O’CONOR DON, Rt. Hon. Charles Owen: The O’Conors of Connaught: An Historical Memoir. Compiled from a MS. of the late John O’Donovan, LL.D. With additions from the State Papers and Public Records. With numerous illustrations and genealogical charts.

THE LAST HIGH KINGS OF IRELAND

Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, and Co., 1891. Quarto. pp. xxiv, 395. Bound at the Fish Bindery, Rhode Island, in modern full crushed Levant purple morocco; upper cover with a gilt interlaced Celtic knot on green morocco onlay. Spine divided into six panels by five raised bands, title in gilt on green morocco label in the second, gilt interlaced Celtic knot in remainder; marbled endpapers. A fine copy.

This is perhaps one of the most illustrious surnames, which is borne by six distinct septs located in different parts of the country, of which four survive in considerable numbers. The most important of these are the O'Conors of Connaught. It is a story of the survival of this family over a period of more than 2,000 years and is one of the greatest Irish epics and a microcosm of the history of Ireland. Being descended from the last High Kings of Ireland, the O'Conors, a Catholic family managed to retain portions of their ancient patrimony. The Annalists claim that the O'Conors are descended from Heremon, one of the sons of Milesius, who invaded Ireland about 300 B.C.

John O'Donovan from whose manuscripts the author compiled this book, states that no family in Europe can trace their descent through so many generations of legitimate ancestors. "His best work" - Crone.