The Principal Families of Ulster: The County Louth or Ancient Oriel

From "Irish Pedigrees; or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation" by John O'Hart, Fifth Edition, 1892

IN the Appendix to Vol. II., under the heading "The Clan Colla," a sketch of the history of ancient Oriel is given; and it is there mentioned that the O'Carrolls were princes of Oriel down to the Anglo-Norman invasion. Amongst the other chief clans who possessed Louth were those of MacCann, MacCartan, O'Kelly, O'Moore, O'Callaghan, O'Carragher, MacColman, MacCampbell, MacArdle, MacKenny, or MacKenna, O'Devin, O'Markey, O'Branagan, MacScanlan, and others.

In the reign of King John, A.D. 1210, Louth was formed into a county; and acquired its name from the town of Louth, in Irish Lugh Mhagh, which signifies the "Plain of Lugh or Lugaid"--and which probably was so called after some ancient chief.

(b) THE ANGLO-NORMAN FAMILIES,

AND

(c) THE MODERN NOBILITY, In Louth.

ACCORDING to Connellan, the chief Anglo-Norman or British families settled in Louth were--De Lacy, De Verdon, De Gernon, De Pepard; De Flemming, barons of Slane; Bellew, of Barmeath, who had formerly the title of barons of Duleek; De Bermingham, earls of Louth, a title afterwards possessed by the Plunkets; Taaffe, earls of Carlingford (in the peerage of the United Kingdom, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, late M.P. for the county Louth, was A.D. 1874, created "baron Carlingford"); Ball, Brabazon, Darcy, Dowdal, and Clinton, etc.; Fortescue, now earls of Claremont; and, in more modern times, the family of Gorge, barons of Dundalk; and Foster, viscounts Ferard, and barons of Oriel.

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