The Concanon Family

(Crest No. 244. Plate 60.)

THE Concanon family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The founder of the family was Brian, son of Eocha Moy Veagon, King of Ireland, A. D. 350. The ancient name was Concheanain, and signifies “Soldier.” The name was taken from Cucenaid, of the race of McDermott, Prince of Moylurg. The possessions of the clan were located in the present County of Roscommon.

The O’Concanons were Chiefs of Hy Diarmada, a district on the borders of Roscommon and Galway, in the baronies of Athlone and Ballymoe. The head of the O’Concanons was seated at a place called Kiltullagh, in the County of Galway, in 1585, and his county was then considered a part of Hy Many. Corcumroe is a district in the barony of Killian, in the northeast of the County of Galway, the whole of which territory belonged to the O’Concanons.

Mathew Concanen, a well-known writer in the early part of the last century, was a descendant of this family. He went to London when a young man, and engaged in miscellaneous writing and newspaper work. In recognition of his brilliant talents, the Duke of Newcastle obtained for him the post of attorney-general of Jamaica, which he held for seventeen years. He published a volume of miscellaneous poems, original and translated, and a comedy entitled “Wexford Wells,” and in the literary quarrels of the day he had the temerity to attack Alexander Pope, who rewarded him by giving him an enduring niche in the “Dunciad.” He died in 1749.