MacGUIRE is a distinguished Gaelic(Celtic
or Keltic) family name which according to the "Annals of the Four
Masters" first makes it's appearance in 956
A.D.. The Maguires are said to have originated in the
middle of Ireland in the County of Westmeath and to have moved from
there to the county of Fermanagh in the province of Ulster, modern day
Northern Ireland. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic, MagUidhir
(Mag meaning "Mac" or "Son of" and Uidhir meaning "Dun or Pale-Colored")
hence the name "Son-of-Pale-Colored". There is more than
one way to spell the family name, and among the variations there is
MacGUIRE, Maguire, McGuire, McGwire and also MacQUARRIE.
People and names become inseparably
intertwined and it is likely that most "Maguires" are related to the
same clan from Fermanagh, but the variant name of MacQUARRIE
can also refer to a small Scottish clan which possessed the little
island of Ulva, to the west of Mull. They form one of the branches of
Clan Alpin. According to tradition they descended from Guarie, a brother
of Fingon, who was the ancestor of the MacKinnons. The original Gaelic
word for the name has the different meaning of "Squarely Built" or
"Noble", and it does seem more likely that the spelling of "Mc-Guire"
might be more closely related to the MacQUARRIE
name of the meaning of "Squarely Built" or "Noble" of the Scottish clan
rather than "Maguire" name of the meaning of "Pale Colored" of the Irish
clan of Fermanagh. (Click on the Coat of
Arms & Crest to find out the meaning of the
Heraldry).
The Maguire Sept did not come to
predominate in the County of Fermanagh until the 14th century when they became the
highest ranking nobles in Ulster. They were Barons of Enniskillen in Fermanagh for
the next three centuries, their chief being the most important in
Ulster.They were kinsmen
of the kingly
O'Neills and the princely O'Donnells and the princely O'Connells. The Maguire
fortress of Castle
Enniskillen on Lough
Erne can still be seen today. Enniskillen is Gaelic for
("Inis Ceithleann" Kathleen's Island) and is the administrative seat of
County Fermanagh. Lisnaskeas
seventeenth century Maguire stronghold (Castle Balfour) remains can also still be seen
today. Lisnaskea is Gaelic for ("Lios na Sceitle" The Ring-fort of the
Axe). Stationed on a hill overlooking the town on the east bank of Upper
Loyugh Erne, the Ring-fort of the Axe is the ancient and sacred
inauguration place or rath of the Maguires, part of which is believed to
be prehistoric. Many Maguires are still found in modern Enniskillen and
Lisnaskea as well as throughout Ireland and the rest of the world.
Fermanagh
showing the city strongholds of the Junior line of Enniskillen &
Tempo & the Senior city stronghold of
Lisnaskea
Maguire or
Enniskillen Castle "The Water Gate", now a
museum.
Preceding the 14th century from [19]MacUidhir
the line of decent continues [20]Fearaigh or Searrach,
[21]Uidhar The "Fermanagh Genealogies" names this Uidhar
as the first Maguire but an older document "Book of Leinster" has Uidhir
#19 as the first Maguire., [22]Oirghiallaigh, [23]Fearaigh,
Note: At about this time, the only
interruption of the O'Neill line of hegemony occurred when, Brian Boru
(about 1001 A.D.) become High King of all Ireland and fought the Viking
invaders off, he was killed the day of his victory.
Continuing from the top, [24]Uidhir, Note: Previous to Donald Mor in 1172 A.D. Dermott McMurrough,
King of Leinster, in his struggle for the position of Ard Righ(High
King), of all Ireland, had requested King Henry II of England for
assistance. This was the first intrusion into Ireland of the
Anglo/Normans. To continue, [25]Randal, [26]Donn
Mor, (Established the family around the 1200's), [27]Giolla
Iosa (descends the Gilleece Family), [28]Domhnail, and he had
a son the [29th] in the line of decent from Cormac MacArt
according to the "Fermanagh Genealogies" & adding 51 more
generations in the "Leabhar Gabhala" descending from King Milesius of
Spain we come to around [80th], who became the first Maguire to be a
Chief of Fermanagh, his name was [1]Donn Carrach
Maguire (1264-1302).