'BRENNAN' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- The meaning of the name BRENNAN in its original Irish form, as a personal name, still remains an enigma: it either means 'Sorrow', or 'Little Drop'. In modern Ireland there are many Brennans. Here and there one is met with the prefix O, but, today, the form Mac Brennan is seldom seen, if ever found. The simple form, Brennan, is used in the anglicised form of two quite distinct Gaelic Irish surnames, viz., O'Braonain and MacBranain. The former is the appellation of four different unrelated septs; the latter, of one only. Judging by the present day distribution of the name, two of these five have survived in large numbers in the districts around their original habitats. It is sufficient therefore, just to mention the three others which were located respectively in the Counties of Galway, Westmeath and Kerry. MacBranain was chief of Corcachlann, the old name for the territory in the Eastern part of Co.Roscommon. A succession of these chiefs appear in the Annals between 1159 and 1488. While the leading members of the sept retained the Mac until the submergence of the Gaelic order in the Seventeen century, the substitution of O for Mac in some cases, is noted as early as 1360. The present day Brennans of counties Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo are nearly all MacBrennans or more correctly, MacBrannans. The principal O'Brennan sept was of Ossory. They were the chiefs of Ui Duach in the northern part of Co.Kilkenny. Their influence, naturally waned as English power became paramount in Leinster, and though several of the O'Brennans retained some portion of their former estates, the seventeen century reduced many of them to the status of rapparee-indeed several famous or notorious bands of Tories in Leinster were led by Brennans, and in the next century, one of the most intrepid and chivalrous of all Irish highwaymen, James Freney, was, he asserted, instructed in his calling by the last of the Tory Brennans. The most distinguished of the sept was Most Reverent John Brennan (1625-1693), Bishop of Waterford and Archbishop of Cashel. He was a friend of Geoffrey Keating (1570-1649) and Blessed Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681) Archbishop of Armagh; though constantly the object of special attention from priest-hunters, he was elusive enough to remain continuously in his diocese which he administered with marked wisdom and his periodical reports to Rome are of the greatest value to the historian of the seventeen century. Another John Brennan (1768-1830), popularly called "Wrestling Doctor" and well known in his day for his satires on Dublin doctors, was also of the Ossory sept of O'Brennan and considered to be chief of the name. Among exiles of the name we may mention the Abbe Peter O'Brennan who was executed in 1794 for his resistance to the French Revolution. Appeared in a copy of 'Irelands Own' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- The information contained in these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others who are researching their ancestors around the world. Regards and good luck with your research Michael Brennan Kent England Home: michael@janbren.freeserve.co.uk I am also researching the following members of my family: All descendants of William BRENNAN, (c1800's) of Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. IRL MORAN & LALOR/LAWLER/LAWLOR, Arless Co. Laois. IRL; KELLY/CARTER, Ardateggle, Co. Laois. IRL BOLGER/BRENNAN, Dublin City. IRL; BORAN, WALL & RYAN, Arless, Co.Laois. IRL BRENNAN, James, IRL; BRENNAN, Martin, d1963, Belfast, N.IRL