Hi Mary, Your surname is properly Ó Fallamhain ('Grandson of Ruler') or in your case Ní Fhallamhain ('Grand-daughter of Ruler'). Gaelic Irish surnames are themselves miniature genealogies so the surname quite correctly varies by gender. There are two distinct, unrelated families of this name. One is way off in Offaly and the other is a branch of the Uí Mhaine ('Descendants of Maine', their ancestor-god) around Athlone, so you've definitely zeroed in on your tribal territory. More specifically, your family were the lords of Clann Uadach ('Children of Uada') and held the parishes of Camma and Dysert in the barony of Athlone. In 1585, "The Ó Fallamhain" (the elected rí or king of your family, who the English would call a 'chief') was based in his castle at Milltown in the parish of Dysart. When Woulfe was writing Sloinnte Gaedheal 7 Gall (Surnames of the Gaeil and the Gaill) around 1923, he reported that the ruins of that castle were still there. They may still be there. The Uí Mhaine are already prominent in 5th-7th century records at which point they're given a false genealogy as Airghialla ('Givers of Hostages'), a reference to their alliance with the Uí Néill ('Descendants of Niall' of the Nine Hostages) symbolized and ceremoniously put into effect by the giving of princes and princesses as hostages to the Uí Néill kings. The purpose of the false genealogy was to cement alliance with the Uí Néill who are creating and claiming the concept of the High-Kingship of all Ireland at the time. Nevertheless, the older genealogies indicate that the Uí Mhaine on the west side of the Shannon and the Cinéal Mhaine on the east side of the Shannon were once a greater Maine kingdom who probably descended from the Tuath Taíden (later a subject-people of the Uí Mhaine) who in turn were a branch of the Domnann. The Domnann (the western extension of the Laighin) and their sub-tribes held what is now called Connacht before my ancestors the Connachta ('Des! cendants of Conn', our particular ancestor-god) conquered that fifth of Ireland sometime about the 3rd to 4th centuries A.D. Before that fifth was called Connachta it was called Fir nÓl nÉcmacht, the name of another Domnann tribe probably containing the name of their own particular ancestor-god (Écmacht?). However, even under the Connachta, the Uí Mhaine maintained an important kingdom roughly covering northeastern Galway and southern Roscommon until the 16th century. Hope that's helpful, Jerry Kelly NA GAEIL MAGAZINE (coming soon and free to an internet near you) ----- Original Message ----- From: Mfallonr@aol.com To: jerrykelly@att.net Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 4:05 PM Subject: 3/26/2004 Jerry: I have read several of your postings and am fascinated by your fount of information about Irish names. Please, sir, the ones I most want to know about are Fallon, O'Dwyer/Dwyer, and Walsh (nearly hopeless, I am told , because it means a Welshman, of whom there are too many to sort out). I've studied the Fallon family enough to be fairly sure mine come from the area of Balinasloe, Ballina, Athlone. Family tradition says that Michael and several brothers were in trouble with the English, so their father sent them to America, literally to save their lives. My genealogy teachers tend to scoff at the story as being too common to be believed. His obituary places him in Co. Roscommon, and the O'Fallon country is in the area I described, so I can nearly place him, but still with no hope of finding an individual ancestor. I suppose that is too much to expect, in the circumstances. He married a Barrett and was related to a Dowd, who also married a Barrett, both names found in the same area, though by no means exclusively, and not of great significance because he surely must have married in America (possibly Canada), though I find no record of it or of his son's birth or baptism (in 1848) in the place named in his death certificate. In the "Presentments to the Assizes" I found Fallons in Roscommon constructing culverts (can't think of the proper word for them) on highways, and my Michael was a railroad bridge builder, but that is still only a hint. Such a fascinating game, but with some dead ends, I fear. Of the others, I know little, except that they were here before 1855, when Bridget (O)Dwyer married Richard Walsh, living in Livingston Co. NY, first son James, second, Michael, daughters, Margaret Ellen and Catharine. Enough, probably too much, but I'd be interested to hear any thoughts you may have on those names, please. Mary Fallon Richards