Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Galway History: The First 14 Tribes

By Cecelia Owens


From the middle of the thirteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century, 14 dynamic merchant families controlled Galway. In 1484 King Richard III of England granted them the privilege to rule Galway Ireland. They were loyal to the English throne. They ruled with little interference for decades. With this liberty they made a flourishing port on the west coast of Ireland that was really impressive. Oliver Cromwell called these families "tribes".



The Athy family traces its lineage back to Gerard de Athee, a knight of King Richard the Lionhearted. One noted member of the Athy tribe is Margaret Athy, creator of the Augustinian Friary of Forthill. It is also assumed that she backed the building of the beloved Cathedral of Our Woman.



The Blake Family is of English descent. Their name is from the Saxon name Blac. Tradition holds that they are descended from Ap-lake, one of the knights of King Arthur's round table.



The Bodkin family has a captivating story to the origin of its name. In roundabout year 1300 Thomas Fitz Richard was triumphant over a bold knight from Ireland. He made use of a short spear commonly known as a baudekin. Since then his descendants have been known as Baudekins



The Brown family has a very traditional tie to Ireland. Philippus de Browne arrived in Ireland first in 1170. In 1178 he led the siege of Limerick with 60 English knights.



The D'Arcy family came with William the Conqueror to England in the latter eleventh century. In the fourteenth century members of this family were assigned to positions in Ireland.



The Deane family is descended from William Allen (Den). He arrived in Galway during the reign of Henry VI and was made Provost. The early mayors and chief Magistrates of Galway were from this tribe.



The Ffont family name is now extinct. This family settled in Galway in the early fifteenth century. Geoffry Ffont died in 1814 after living to be 105 years in age. He is thought to be the last Ffont clan member.



The Ffrench family also came to Britain with William the Conqueror. One line of the French family settled in Ireland during the rule of Henry VI and another during the reign of Elizabeth I.



The Joyce family came to Ireland during the reign of Edward I and were of English origin. Thomas Joyes was the first Joyce in Ireland. His child was named Mac Mara, meaning boy of the sea, because he was born on the trip at sea.



The Kirwan family is the sole Clan of Galway of Irish origin. They're descended from Milesius, one of the first Gaels.



The Lynch family settled in Ireland in the latter twelfth century. Most of the mayors of Galway from the fifteenth thru the seventeenth century were from the Lynch family.



The Martin family is another early family of Galway. One famous Martin is Dick Martin. He started the society for the prevention of brutality to animals. The Martin family built Ballynahinch Castle in the 17th century.



The Morris family came to Galway, in 1485. There were numerous mayors and sheriffs of Galway from this clan. Other variances of their name are Mares and Morech



The Skerritt family came to Galway in 1242 from Britain. The family name was initially Huscared. The principal champions of the priory of Athenry were from this family.



These fourteen tribes continued their control until the late 17th century when they kicked out of popularity with the monarchy in Great Britain. Their influence is still present in the magnificent metropolis they built.




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