MaGauran

OF this family is (see p. 573, ante) "McGowran," which is one of the anglicised forms of the Irish sirname MacSamhradhain.

The ancient Armorial Bearings of "McGowran" were: Arms—Gu. two lions ppr. and one lion pass. surmounted with a crown in centre. Crest: A demi ramp. lion gu. Motto: Vincit Veritas.

The McGoverns or McGowrans, etc., are of the Hy-Briuin race, and are descended from Brian, the first King of Connaught of the Hy-Niall Sept, and the eldest brother of the Monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages, who is No. 87 on the "O'Neill" (No. 1), of Tyrone, pedigree. They were the Lords and Chieftains of the ancient barony of Tullaghaw, co. Cavan, generally known (see the "Dolan" pedigree, ante,) as the Kingdom of Glan or Glangavlin or the Country of the MacGaurans. (See Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.) "MacGauran's Country" is about sixteen miles in length by seven in breadth. In Queen Elizabeth's reign Commissioners were in 1584 sent there, and by them the whole territory of the County Cavan was partitioned into seven baronies, one of those baronies (Tullaghaw) being assigned to the Sept MacGauran. On the confiscation of six counties in Ulster, during the Ulster Plantation, in the reign of James I., the County Cavan was planted with British colonies, and, according to Connellan, the MacGaurans received 1,000 acres.

A complete list of the chiefs, from A.D. 1220 to 1532, is given in O'Donovan's translation of the "Four Masters." The Sept prides itself on having had a Catholic Archbishop, viz., Edmond MacGauran, Primate of Armagh, and two bishops.

A Mr. Bartholomew Joseph McGovern went to Liverpool about the year 1846, and there attained a high social position. R.I.P. He left two sons, viz., the Rev. John Bernard McGovern, and Mr. Joseph Henry McGovern, architect, who are the authors of a History of the Clan, together with a number of other works. Both living in 1887.