O'Shaughnessy

King of Connacht

King of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne

Lord of Cenél Áeda na hEchtge

Motto: Fortis et Stabilis

The last de facto Ó Seachnasaigh lord of Kinelea (Cenél Áeda na hEchtge) died at Gort after returning home from the Battle of Aughrim on 12 July 1691.

Ui Máine Dyansty

Máine Mór descended from Colla da Chrioch of Oirghialla/Oriel, Máine Mór, his father Eochaidh Ferdaghiall and his two sons Breasal and Amhlaibh, travelled to Connacht to seek new lands. They attacked the lands of the local king, Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg, king of the Fir Bolg (see Soghain and Senchineoil), amongst the other minor tribes and with the intervention of Grellan, settled in the land. In return, the Uí Maine would evermore pay tribute to Grellan, who became the dynasty's patron saint.

Maine Mór reigned for fifty years, and is the ancestor of the following families: Lally, Madden, Kelly, Fallon, Neachtain, Threinfhir, Shaughnessy and others. He was succeeded by his surviving son, Breasal mac Maine Mór, who ruled Connaught for thirty years.

Seachnasach's genealogy lists him as ten generations removed from Máine Mór, the founder of Uí Maine: "Sechnasaigh, mic Congail, mic Eogain, mic Comain, mic Brenaind Daill, mic Cairpri Feichine, mic Fearadaig, mic Luigdheach, mic Dallain, mic Bresail, mic Máine Móir." This includes him among the Clann Comain sept of the dynasty.

During his reign Cellach mac Rogallaig won the battle of Corran, and in 710, Dluthach mac Fithcheallach, possibly a son of the previous king, "was burned." The annals merely report his death. No details are given.

Uí Mháine, often Anglicised as Hy Many, was one of the oldest and largest kingdoms located in Connacht, Ireland. Its territory of approximately 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2) encompassed all of what is now north, east and south County Galway, south and central County Roscommon, an area near County Clare, and at one stage had apparently subjugated land on the east bank of the Shannon, together with the parish of Lusmagh in Offaly.

There were two different Uí Mháine, the Uí Mháine of Tethbae and the Uí Mháine of Connacht; these tribes were separated by the Shannon River. The people of the kingdom were descendants of Máine Mór, who won the territory by warfare. Its sub-kingdoms, also known as lordships, included – among others – Tír Soghain, Corco Mogha, Delbhna Nuadat, Síol Anmchadha, and Máenmaige. These kingdoms were made up of offshoots of the Uí Mháine dynasty, or subject peoples of different backgrounds.

Seachnasach the 17th king of the Ui Maine 691-711AD.

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne Dynasty

Seachnasach mac Donnchadh was a member of the Uí Fiachrach Aidhne dynasty, formerly Kings of Connacht. By the tenth century their power had been reduced to Aidhne, a small kingdom in what is now south County Galway. Seachnasach was a seventeen-time great-grandson of Guaire Aidne mac Colmáin, one of the dynastys most notable rulers. He was a kinsman of other Uí Fiachrach dynasts such as Giolla Ceallaigh mac Comhaltan, Scannlán mac Fearghal, Eidhean mac Cléireach, and Cathal mac Ógán, all of whom would have descendants who derived their surname from them.

Seachnasach mac Donnchadh mc. Comahaighe m. Fergal m. Maolciarain m. Maoltuile m. Siodhuine m. Nocba m. Egma m. Gabhnan m. Tobath m. Branan m. Brian m. Murchadh m. Aodh m. Artgail m. Guaire Aidne.

Historically, the kingdom of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne was bounded:

West: By Galway Bay (Loch Lurgain) and the Burren district of County Clare.

South and South-East: By County Clare.

East: By the Slieve Aughty mountains, separating it from the kingdom of Uí Maine.

North: By the plains of Uí Mhaine and the area around Athenry (Maigh Mucruimhe).

O'Shaughnessy Castles

O'Shaughnessy castles include Gort Castle, Fiddaun Castle, Ardamullivan Castle, Newtown Castle, Derryowen, which is just inside the County Clare border, Ballymulfaig, and a castle on one of the islands in Lough Cutra. According to a list naming the castles of County Galway and their owners, drawn up in 1574 by the English administration in Ireland, Islandmore Castle (now Thoor Ballylee) was listed as being owned by a John O'Shaughnessy.

Ó Seachnasaigh to O'Shaughnessy to Shaughnessy to Shaw

☘️ Origin and Meaning of O'Shaughnessy

Gaelic Form: The name derives from the original Gaelic Ó Seachnasaigh (pronounced approximately "Oh Shock-nah-sook" or "Oh Shock-nes-sy").

Meaning: It translates to "descendant of Seachnasach." The personal name Seachnasach itself is generally thought to mean "victorious" or "successful," although some interpretations suggest "elusive" or "one who avoids."

Founder: The clan takes its name from an ancestor named Seachnasach mac Donnchadh, a 10th-century chief.

☘️ To me it seems it is a sad devolution from a famous and distinguished Irish surname of Ó Seachnasaigh to Shaw. In each iteration it seemed necessary to my kin. The "O" was dropped long ago when they, figuratively speaking, "ate the soup". The O was dropped for political reasons which was to maintain power, wealth and land under British oppression. A century or two later in the early 1900's Charles Augustus Shaughnessy and other relatives decided to shorten the name. It was just too long is the reason given to me. All the Shaughnessy's in Delaware County Iowa agreed. No legal action was taken they just informed everyone they are now "Shaw". Charles enrolled his children in school as Shaw, and so on. This is according to Charles Shaw III who told me the story on October 16, 2022 in Marion Iowa.

According to Rena O'Shaughnessy McAllen (July 23, 2022 County Galway, Gort, Ireland), she has seen various spellings of O'Shaughnessy but she had never heard of a descendant of O'Shaughnessy with the name Shaw.