Ó Maolchonaire

Ó MAOLCHONAIRE—I—O Mulchonery, O Mulconry, Mulconry, Conry, (Conroy); 'descendant of Maolchonaire' (follower of Conaire); the name of a celebrated literary family who were poets and chroniclers to the Kings of Connacht and other families of Siol Muireadhaigh. They were seated at Clonahee, near Strokestown, in Co. Roscommon, where they had considerable property in right of their profession. Many distinguished poets and historians of the name are mentioned in the Irish annals. A learned branch of this family, to which frequent reference is made in Irish literary history, settled at Ardkyle, in the parish of Feenagh, Co. Clare. John O'Mulconry, a member of this family, who flourished during the first half of the 17th century, was a profound Irish scholar and 'chief teacher in history of all the men of Erin in his own time.' The O'Mulconrys also produced some eminent ecclesiastics among whom may be mentioned Florence O'Mulconry, Archbishop of Tuam and founder of the Irish Franciscan convent of Louvain. The name is now unfortunately too often disguised by being anglicised Conry and Conroy.

Alphabetical Index to Irish Surnames