp. Henry VIII., Edward O'Lonergan was seized of the priory of Cahir, and 180 acres of land in the vicinity of the establishment, valued at one shilling per acre.