Irish Clan Kennedy

Síl Cennétich

Referred to here in conjunction with Ó Cinnéide (O'Kennedy) of Ormond, originally centered in the Glenomra valley near Killaloe, their lands at one time included much of the baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond in co. Tipperary, formerly part of the more ancient territory of Muscraige Tíre (northern Tipperary, barony of Lower Ormond). Even after the arrival of the powerful Butler (Earls of Ormond) in the 13th century, the Kennedys remained an influential family as Gaelic 'lords of Ormond' from the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries, as recorded in The Annals of The Four Masters.
They are given as a Dalcassian sept, perhaps taking their name from Cinneide, son of Donnchuan, and a nephew of Brian Boru. O'Hart gives other familes descended from Donchuan as: Eustace, O'Regan (of Thomond), O'Kelleher, O'Beollan (or "Boland"), O'Casey, Power, and Twomey.

Abbreviations for the Annals include: M=Four Masters; U=Ulster; CS=Chronicon Scotorum; AI=Inisfallen; FA=Fragmentary, and so on. Items in round parentheses ( ) indicate probable clann affiliation, e.g EC=Eoganacht Caisel; DC=Dal gCais;. and so on.

The Annals cite:

M948, An army was led by Conghalach into Munster; and he plundered West Munster, and slew the two sons of Ceinneidigh, son of Lorcan, namely, Echthighern and Donnchuan.
CS950, A raid by Congalach son of Mael Mithig into Mumu and he plundered west Mumu and killed two sons of Cendétigh, i.e. Echtigern and Donnacán.
M1054, Aedh, son of Ceinneidigh, son of Donnchuan, the love and glory of Dal-gCais, died.
AI1123, Donn Cuan Ua Cennétig rested.
M1159, Gillacaeimhghin Ua Ceinneidigh, lord of Ormond, died on his pilgrimage at Cill-Dalua.
M1164, Amhlaeibh, son of Gillacaeimhghin Ua Ceinneidigh, lord of Ormond, was blinded by Toirdhealbhach Ua Briain.
M1180, Donnell, the son of Teige O'Kennedy, Lord of Ormond, died.
U1181, Domnall Ua Ceinneidig, king of Ormond, was slain.
C1371, Brian O Cennetig, king of Ormond, was killed by the Galls.
M1381, Philip, the son of Philip O'Kennedy, Lord of Ormond, and Aine, daughter of Mac Namara, his wife, both died.
M1396, O'Kennedy, Lord of Ormond, died.
C1398, Pilip son of Mathgamain Donn O Cennetig died.
C1404, Tomas O Cennetig, half-king of Ormond, was killed by Domnall son of Pilip O Cennetig.
C1404, Donnahad son of O Cennetig Donn died this year while held in captivity by his own brothers.
C1407, The son of Tadc son of Mathgamain Donn O Cennetig, lord of Upper Ormond, was killed by O Cerbaill.
M1423, O'Kennedy Finn, Lord of Ormond, died.
M1427, The son of Donnell, son of Mahon Don O'Kennedy, Lord of Upper Ormond, was slain, with one cast of a dart, by Walter Tobin.
M1441, O'Kennedy Roe, i.e. Rory, the son of Philip, Half-Lord of Ormond, died.
C1474, The son of O Cennetig's son, lord of Upper Ormond, died.

Irish chiefs and clans of ancient Ormond
Excerpts from "Irish Pedigrees; or The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation", by John O'Hart (1892). (edited for County Tipperary names, and with additional notes in dark red)

O'Kennedy, of Munster, chief of Gleann Omra; were of the Dalcassian race; and possessed the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county Tipperary. Notes: Gleann Omra was co-extensive with the parish of Killokennedy in county Clare, originally held by O'Kennedy prior to moving across the river Shannon into Muscraighe Tire (Ormond).