Mac Branáin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

1923

Mac BRANÁIN—IV—M'Branane, M'Branon, M'Brenan, Branan, Branon, Brannan, Brennan, etc.; 'son of Branán' (a diminutive of Bran); the name of a great Roscommon family, the head of which was chief of Corca Achlann, a large district in that county. They are said to be descended from the noble druid, Ona, who granted the site of the church of Elphin to St. Patrick. They appear to have been also called Ó Branáin (which see), and there is every reason to believe that the Uí Branáin who were erenaghs of St. Patrick's church at Elphin are a branch of this family. (See Mac an Airchinnigh). Mac Branáin is now generally, but not quite correctly, anglicised Brennan.

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