O’CALLAGHAN, Joseph F. The O’Callaghan Family of County Cork. A History. Illustrated. 

Dublin: Irish Family Names, n.d. (2004). Folio. pp. [xviii], 266. Red paper boards, title in gilt along spine. A fine copy in pictorial dust jacket.

With Clan location map on pastedowns of Cork families (mainly in the 16th Century). This extremely well researched history of a County Cork sept traces its origins from Cellachán of Cashel, the progenitor of the Cork O’Callaghans, down to modern times. Cellachán was the King of Munster in the middle of the 10th century. Two great County Cork septs descended from Cellachán, the O’Callaghans and the MacCarthys. It was not until the 16th century that factual detail began to emerge and historians were able to get a clearer picture of the territory occupied by the sept and the names of the clan chieftains. At that stage the entire Gaelic way of life had come under severe pressure and the land ownership was passing into the hands of the adventurers, comprised of New English and Anglo-Irish speculators. By the middle of the 17th century the lands of the Gaelic, Catholic O’Callaghans had been confiscated and many of the great lords now became the tenants of the new masters. Some managed to survive the Penal Laws of the 18th century and became the owners of vast estates in Clare and in Tipperary. For the majority the transition was painful and they and their descendants had to endure servitude and poverty until the Land Acts of the late 19th and early 20th century, wrung from a reluctant English government, restored their dignity and paved the way for future prosperity. In his chapter entitled The O’Callaghan Diaspora the author mentions many O’Callaghans worldwide who have become very successful people but of course they represent only the tip of the iceberg. What is remarkable about the O’Callaghans is the fact that despite the hundreds of years of penury and subjection their native resilience and intelligence has enabled many proud bearers of the name to rise to the top in practically all areas of human endeavour.

[L3 10D]