O'Connor
O'Conor (Middle Irish: Ó Conchubhair; Modern Irish: Ó Conchúir), is an Irish Gaelic clan based throughout Connacht but most prominently in what is today County Roscommon, County Mayo and County Sligo. The clan name originated in the 10th century as a derivative of its founder Conchobar mac Taidg Mór. They descend in the paternal line from the Connachta's Uí Briúin Ai. They were originally kings of Connacht in general and of the Síol Muireadaigh; as members of the Uí Briúin were kinsmen of the Mac Diarmata and Ó Flaithbertaigh amongst others. In the 13th century, the Normans began to make gains in Connacht; particularly the Burkes, to the cost of the O'Connors. They split into various smaller areas of power, for instance the O'Connor Don and Roe ruled in County Roscommon while the Ó Conchobhair Sligigh ruled in County Sligo. The current O'Conor Don is Desmond O'Conor Don (b. 22 September 1938) who lives in Rotherfield, East Sussex in England.
Naming conventions
Overview
The Ó Conchubhair Donn is the senior head of a lineage which provided about one hundred Kings of Connacht, thirty Chief of the Name and eleven High Kings of Ireland, the last of them being Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair (1088–1156), and his son Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (c. 1115–1198).
