O'Leary is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Laoghaire (also Ó Laoire), meaning "descendant of Laoghaire"—a personal name often interpreted as "keeper of the calves" or "calf herder." The name is historically associated with a prominent family lineage in County Cork, Ireland, where the O'Learys were chieftains in the ancient kingdom of Munster. Over time, individuals bearing the O'Leary surname have become notable in various fields such as politics, military service, literature, and religion, both in Ireland and abroad.
History Ancient The Uí Laoghaire clan, today associated with the Uibh Laoghaire parish in County Cork, is considered by scholarsDublin Annals of InisfallenJohn O'Donovan, ed. 'The Genealogy of Corca Laidhe', in Miscellany of the Celtic Society. Dublin. 1849. alternative scan to have originated in the early Middle Ages on the south-west coast, in the area of Ros Ó gCairbre (Rosscarbery), of which the O'Leary were hereditary lords.Cork History and Society, P. O'Flanagan, C. Buttimer, Geography Publications, Dublin 1993
The Annals of Innisfallen (Dublin copy) records St. Fachtna's (Saint Fachanan) death in 600 AD as occurring in "O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-Laeghaire Ruis".John O'Donovan The clan traces its lineage to Lugaid Mac Con, an ancient King of Tara and High King of Ireland, and descendant of Dáire Doimthech. In the 12th century the O'Leary's were recognised hereditary wardens of St Fachtna's monastery and seat of higher learning, the School of Ross. In more recent times (since 1300 AD), the clan, of the Corcu Loígde, was pushed north and settled in an area west of Macroom around Inchigeelagh called Uibh Laoghaire (or Uibh Laoire in modern Irish – the 'gh' is silent in the old Irish). Their presence in the area is marked by a four story stone tower house called Carrignacurra Castle, which was built on a rocky outcrop on the south bank of the River Lee in the late 16th century, a mile east of Inchigeelagh.
The Corcu Loígde were the rulers of Munster, and of territories beyond the province, before the rise of the Eóganachta in the 7th century. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Learys were one of the chiefly families of the Corca Laoghdne tribe who in turn came from the Erainn tribe who were the second wave of Celts to settle in Ireland from 500 to 100 BC. The port of Dún Laoghaire, near Dublin is not associated with the O'Leary sept(s), rather it is named for Lóegaire mac Néill, a 5th-century High King of Ireland.
The book of Lecan (A.D. 1397-A.D. 1418) details the early status of O'Leary as a Corco Laide taisach duchusa (hereditary chieftain) in the tuath of Ross (Ruis), with associated families:Tuath Ruis .i. Tuath in Dolaich, o Loch in Bricin co Faid Ruis -, o Thraig Long co Sid na Fear (i) Find. O Leagaire a taisach duchusa. Is iad so an oclaid duchusa .i. O Ruaidri -, O Lonan -, O Laidid -, O Torpa -, O hUrmoltaich -, O Mirin -, O Meic Dairic -, O Tuaraide -, O Trena -, O hUainidi -, O Cerdin Cork History and Society, P. O'Flanagan, C. Buttimer, eds. Geography Publications, Dublin 1993The name also occurs in the Cineal Laoghaire branch of the Eoghanacht dynasty which later came to dominate Munster.Cork History and Society, P. O'Flanagan, C. Buttimer, eds. Geography Publications, Dublin 1993, p 63 With the unrelated Corco Laidhe and Eoghanacht branches of O'Learys settling in north-west Cork and nearby Kerry respectively, the tracing of lineage is complex.
Modern
Although almost nothing is known of their activities for several centuries, the O'Learys reappear as a still titled In the Gaelic system. family in the 16th century, and relatively wealthy, although they were subject to the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, from whom they received the White Wand (a symbol of authority).Ó Murchadha, p. 208 They were the only other freeholders in Muskerry besides the O'Mahonys,Diarmuid Ó Murchadha, Family Names of County Cork. Cork: The Collins Press. 2nd edition, 1996. pp. 206 ff and had built several castles in their territories, including Carraignaneelagh, Drumcarragh and Carrignacurra, of which Carrignacurra is the only one still standing. The celebrated Irish language writer Peadar Ua Laoghaire was a descendant of the Carrignacurra branch of the family.Ó Murchadha, p. 214
Auliffe O'Leary joined the side of Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone in the Nine Years' War, from the very inception of it, and took the field with William Bourke (Clanricarde) and others. For this the chiefs of the O'Learys were eventually attained, and their lands parceled out, but because of the remoteness of their territory it was never carried out, and they remained safe there until the Cromwellian confiscations decades later. Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty did however appear to do his best to allow them to stay on their lands through leasing.Ó Murchadha, p. 211 The family became much more scattered during the later Williamite War in Ireland.
As an example of their wealth and capacity in the mid-16th century, an early O'Leary of Carrignacurra The branch to which this O'Leary belonged is not precisely known. It may have been different from the one that later occupied it. is purported to be the fosterer of Donnel na g croiceann, or Donnel of the Hides, ancestor of the modern O'Donovans of Clan Cahaill. His daughter Ellen married Donnell. Their issue was Donnell II O'Donovan.
The last O'Leary lord of the Old Gaelic order was Donal MacArt O'Leary (1575–1657).Donal MacArt O'Leary by Peter O'Leary
People Military Art Ó Laoghaire (d 1773), Austro-Hungarian army officer His wife Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, composed "Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire" Daniel Florencio O'Leary (1802–1854), military general under Simon Bolivar Michael John O'Leary (1890–1961), Irish-Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross William O'Leary (British Army officer), Deputy Commander Field Army (British Army) Bernard F O’Leary (British Army)
Donald B O’Leary (British Army)
Religion Arthur O'Leary (preacher) (1729–1802), Irish Franciscan and polemical writer Francis O'Leary MBE (1931–2000), founded the St Joseph's Hospice Association Henry Joseph O'Leary (1879–1938), Bishop of Charlottetown and Archbishop of Edmonton Louis James O'Leary (1877–1930), 6th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
Poetry and literature John O'Leary (Fenian) (1830–1907), Irish poet who was imprisoned in England Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire (1774–1849), Irish poet Peadar Ua Laoghaire (1839–1920), Irish writer in Irish and Catholic priest P. I. O'Leary (1888–1944), Australian poet and journalist
Politics and law Brendan O'Leary, Irish political scientist Clement O'Leary, Canadian member of Parliament Cornelius O'Leary, Irish historian and political scientist Denis O'Leary (1863–1943), New York politician Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (born 1989) Teachta Dála for Sinn Féin Grattan O'Leary (1888–1976), Canadian journalist and Senator Harriet Wright O'Leary (1916-1999), American teacher and politician and first woman to serve on the tribal council of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Hazel R. O'Leary (born 1937), former United States Secretary of Energy Henry O'Leary, Irish-born businessman and political figure in New Brunswick Hugh O'Leary (born 1974), English accountant and husband of Liz Truss Humphrey O'Leary (1886–1953), 7th Chief Justice of New Zealand James A. O'Leary, member of the United States House of Representatives from New York Jean O'Leary, American gay and lesbian rights activist, politician, and former nun John O'Leary (ambassador) (1947–2005), mayor of Portland, Maine, and United States ambassador to Chile John O'Leary (Fenian) (1830–1907), Irish separatist John O'Leary (Kerry politician) (1933–2015), former Irish Fianna Fáil party politician and TD for Kerry South John O'Leary (Wexford politician) (1894–1959), former Irish Labour party politician and TD for Wexford Joseph V. O'Leary, NYS Comptroller 1941–1942 and founding member of the Liberal Party of New York Kevin O'Leary (judge) (1920–2015), 2nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory Michael O'Leary (politician) (1936–2006), former leader of the Irish Labour Party Richard O'Leary, American politician Seán O'Leary (Irish politician) (1941–2006), former Irish senator Sheilagh O'Leary, Canadian politician William O'Leary (Irish politician) (died 1955), Irish Fianna Fáil politician and TD for Kerry
Journalism and activism Émile-Dostaler O'Leary (1908–1965), Canadian journalist and writer Grattan O'Leary (1888–1976), Canadian journalist and Senator Jeremiah O'Leary, American journalist John O'Leary (journalist), editor of the Times Higher Education Supplement Olivia O'Leary, Irish journalist P. I. O'Leary (1888–1944), Australian poet and journalist. Walter-Patrice O'Leary (1910–1989), Canadian journalist, political activist and trade unionist
Arts and entertainment Arthur O'Leary (composer) (1834–1919), Irish composer and pianist Dermot O'Leary (born 1973), English television and radio presenter Fletcher O'Leary, Australian child actor Jane O'Leary (born 1946), American-Irish avantgarde composer Karen O'Leary New Zealand comedian and television and film actress Mary O'Leary (producer), American television producer Matt O'Leary, American actor Michael O'Leary (actor) (born 1958), in American soap opera Guiding Light Patrick O'Leary (writer) (born 1952), American science fiction writer Tim O'Leary, fictional character in the British soap opera Brookside Ursula O'Leary, English actress William O'Leary (actor), American actor
Sport Amanda O'Leary, American lacrosse coach Bob O'Leary, American soccer player Charley O'Leary (1882–1941), American baseball player Clare O'Leary, first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest Clare O'Leary (cricketer) Dan O'Leary, American baseball player Daren O'Leary, English rugby union player David O'Leary, English-born Irish football (soccer) manager formerly of Aston Villa George O'Leary (born 1946), American college football coach John O'Leary (Gaelic footballer) Kieran O'Leary, Irish Gaelic footballer Kristian O'Leary, Welsh football (soccer) player Mike O'Leary, American curler Noel O'Leary, Irish footballer Peter O'Leary (referee), New Zealand football (soccer) referee Pierce O'Leary, Irish footballer Pierce O'Leary (boxer) (born 2000), Irish boxer Ryan O'Leary, Scottish footballer Seánie O'Leary (1952–2021), Irish hurler Stephen O'Leary, English-born Irish footballer Tomás O'Leary (born 1983), Irish rugby union player Troy O'Leary (born 1969), American baseball player
Other Brian O'Leary, American "scientist-astronaut" Catherine O'Leary (1827–1895), owner of the property in which it was alleged the Great Chicago Fire started Ciarán O'Leary, Irish professional poker player practicing in the USA Daniel O'Leary (mobster), Irish American mobster James Patrick O'Leary (c. 1860–1926), American mobster Kevin O'Leary (entrepreneur), Canadian entrepreneur and venture capitalist Michael O'Leary (businessman), CEO of the low-cost Irish airline Ryanair Seán Ó Laoire, (1946–2026) Irish architect and urban designer
Places Uibh Laoghaire, parish around Inchigeelagh, in County Cork, Ireland. Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland – Name means "Fort of Leary". O'Leary, Prince Edward Island Plaza O’Leary – major square in Caracas, Venezuela. Named for Daniel Florencio O'Leary
See also Leary (disambiguation) Irish clans
References