Ó Catharnaigh

Rev Patrick Woulfe

1923

Ó CATHARNAIGH—I—O'Caharney, O'Caherney, Carney, [Fox]; 'descendant of Catharnach' (warlike); the name of an old Meath family, descended from Maine, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They were originally chiefs of all Teffia, but their patrimony was afterwards narrowed down to Muinntear Tadhgain, now the barony of Kilcoursey, in Offaly. They were also known by the surname of Sionnach (which see), from the cognomen of their ancestor, Catharnach Sionnach (the fox), who was slain in the year 1084. The head of the family was known by the title of an Sionnach, or The Fox.

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