County Kildare and Meath
Pedigree #7: Descent from Walynus
From the genealogy published by Lawrence Walsh in 1588
In the work of Edward McLysaght comes the following paragraph on the Walsh family:
"The pedigree of the Tirawley (Mayo) Walshes was compiled by Lawrence Walsh in 1588. He states that they are descended from Walynus, a Welshmen who came to Ireland with Maurice FitzGerald in 1169 and that this man's brother Barret was the progenitor of the Barretts of Tirawley."
Interestingly, in the pedigree completed by Lawrence Walsh (1588), Lawrence does not suggest that Walynus's brother, Barret, was the eponymous ancestor of the Barretts of Tirawley. Neither does his pedigree deal with the Tirawley (Mayo) Walshes. Instead Lawrence Walsh deals with the genealogy of his own family, who resided in the area of north County Kildare and south County Meath.
In the 1997 journal Eigse, Nollaig Ó Muraíle provides a translation of Lawrence Walsh's 1588 genealogy. Ó Muraíle's source for the genealogy comes to us from the Cuimre, a work completed in 1664 by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh. The first portion of this translation follows:
"Some of the Walshes of Ireland according to Lawrence Walsh; from the English which he wrote in the year of the Lord 1588 I now translate this below in the year of Christ 1664, thus, word for word."
"The genealogy of Walynus, the brother of Barret, son of Guyndaly, lord high steward of the house of Camelot, who came with Maurice fitzGerald, the lieutenant, with fifty horsemen and fifty footsoldiers to Ireland in the year 1169, and he adhered to that Maurice and his descendants down to the present day, although they did not adhere to them all."
"The second generation from the aforementioned Walinus: he had numerous progeny, one of who settled in Mount Valicus, which is called Sliabh Breathnach in Irish. Some of them settled in Le-Breathnach in the great house which is called Carrickmines. Another man of them settled in Le-Irris Iles or Oules. Another of them settled in Blackwood, whence came our tribe (says Lawrence Walsh); he was named Howell the Great, because there is and was great fame attaching to his size and strength; and Maurice (who was with Thomas fitz John, Earl of Kildare, in his every misfortune) was a son of Nicholas (son of William son of Nicholas), who proved his service when Sir Edward Bruce, brother of the king of Scotland, came to conquer and win northern Ireland and Connacht; this Nicholas attacked the rear of the Scottish host, killing about six hundred armed men of them, resulting in the capture of great booty, from which his lord, the Earl of Kildare, achieved great fame."
"That killing occurred in a place called Moyfenrath (or Magh Fionnurach) - which has been known as the Togher [causeway] of the Scots since that time -- 289 years ago (says Lawrence Walsh), and he received in return for that service a townland for himself and his heirs free from all tribute (which he still holds), which was called Ballyglass and which today is Kilmurry. He obtained that in 1299 [1399?]."
"The aforementioned Nicholas was son of Henry son of the aforementioned Howell."
[end quote]
The placenames that Lawrence Walsh mentions may be translated as:
- 'Sliabh Breathnach', or the Walsh Mountain [in south-central County Kilkenny];
- 'Le-Breathnach'', or Carrickmines [in southeast County Dublin];
- 'Le-Irris Iles or Oules', or Owles of Erris [in west County Mayo];
- 'Blackwood', or the townland of Blackwood [in northern County Kildare].
'Kilmurry' appears to be the name of the townland, a couple of miles south of the village of Togher, associated with the later Walsh manor of Ticroghan, County Meath. That manor, including 'Kylmurrye', was 'parcel of the possessions of Walter FitzGerald, esq., attainted'. In 1566 Ticroghan manor was held by 'Walter Walshe, gent.', and in 1581 it belonged to Richard Walsh, attainted. In 1597, the 'land of Kilmorrie, co. Meath, lying near the Blackwater' were 'possessions of Morice, son of William Walshe, of Tecroghan, attainted'.
From Lawrence Walsh's genealogy it is apparent that his immediate family lived in an area about the border of counties Meath and Kildare, and had connections with the Earls of Kildare. Lawrence's genealogy follows:
Descendants of Walynus
1 Walynus
2 Howell Mor fitz Walinus
. 3 Henry fitz Howell fitz Walinus
... 4 Nicholas fitz Henry fitz Howell f: noted in the time of Edward Bruce (1315-1318)
..... 5 William fitz Nicolas
....... 6 Nicholas fitz William Walsh
......... 7 Maurice fitz Nicholas Walsh
............... +Honora O'Dempsey
........... 8 James [Seamus] Walsh
............... +Anastas Ni Mhurchadha
............. 9 Oliver Walsh d: Aft. 1549, of Moyvally and Ballina, Co. Kildare
................. +Amy Knit b: dau. of the Great Knight of Morgallion
.............. 10 James Walsh f: of Moyvally, Co. Kildare
..................... +Honora Bacon
................ 11 Piers Walsh
................ 11 John Walsh
.............. 10 Nicholas Walsh f: of Moyvally, Co. Kildare
..................... +Jane Nugent
................ 11 Robert Walsh
................ 11 Edward Walsh
................ 11 Thomas Walsh
................ 11 Edmund Walsh
.............. 10 Walter Walsh
.............. 10 Richard Walsh
..................... +Margaret O'Shiel
................ 11 Maurice Walsh
................ 11 Walter Walsh
................ 11 Gerard Walsh
................ 11 Bennett Walsh
................ 11 Redmund Walsh
................ 11 Thomas Walsh
................ 11 Roibinet Walsh
.............. 10 William Walsh
..................... +Winifred Keating
................ 11 Robert Walsh
................ 11 Theobald Walsh
.............. 10 Roibinet Walsh
..................... +Joan Richard
................ 11 Howell Walsh
.............. 10 Henry Walsh
..................... +Maud Veldon
................ 11 James Walsh
.............. 10 Lawrence Walsh f: the author of this genealogy
..................... +Margaret Ley
................ 11 Alexander Walsh
................ 11 Oliver Walsh
.............. *2nd Wife of Lawrence Walsh:
..................... +Rose O'Reilly
................ 11 John Walsh
............. 9 Roibinet Walsh
........... 8 Richard Walsh f: a Standard-Bearer of the Earl of Kildare
............. +Roise Lombard
............. 9 John Walsh
........... 8 *2nd Partner of Richard Walsh:
............. +Joan Owlyne
............. 9 Oliver Walsh f: constable at Ballynacliffy and Killinure, co. Westmeath.
............... +Honora Keating
.............. 10 Nicholas Walsh f: of Kineleagh, co., Westmeath
................ 11 Richard Walsh
................ 11 Oliver Walsh
................ 11 James Walsh
........... 8 William Walsh f: of Ticroghan, Co. Meath
............. +Margery Petit
............. 9 Maurice Walsh f: of Ticroghan, Co. Meath d: Aft. 1597
.............. 10 Walter Walsh
.............. 10 William Walsh
............. 9 Robert Walsh f: a Standard-Bearer of the Earl of Kildare
............... +Anne O'Brien
.............. 10 Henry Breagach Walsh
..................... +daughter of Crump
............. 9 Richard Walsh f: Parson of Loughswedy
........... 8 Walter Walsh
.............. +Elaine Lynagh
............. 9 Piers Walsh
............... +Margaret Eustace
.............. 10 Piers Walsh
.............. 10 Henry Walsh
......... 7 *2nd Wife of Maurice fitz Nicholas Walsh:
........... +Honora Bermingham
........... 8 Edmund Walsh
............. +daughter of O'Hennessy
............. 9 Piers Walsh
.............. 10 Edmond Walsh
............. 9 Edmond Walsh
............... +daughter of Moore f: of Kerry
.............. 10 Piers Walsh
.............. 10 Edmond Walsh
.............. 10 Patrick Walsh
........... 8 Gerard Walsh
Source: Ó Muraíle, Nollaig - Eigse: A Journal of Irish Studies, Volume 30 (1997)
The preceding article was compiled by Dennis J. Walsh, © 2005
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