Clann Uí Chléirigh is a registered member of the Clans of Ireland Association under the patronage of Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland.
This Website is dedicated to telling the story of the ancient Connacht tribe of the Ua Cléirigh, part of the Hy Fiacrach Aidhne. Their ancient lands were in south Connacht near the monastery of Kilmacduagh in south-western part of Co Galway. When their lands were conquered by the Normans in the 13th Century, they scattered to nearby territories still under Gaelic lordship. Some moved to Tuath Mumhan (Thomond, Clare, Limerick) still under the lordship of the Uí Briain (O’Briens) Others moved eastwards to Iar Mumhan (Ormond, Tipperary) and Osraigh.(Kilkenny) Other branches moved northwards to Hy Fiacrach Muide (Mayo) and to Breffni (Cavan).
The name Ua Cléirigh is considered by many to be one of the earliest surnames recorded in Ireland. In the centuries since it has been anglicised in various forms either to; O’Clery, O’Cleary, Clery, Cleary, Clary or as a full translation of the name into Clark, Clerk or Clerke, Clarke. To add further confusion the latter four translations of the Uí Cléirigh surname not only have origins in England, Scotland and Wales but also in continental Europe.
The Uí Cléirighs claim descent from King Guaire of Connacht whose ancient capital was sited near where the present Dunguaire Castle is located. The Annals of the Four Masters state that In the year 916
“Tighearnach Ua Cleirigh, lord of Aidhne, died”.
He was a son of the previous king, Maelfabhaill mac Cleireach. Their ancient territory was in Kilmacduagh an area near the present town of Gort, in south County Galway. In 1280 the Norman William De Burgo conquered the Uí Cleirighs and expelled them from their lands in Kilmacduagh.
Over sixty years later in 1342 Cormac Uí Cléirigh, a Brehon lawyer, left Tír Amhalghaidh (Tirawley in modern day Co Mayo) and travelled north to the Cistercian monastery at Eas Ruaidh in Tír Connaill. After staying there some time he was befriended by Matthew Uí Sgingín the hereditary Ollamh to the Uí Domhnaills (O’Donnells) rulers of Tír Connaill. Cormac later married Matthew Uí Sgingín’s only daughter and surviving child. This took place during the Chieftainship of Niall Garbh Uí Domhnaill (1342-1348). Their son Giolla bríd succeeded his grandfather, Matthew Uí Sgingin, as the hereditary Ollamh to the Uí Domhnaills.
Thus the famed scholarly branch of the Uí Cléirighs came to Tír Connaill centred at Kilbarron Castle situated between Ballyshannon and Rossnowlagh. As it happened members of this slioct relocated to Mayo and Limerick in the 17th Century
This being the better known of the Uí Cléirigh “sliochts” does not preclude the interesting history of the many other branches of the ancient Clann Uí Chléirigh