The many Irish Flynns, correctly O'Flynns, are descended from three separate branches, originally of Ulster, Cork and Roscommon. Their history goes back thousands of years to the coming to Ireland of the Celts and from earliest of times were organised on the clan system, based on chiefs and sub chiefs. They wee so established in pre-christian times and it was one of the chiefs Enda who was converted by St. Patrick, gave land to the saint for the building of a church on Cill Tulach or Kiltullagh the name of the village, and the name of the parish.

The territory of the O'Flynns comprised the Parish of Kiltullagh as we know it to-day, part of the parish of Kilkeevan in Co Roscommon and considerable portion of Ballinakill in Co Galway, making up to twenty five thousand acres. This included the mountainous district of Sliabh O'Flynn or O'Flynn mountain in the Ballinlough area. Originally the O'Flynns lived in ring forts in Kiltullagh and Granlahan but in the 12th century they moved to Ballinlough where they built a stone castle overlooking the lake which was known or came to be known as Lake O'Flynn. This was their seat of authority for nearly four centuries until they were dispossessed by the crown for non payment of rents which were alleged to be due. The O'Flynns were one of the last if not the last to reject having to pay rent on their lands to the crown. They paid the price and were put out of their possessions both castle and lands. This fate would have been conclusively sealed when Cromwell passed through Ballinlough in the late 1640's and any sign of resistance was put down by the sword.

The late 1500's was a turbulent time for all Ireland, not least for clans like the O'Flynns. Elizabeth the first had her eye on the sparsely populated lands of Connaught, including Roscommon. The opportunity came with the defeat of Kinsale to divide and to plant, and this was done after the time of Cromwell.

The battle of Kinsale resulted in the route of Irish resistance and the scattering of defeated forces. These included O'Sullivan-Beare who fought at Kinsale, but having realised the finality of the result made his escape to the north by his legendary forced march from Cork to Leitrim. His route through O'Flynn country is well authenticated and most likely had to be facilitated by O'Flynn guides. How else could complete strangers find their way safely through water logged marshes and rugged mountains in mid winter without local help. O'Sullivan had a skirmish with crown forces at Glinsk Castle where he was victorious, and made his escape across Ballymoe and over O'Flynn mountain and avoiding the village of Ballinlough. He camped over-night in the woods north of the village where he was befriended by the O'Flynns from their castle on the hill. Such be-friending would not have been seen in a favourable light by the pursuing forces of the crown and O'Flynn would not have done himself any favours in their eyes.

There is a tradition that many of O'Sullivan Beare followers dropped off here and there on the route and settled in friendly places. There is evidence of this locally with names such as Carty, McCarthy and O'Callaghan who can trace their roots back to that time.

Nothing remains to day of O'Flynns castle except grass covered foundations. The lands were all divided and allocated to new owners. It is said that the castle itself was demolished and the stones used to build the local Church of Ireland in the 1800's.

Recorded history indicates that the O'Flynns were a considerable force to be reckoned with, and produced many illustrious names and deeds. The annals of the Four Masters record the deaths of many of their chiefs, some by violent means and probably slain in battle.

Fiachra O'Flynn of Ballinlough is mentioned as head of the family in the inquisitions of 1696. In 1703 John Mitchell and John Trench of Dublin received lands in Ballintubber which had belonged to Fiachra O'Flynn who had been attained i.e. dispossessed and condemned to death, probably for refusing to bend to crown demands.

Like many other Irish clans, much of the history of the O'Flynns deals with battles and fighting's - fighting amongst themselves, fighting the outsider or fighting the English, for example the Irish annals tell that in 1133 Giolla na Naomh O'Flynn, chief of Siol Maolruain was killed in resisting an army from Munster which had invaded Connaught. Again in 1307, Conor O'Flynn was described as the best man in all Connaught for making was on the English. He died and is buried in Boyle Abbey.

Whatever about fighting and dying, the name O'Flynn, Flynn, O'Flyn and other derivatives is still one of the most numerous names in Ireland to-day.

text by Dermot Winston, Ballinlough, Co Roscommon