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Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Photograph: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Munster

County Clare

An Clár

Known as The Banner County. Nobody has settled it. One account has a banner captured from the enemy at Ramillies in 1706 by the Clare Dragoons of the Irish Brigade; another has the banners carried for Daniel O'Connell when he won the Clare election of 1828 and forced Catholic Emancipation. Both are good stories and neither is proven. The origin is not settled.

Did you know? The people buried beneath Poulnabrone dolmen in the Burren died more than a thousand years before the Great Pyramid of Giza was built.
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Clans & surnames of Clare
Ahern Ó hEachthighearna Gaelic sept · “descendant of Eachthighearna, 'lord of horses'” Carty Ó Cárthaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cárthach, 'loving'” Clancy Mac Fhlannchaidh Gaelic learned family · “son of Flannchadh, 'the red warrior'” Colgan Ó Colgáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Colga — from colg, 'sword' or 'thorn'” Considine Mac Consaidín Gaelic sept · “son of Constantine” Cooney Ó Cuana Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cuana” Creagh Craobhach Gaelic sept (Dalcassian) · “'of the branch' — from craobh, a branch” Cusack Ciomhsóg Norman · “from Cussac in Guyenne” Galvin Ó Gealbháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gealbhán, 'bright-white'” Gorman Mac Gormáin Gaelic sept · “son of Gormán, 'the noble dark one'” Griffin Ó Gríobhtha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gríobhtha, 'griffin-like'” Hickey Ó hÍcidhe Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the healer (íce, 'healing')” Hogan Ó hÓgáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ógán, 'the young one'” Hurley Ó hUrthuile / Ó Muirthile Gaelic sept · “descendant of Urthuile — 'sea-tide'” Keane Ó Catháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathán, 'little battler'” Kennedy Ó Cinnéide Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cinnéidigh, 'helmeted head'” Looney Ó Luanaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Luanach, 'warrior' (luan, champion)” Lynch Ó Loingsigh / de Lench Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “descendant of Loingseach, 'mariner'” MacNamara Mac Conmara Gaelic sept · “son of Cú Mara, 'hound of the sea'” McGrath Mac Craith Gaelic learned family · “son of Mac Raith, 'son of grace'” McInerney Mac an Airchinnigh Gaelic learned family · “son of the erenagh — the hereditary steward of church lands” McMahon Mac Mathghamhna Gaelic dynasty · “son of Mathghamhain, 'bear'” Minogue Ó Muineog Gaelic sept · “descendant of Muineog — a diminutive of manach, 'monk'” Naughton Ó Neachtain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Neachtan — an old name linked to water” O'Brien Ó Briain Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Brian (Boru)” O'Callaghan Ó Ceallacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ceallachán of Cashel” O'Dea Ó Deághaidh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Deághaidh, a tenth-century chieftain” O'Halloran Ó hAllmhuráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Allmhurán, 'the stranger from over the sea'” Quinn Ó Cuinn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conn, 'chief'” Shanahan Ó Seanacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seanachán, 'the old, wise one'” Slattery Ó Slatara Gaelic sept · “descendant of Slatra, 'the strong, bold'” Troy Ó Troighthigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Troightheach, 'the foot-soldier'” Vaughan Ó Mocháin / Vaughan Gaelic sept & Welsh · “Welsh fychan, 'small' — adopted for Ó Mocháin”

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On the ground in Clare

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Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Clare?

An Clár. Clare is one of the 6 counties of Munster (Cúige Mumhan).

Who ruled County Clare in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Thomond (O'Brien); by 1450, Thomond (O'Brien). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Clare?

Names historically associated with Clare include Ahern, Carty, Clancy, Colgan, Considine, Cooney, Creagh, Cusack, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Clare

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