Sometimes spelt O'Conor
Irish Clan Name: Ó Conchobhair

Clonalis House was built, by Charles O'Conor Don in 1878. Outside the door of Clonalis rests the 300lb limestone O'Conor inauguration stone, removed from the top of Carnfree hill for safe keeping. It is thought to date back to A.D 75, and bears the imprint of a fort, traditionally held to be that of the first King of Ireland, Feredach the Just. Cainfree, between Castlerea and Tulsk the inauguration site of the O'Connor Kings, was a centre of great significance, being used for in excess of 1500 years by the O'Connors. Beside the avenue at Clonalis, rests the ruins of the old Clonalis House, built by Andrew O'Conor Don about the year 1700.

While Clonalis is the ancestral home of the Royal O'Conor Clan, their built heritage stretches across Ireland from Dublin to Connaught, the province over which the clan ruled as Rings for nearly 1500 years.
It has been said that the history of the O'Connors is a microcosm of the history of Ireland, with an unknown noble pedigree, which stretches back to the first king, who reigned more than 350 years before St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, 700 years before the Viking raids started, and 11 centuries before the Norman's hit Wexford.

In the Library of Clonalis House, there is a pedigree completed in 1825 by Sir Williams Betham, the Ulster King of Arms, which enumerates 96 generations of O'Connors, starting with, starting with Milesium the first king of the Celtsin Ireland. In the 66 generations from this King to the present day, this clan has provided 11 High Kings of Ireland and 26 Kings of Connaught.

Among the names of the kings are Conn, of the 100 Battles who died in 100 A.D. Brian, the great king of Connaught who died 397 A.D, and his nephew Daithi the last pagan king of Ireland. King Brian was the eldest brother of Niall of the nine hostages, who brought the captive Patrick to Ireland. Patrick later converted the Island to Christianity and became Irelands Patron Saint.

In 1106, at 18 years of age, Turlough Mor O'Conor was inaugurated King of Connaught, according to ancient custom at Cainfree. After some strategic military maneuvering furlough became king of Ireland. He is credited with building the first bridges across the Shannon at Athlone and Atheroe and a bridge over the River Suck at Dunloe near Ballinasloe. It was he, in 1123 who commissioned the Cross-of Cong,(which was made in Kilteevan, Co.Roscommon). It was made to carvy a piece of the True Cross, sent from Rome in 1112, in procession around Ireland. The Cross of Cong, now in the National Museum and one of our greatest treasures has inscribed on its side, in Latin and Irish; - pray for Turlough Mor, King of Erin, for whom this cross was made. Turlough also gave us the great chancel arch in the Cathedral in Tuam, and the High Cross in Tuam. He is credited with establishing the first mint in Ireland at clonmacnoise in 1151, where silver coins were produced. Furlough Mor O'Conor died in 1156 and was buried at the side of the High Altar in the church of St.Ciaran, in Clonmacnoise.

Cathal Crove dearg, (Charles of the wine red Hand), his son, was inaugurated at Carnfree in 1201, and reigned as King of Connaught for 23 years. In all he built 12 abbey's, including the famous Ballintubber Abbey in Co. Mayo, in 1216, where Mass has been celebrated continually for 750 years. It is the same age as Notre Dame, chartres and Rheims, and 300 years older than St. Peters Basilica in Rome. He also founded Abbeyknockmoy in Co. Galway, which recently celebrated its 800th anniversary.

In 1228 Hugh O'Conor, son of Cathal, was killed by a Norman, who saw him kissing his wife in gratitude for having washed his head and arms with sweet balls, but not before he built castles at Athleague and Rinn.

Ballintubber Castle in Co. Roscommon was built by either Cathal Crovedearg or Hugh O'Conor who reigned as King of Connaught from 1293 to 1309. It is regarded as the earliest remaining example of an Irish built stone castle, as traditionally the Irish did not build in stone but in timber. Ballintubber is a moated castle with curtain walls and a bawn. This castle remained the principal seat of the O'Conor Don until the 17 Century.

O'Connor Kerry was the title given to the Chief of the O'Connors of the Munster Province. He ruled over another Sept of O'Connors living in a large area in the North part of the Kingdom of Kerry. After the Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland in 1170, his people were driven further north into lands closer to the South bank of the mouth of the River Shannon. They still covered quite a large area, and their main stronghold was Carrigfoyle Castle. The more modern Barony of Iraghticonor has its name derived in a poor attempt to render into English the Irish name for this region, namely Oireacht ui Chonchobair ("The Governmental District of O'Conor").

In the town of Roscommon the Abbey of Roscommon was founded by King Phelim O'Connor (1233 - 1265), son of Cathal Crovedearg. It was built for the Dominican Friars, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1257 and consecrated by Tomultogh O'Conor, Bishop of Glphin. The interesting tomb of Phelim is guarded to this day by gallowglasses in chain mail, carved on the side of the tomb.

A grave stone, inscribed in Latin during the Penal Laws and found buried in a wood near Ballinagare was translated thus by Dr. Douglas Hyde, First President of Ireland:
"For his ancestors and his father and grandfather here buried who were to faith and virtue most addicted
And to religion and fatherland most constant
But who were for the defence of both reduced, despoiled, dispersed.
This monument was erected by Denis O'Conor of Ballinagare in 1735."

The Denis O'Conor referred to be known as the "heir to nothing" because the O'Connor lands had been confiscated. He lived in a peasant's cottage near Kilmackanny, Co. Sligo and worked as a ploughman for 1 shilling (1/-) per day. His hardship was typical of the treatment of Catholics during the Penal Laws. With the help of his uncle, the only Catholic barrister at the bar in Dublin, Counselor Terence McDonagh, he bought a law case in 1720. It is said he walked barefoot to Dublin. The count restored a small portion of his ancestral lands, on which he built a small house near the village of Ballinagare. This house became a haven for ill-fated gentlemen, and its ruin remains a poignant and romantic symbol of O'Connor heritage.

Turlough O'Carolan, whose harp can be seen in Clonalis, was a regular visitor, said one-day:
"I think when I am among the O'Connors at Ballinagare, the harp has the old sound to it."

The present O'Conor Don is Dismount O'Connor, former director of Kleinwont Benson merchant bank, who lives in Rotherfield in England. His cousin, Pyers O'Connor Nash, is the custodian of Clonalis House and lands at Castlerea.

Ballygar is part of the ancestral home of the O'Connors and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Greenway which is based on the historic march of O'Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Heritage Houses

For information on Clonalis House which is associated the the O'Connor Clan.