Geraghty

Geraghty and Garaghty (/ˈɡɛrəti/ GHERR-ə-tee) are Irish surnames. Originally written in a Gaelic form as Mag Oireachtaigh (or MacGeraghty in English), the name is derived from the word oireachtach, referring to a member of an assembly. The name of the modern national legislative body in Ireland, the Oireachtas comes from the same Gaelic root.

History

The MacGeraghty clan are descended from the Siol Muireadaigh of the Kingdom of Connacht, the same Gaelic lineage and homeland as the Ó Conchubhair dynasty. Their lands were originally situated in the Barony of Roscommon.

Their original name was Ó Roduibh before they took the name Mag Oireachtaigh. Ó Roduibh means "descendant of Rodub". The clan's head was one of the four Royal Chiefs under O'Conor and appears often in Connacht records. Later bardic verse calls their territory Muintir Roduibh "of royal judgments" and praises the chief as a horseman and fearless warrior. They were rulers of Clann Tomaltaigh and the Muintir Roduib and are referred to in the topographical poem Triallam timcheall na Fódla by Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin

Members of this Clan are said to have named the island of Innis Murray after themselves as they were formerly chiefs of the Siol Murray.

The MacGeraghty clan are associated with Clan Taidg as well as the Gaelic Kingdoms of Uí Briúin and Uí Maine.

A Chief of the name, called McGiriaght is listed in the Composition Book of Connacht in 1585, as seated in the Barony of Athlone.

Geoffrey Keating’s History of Ireland records that:

"Mac Oiraghty of the steeds was the ruling chief of Muintir Roduiv of rightful laws - A fearless warrior as he ranged the woods"

The clan name MacGeraghty lead to the anglicised name Geraghty, descendants of the family are still found in large numbers in County Galway, County Mayo, County Roscommon, County Sligo and among the Irish diaspora.

Related surnames that derive from the same Gaelic root are:

People

The name Geraghty may refer to:

See also

References

  1. ↑ John O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees (5th ed., 1892)
  2. ↑ The topographical poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh O'Huidhrin. Edited in the original Irish, From MSS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin; with translation, notes, and introductory dissertations by John O'Donovan
  3. ↑ Ui Mani and Ui Fiacrach Aidni. Page 1, Section 2. Mag Oireachtaigh, http://www.aughty.org/pdf/ui_mani_ui_fiacrach.pdf Archived 2022-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla-na-naomh O'Huidhrin: Edited in the original Irish from MSS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, with translation, notes, and introductory dissertations, by John O'Donovan". A. Thom. 8 July 1862 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small By Michael C. O'Laughlin Page 119
  6. ↑ Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. By Geoffrey Keating
This page lists people with the surname Geraghty.
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