The Lands of Annaly

As in Scotland, Ireland in ancient times was famous for the number, strength and fearlessness of its clans.

A clan was a number of people living in a certain area, possessing a common name and bound together by ties of blood.

There was a slight difference between the Scottish and Irish clans. The Scottish clans were known by their different dress i.e. Tartan, while the Irish were known by their battle cry which normally corresponded to a motto represented on the shield or by the crest of the chieftain of the clan.

The clans who occupied the lands of County Longford in times past were as follows: O’Farrell, O’Fox, O’Mulfeeney (O’Feeny), O’Quinn, McGilligan, MacRonan, McGowan, McCormack, McGilchrist, O’Slevin, O’Sheridan, McHugh and McConway.

There were also two Anglo Norman families: the Flemings and the Tuites.

Although feuds and raids were the order of the day amongst those clans, if Annaly were to be invaded by an outside force, as indeed it often was, those clan feuds were forgotten and they supported their chieftain.

The location of the above clans is easy to pinpoint because of the prevalence of their names among the people of the present day. We of course are focused on O’Farrells, the Chieftains of Annaly, who held sway over the lands of Annaly prior to the battle of Clontarf in 1014 and right up to the reign of James 1^st of England.