The Dunnady Family

John Rooney

A Genealogical History of Irish Families

1895

(Crest No. 191. Plate 39.)

THE Dunnady family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heber. The founder of the family was Cormac, King of Munster, A. D. 483. The ancient name was O’Donavan, meaning “Son of Destroying.”

The possessions of the sept were located in the present County of Kerry. The O’Dunnady’s were Chiefs of Slieve Luachra, that is, the district about the mountains of Slieve-Lougher, on the borders of Limerick and Kerry. They are thus mentioned by O’Heerin:

“The plain of Luachra, a productive country,

Belongs to the liberal O’Dunady,

A tribe of hard fighting battles,

A district of fair, well-watered lands.”

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