There are a number of early family trees which vary as to the origin
of the family of Walsh in Ireland. One of the first "Walshs" was said
to be Philip Brenagh (aka Walsh) who was a hero in a naval battle of 1174,
slaying the commander of the Danish Fleet, Turgesius, the King (or Mac Turger, son of
the King). There are conflicting genealogies for some of the very early Walshs, and
this page is a first in a series that explores possible family trees.
The story of Philip as told by Geraldis Cambrensis writing in the late 12th century, "In this
emergency, Raymond [le Gros] was appointed to the command, and the troops recovering
their spirits, made an incursion into the district of Ophelan (Offaly), and carrying of immense
booty, obtained means of being fresh mounted and equipped. From thence they marched
to Lismore, and having plundered both the city and the province, conveyed their spoils by
the coast road to Waterford. With these they freighted some small vessels which had lately
arrived from Wexford, and some others which they found in the port of Waterford. While, however,
they were waiting for a fair wind, thirty-two ships full of armed men came from the city of Cork,
distant about 16 miles westward, for the purpose of attacking them. A naval engagement ensued,
the Irish making a fierce attack, armed with slings and darts, and the English repelling it with
arrows and iron bolts from their cross-bows, of which they had great store. In the end, the men
of Cork were defeated, their leader Gilbert mac Turger, being slain by Philip of Wales, a young
soldier of great prowess. Then Adam de Hereford, who commanded, having increased his fleet
with the ships taken, loaded it with plunder and sailed in triumph to Waterford."
The latin reference that Giraldus uses for Philip is Phillipo Scilicet Gualensi.
In other versions part of Raymond's men sailed with their booty [from Lismore] into Youghal harbour, but were attacked there by Dermot Mac Carthaigh's vassals, the Ostmen of Cork, whose fleet was commanded by Gilbert, 'son of Turgare', the mor-maer of the city.
Philip Walsh was variously said to be a baron of Cornwall and
descended from the famous David, King of Wales; also descended as a nephew
of Robert FitzStephen; and also as a nephew of Rees Ap Griffith (Rhys ap
Gryffyd). It is also claimed that he was a a nephew of Strongbow; as well as
a descendant of Cadogan of Bychan (Wales); and a finally as a relative of
the Geraldines and Carews. Confusing to say the least! In the genealogies,
Philip is said to have married Susanna Lumney, daughter of John Lumney,
Earl (Comitus) of Waterford, probably of the McCarthy clan. In other
genealogies he is also said to have married Eleanor de Burgh, daughter of
Maurice. Of his origin, all appear to agree that he came from Wales between
the years 1169 to 1172.
In the so-called "official" genealogy by William Hawkins, Ulster King at
Arms in 1769, Philip was granted, by Henry II, the lands of Bally-Kilgavan
in Queen's County, of Castle Hoel in County Kilkenny, and Grealaghbeg in
County Tipperary. In the same year (1172-1174?) he was created Philip lord
of Carrickmore in Waterford and baron of Pildom in Tipperary and Shancaher
in Kilkenny. After his marriage to Susanna he is said to have received much
mountain land, from which the family of Philip is called "of the Mountain"
to distinguish it from the family of his brother, David. In 1172, David
was created baron of Carrickmaine in Dublin and of John's Cross in Kerry.
Philip's son, Howell Walsh, was said to have built (or finished)
Castlehale
on the northern edge of the Walsh Mountains in county Kilkenny.
Howell's name has been variously spelled Hale, Hoel, Hayle(n), Hoyn and
Hoyle. Additionally, it has been claimed that Howell was descended from
Ralf FitzStephen, the son of Robert FitzStephen who led one of the early
campaigns during the Cambro-Norman Conquest of Ireland in 1169. In this
light he has been referred to as Hale FitzStephen. Howell is thought to
have married a daughter of Raymond le Gros de Carew, another early leader
of the Cambro-Norman campaigns; or he possibly married a daughter of
Griffin, a brother of Raymond le Gros. Howell's uncle, David "Walsh", was
claimed to have married a sister of Raymond le Gros.
The Legend of Walsh of the Mountain
This family, says Burke, came to Ireland - A. D. 1170 with Strongbow
and settled in County Kilkenny where they acquired large possessions,
once known as the Walsh Mountains, in the barony of Iverk in said
county. These possessions were confiscated during the Cromwellian
period and in the reign of William III, after which the elder members
of the branch migrated to France and Austria. In France, the title of
Count Serrant, still extant, was conferred upon the representative of
the elder branch.
The first of the family who came to Ireland with Robert FitzStephen
at Strongbow's invasion was Philip Walsh, who was called by the Irish,
"Brannagh" (or the Welshmen), who in 1174 distinguished himself in a
naval engagement against the Danes at Cork by boarding the ship of
their commander and slaying his son. The son of that Philip and
Eleanor, daughter of Sir Maurice De Burgh, was Hayle Walsh, builder of
"Castle Hayle" or "Castlehoel" in the Walsh Mountains. His wife was
Catherine, daughter of Raymond le Gros (ancester of the Grace Family).
From Hayle Walsh descended many of the families of that name found in
nearly all parts of Ireland, and it is a line descended from him that
the families of this record are members.
William W. Seaward
December 26, 1917
continued from "O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees"
From that stock descended the following branches, namely, Walsh, of
Castlehoel, in the county of Kilkenny; Walsh, of Ballynecully, in Kilkenny,
and of St. Malo, in France; Sir Edmond Walsh, knighted at Christ's Church,
Dublin, by Sir Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland, on the 1st June,
1606; Sir Nicholas Walsh, Knt., Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, in
Ireland, who died in 1615, and married Mary (d.s.p.), dau. of Sir Arthur
Colclough, of Tintern Abbey, county Wexford; Walter Walsh, Dean of Kildare
(in 1610), who died 6th April, 1621; Nicholas Walsh, of the Island of
Teneriffe (living in 1732), descended from Henry Walsh, of Waterford, brother
of Nicholas Walsh, Judge of the Queen's Bench, temp. Queen Elizabeth;
Walsh, of Fanningstown, county Kilkenny; Richard Walsh, of Carrickmines;
Pierce Walsh, of Kilgobbin, county Dublin, temp. James I., son of
John Walsh, and grandson of Pierce Walsh, of same place; John Walsh of
Shanganagh, county Dublin; Theobald Walsh (d. 1616), of Killencarrig, county
Wicklow; Walsh, of Three Castles, county Wicklow; Oliver Walsh (d. 1621),
of Newtown, Dorenore, county Kildare; Nicholas Walsh, of Mooretwon, county
Kildare; Rev. John Walsh, of Castledermot, Chancellor of the Diocese of
Kildare, in 1624; Walsh of Belcarrow, county Dublin, and of Flanders; Peter
Augustus Walsh, of Castle Walsh, county Kerry, living in 1769; Walsh, of
Ballykilcavan, Queen's County; Walsh, of Bellevue and Clonmoyle, county
Westmeath, etc.
Further Reference:
Mountain Pedigree #2 - Descendants of Philip.
Mountain Pedigree #3 - The Family of Welshis.
Mountain Pedigree #4 - descent from Robart FitzSteephen.
Mountain Pedigree #5 - Walsh of Mul Hussy
Mountain Pedigree #6 - Walsh of Fannigstown
Mountain Pedigree #7 - Walsh-Serrant
Pedigree #8 - Descent from Walynus
Mountain Pedigree #9 - Hoel of Carrickbyrne
Carrickmines Pedigree #10 - Descendants of David
Historical Database of the Family of Walsh - An experiment in early Walsh genealogy
England - Early Walshs in England.
Home Page
Walsh History - Rise and Fall in Ireland.
Walsh Surname - Origins of the Walsh Surname.
Walsh Arms - Variations on Walsh Coats of Arms.
Wales - Exploring Walsh Connections in Wales.
France - The French Connection.
Anthony Walsh - Count Walsh de Serrant.
Biographies - Short Bio's on notable Walshs, plus links to online Bios.
Place Names - Historical place-names of the family of Walsh.
Walsh of Kilkenny - Historical Perspective
Confiscations - of Walsh land holdings in Ireland at the time of Cromwell.
Lament for John MacWalter - Irish caoine about Walsh of the Mountain.
Share some Walsh History, send information to this
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Saturday, 16-Aug-2003 08:48:46 MDT
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