The O'Conor dynasty (Middle Irish: Ó Conchobhair; Modern Irish: Ó Conchúir) are an Irish noble dynasty and formerly one of the most influential and distinguished royal dynasties in Ireland. The O'Conor family held the throne of the Kingdom of Connacht up until 1475. Having ruled it on and off since 967, they ruled continuously from 1102 to 1475. Moreover, the O'Conor parent house the Uí Briúin and Síol Muireadaigh ruled Connacht on many occasions – but not continuously – between 482 and 956. The house of O'Conor also produced two High Kings of Ireland, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair and his son Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland. The family seat is Clonalis House outside Castlerea in County Roscommon. The current O'Conor Don is Desmond O'Conor (b. 22 September 1938) who lives in Rotherfield, East Sussex in England.
History The Ó Conor Don is the head of a lineage which provided about one hundred Kings of Connacht, thirty Chiefs of the Name and two High Kings of Ireland, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (1088–1156), and his son Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (c. 1115–1198), the last High King. During the late 14th century, the Ó Conor dynasty was grouped into two main divisions, one led by Toirdhealbhach Óg Donn Ó Conchobair, the other by Felim MacAedh Ó Conchobair. From these descended the families of Ó Conchubhair Donn anglicized as O'Conor Don and Ó Conchubhair Ruadh anglicized as O'Conor Roe (now extinct). The O'Conor family like all Gaelic Nobility followed Brehon law system up until the 16th century. Therefore, they did not follow primogeniture. The Kings, or Chiefs of the O'Conor family would be elected by a close kinship group. This did frequently result in bitter feuds and lead to civil wars within the Kingdom, therefore at times dramatically weakening the family's power in Connacht and in Ireland.
Descent from Conchobar mac Tadg, King of Connacht
The O'Conor Don line
The O'Conor Roe line
Key figures
Kings of Connacht Conchobar mac Taidg Mór 872–882 Áed mac Conchobair 882–888 Tadg mac Conchobair 888–900 Cathal mac Conchobair 900–925 Tadg mac Cathail 925–956 Conchobar mac Tadg 967–973 Cathal mac Tadg d. 973 Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg 973–1010 Ruaidrí na Saide Buide 1087–1092 Tadg mac Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair d. 1097 Domnall Ua Conchobair 1102–1106 Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair 1106–1156 Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 1156–1186 Conchobar Máenmaige Ua Conchobhair 1186–1189 Cathal Carragh Ua Conchobhair 1190–1202 Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair 1202–1224 Aedh Ua Conchobair 1224–1228 Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair 1228–1233 Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair 1233–1256 Aedh Ó Conchobair 1256–1274 Murtogh Moynagh O'Conor 1274–1280 Magnus O'Conor 1288–1293 Hugh McOwen O'Conor 1293–1309 Ruaidri Ó Conchobair 1309–1310 Felim McHugh O'Connor 1310–1316 Rory na-bhFeadh Ó Conchobair 1316–1317 Toirdelbach Ó Conchobair first reign 1317–1318 second reign, 1324–1350 Cathal mac Domhnall Ó Conchobair 1318–1324 Hugh McHugh Breifne O'Conor 1342; died 1350 Aedh mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ó Conchobair 1368–1384
Chiefs of the name Toirdhealbhach Óg Donn mac Aodha meic Toirdhealbhaigh, d. 9 December 1406. Cathal mac Ruaidhri Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 19 March 1439. Aodh mac Toirdhealbhaigh Óig Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 15 May 1461. Feidhlimidh Geangcach mac Toirdhealbhaigh Óig Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1474 – last fully recognised King of Connacht. Tadhg mac Eoghain Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1476. Eoghan Caoch mac Feidhlimidh Gheangcaigh Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1485. Aodh Og mac Aodh Ó Conchobhair Donn Toirdhealbhach Óg mac Ruaidhri Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1503 Conchobhar mac Eoghain Chaoich Ó Conchobhair Donn Cairbre mac Eoghain Chaoich Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1546 Aodh mac Eoghain Chaoich Ó Conchobhair Donn, deposed 1550 Diarmaid mac Cairbre Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1585 Sir Hugh/Aedh Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1632 An Calbhach mac Aedh Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1654 – popularly inaugurated king in 1643. Hugh Óg mac Aedh Ó Conchobhair Donn, d. 1662. Andrew O'Connor Don of Clonalis Dominick O'Connor Don of Clonalis, d. 1795 Alexander O'Connor Don, d. 1820 Owen O'Connor Don of Clonalis and Ballinagare, d.1831 Denis O'Conor Don of Clonalis, 1794–1847 Charles Owen O'Conor Don, 1838–1906 Denis Charles O'Conor Don, 1869–1917 Owen Phelim O'Conor Don, 1870–1943 Fr. Charles O'Conor Don, 1906–1981 Denis O'Conor Don, 1912 – 10 July 2000 Desmond O'Conor Don (Former Chairman of the British-Chile Chamber of Commerce, former banker, resides in Sussex), b. 1938
Other notable members of the family Hugo Oconór (Spanish Army Officer and Governor of Texas) Thomas O'Connor (Writer) Charles O'Conor (Irish American Lawyer and Politician) Nicholas Roderick O'Conor (British diplomat) Roderic O'Conor (Artist) Charles O'Conor (historian) (Historian) Charles O'Conor (priest) (Priest and historical author) Matthew O'Conor (Historian) Denis O'Conor (Politician) Charles Owen O'Conor (Politician) Denis Maurice O'Conor (Politician) Denis O'Conor Don (Prior Chief of the Name O'Conor, died 10 July 2000)
See also Ó Conchobhair Sligigh Clan Muircheartaigh Uí Conchobhair Gaelic nobility of Ireland Chief of the Name Irish nobility Irish royal families Chief Herald of Ireland O'Conor Sligo, a royal dynasty ruling the northern part of the Kingdom of Connacht Irish clans
References
Footnotes
https://web.archive.org/web/20101128140613/http://ria.ie/publications/journals/eriu/online-access/57-(2007).aspx
Bibliography
External links O'Connor family pedigree at Library Ireland