K

Keaveney

Ó Géibheannaigh

The name means 'descendant of Géibheannach, a rare personal name derived from the word géibheann meaning 'fettered'. The clan descend from Géibheannach mac Aodh Ó Ceallaigh, a chieftain of the tenth century. Variant forms of this surname, of which there are many, include Caveney, Cavanagh, Gaffney, Geaney, Geaveney, Geavney, Keveney and Kiveney. Most famous of the clan was poet Patrick Cavanagh whose family were originally Keveney of Easky, County Sligo.

Ancient Territory: This old Gaelic clan were from north east County Galway and adjacent parts of County Roscommon.

Contact: Michael Keaveney

Kelly of the Tribe of Cas

Ó Caolaidhe Dál gCais

The surname O'Kelly ~ Kelly is known as the second most common in Ireland, and is possessed by several distinct Irish clans. Dalcassian O'Kellys take their surname from Ó Caolaidhe, that is the descendants of Caoladh, meaning slender. The name is found as Kelly, Keely, Quelly, and Queally, among others, and is found from Kilrush in the south west to Ballyvaughan in the north west. In 1659 (O)Quelly was a principal name in Co Clare.. The spelling (O)Kelly gained ground in the eighteenth century.

Ancient Territory: The clan homeland was at Baile Uí Chaolaidhe (once known as Ballykeely and then, from the eighteenth century, Ballykelly) situated just east of Ennis in County Clare, before the clan were pushed further west under English incursions. Later territories were centred around the Cree/Doonbeg area where one branch were erenaghs in the fifteenth century.

Contact: Saoirbhreathach Ó Caolaidhe

Kennedy

Ó Cinnéide

The surname name Kennedy is an anglicised version of the Gaelic name Cinn éide which translates as helmeted head. Brian Ború, as High King of Ireland, enacted a law that required all families choose a name that would continue by inheritance. These surnames came into use in the early eleventh century and the name Ó Cinnéide was adopted as a surname by Mahoun, a son of Brian’s older brother, Don Cuan.

Ancient Territory: After the death of Marcan Mac Cinneidi in 1010, the Ó Cinnéide crossed Lough Derg from the Killaloe side to secure their hold on the lands of the great monastery there. The early Ó Cinnéide of Lower Ormond gradually established themselves as cow-lords in order to make use of the territory and build the wealth that enabled them to become the Lords of Ormond. By the time of the Civil Survey of 1641 the Ó Cinnéide held over 21,000 acres in Lower Ormond and had either built or gained possession of up to twenty castles.

Contact: Phyliis Ryan Kennedy