The Mulrenan Family

Mulrenan family crest

(Crest No. 53. Plate 23.)

THE Mulrenan family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The founder of the family was Fiacha Baiceada, son of Cathire More, King of Ireland, A. D. 144. The ancient name was Maoilrenan, which signifies “Beady” or “Devoted.”

The possessions of the sept were located in the present County of Mayo. The O’Mulrenans were chiefs of Hy-Eachach Muaidhe, a district extending along the western bank of the River Moy, between Ballina and Killala. They were also chiefs of Clan Conchobhair, or Clan Conor, a district near Cruachan, or Croaghan, in the barony and County of Roscommon.

The exact limits of the cantred of Clan-Conor, the territory of O’Mulrenan, cannot now be determined, as this family sank at an early period under O’Flanagan and O’Connor Roe, but its whereabout may be determined by O’Dugan’s topographical poem, which makes the Clan-Conor a subsection of the Clan-Cahill, whose territory comprised the parishes of Kilmacumshy, Kilcorkey and Shankill, and parts of the parishes of Creeve and Elphin in the County of Roscommon.