Ó Maoilriain (anglicised as Ryan, Mulryan, or Mulrain) is an Irish Gaelic clan based in what is today County Tipperary and County Limerick. The clan claims descent from Cathair Mór of the Laighin, but they first appear in the historical record in the 15th century in the kingdom of Thomond. John O'Donovan claims they are distinct from the Ryan clan which ruled Uí Dróna in what is today County Carlow.
Naming conventions
Male Daughter Wife (Long) Wife (Short) Ó Maoilriain Ní Mhaoilriain Bean Uí Mhaoilriain Uí Mhaoilriain Ó Maoilriaghain Ní Mhaoilriaghain Bean Uí Mhaoilriaghain Uí Mhaoilriaghain
Overview
This family claim descent from one Maoil Riagháin, who was named in honour of a Saint Riagháin.
It is first documented as a surname in the 15th century in east Thomond/north Ormond, where the Ó Maoilriains attacked and displaced the Ó hIfearnáin family. The territory they conquered became known as barony of Owney and Arra. Owney derived its name from one Uaithne Ó Maoilriain.
According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Mulryans were one of the chiefly families of the Feara Cualann who in turn were a tribe from the Dumnonii or Laigin who were the third wave of Celts to settle in Ireland during the first century BC.
See also Éamonn an Chnoic MacGorman — another Laighin clan of Thomond Irish clans
References
Bibliography The family of O'Mulryan in Spain, W.D. O'Ryan, The Irish Genealogist, 1961. Records of Four Tipperary Septs: the O'Kennedys, O'Dwyers, O'Mulryans, and O'Meaghers, M. Callaghan, JAG Publishing, Galway, 1972. Ryan:O´ Maolilriain, Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 2003.
External links Ryan at Araltas The O'Ryans of Owney by Donal F. Begley Clan Ryan Australia Clan Ryan at Tipperary Multeen Tourism Cromwellian Confiscations at Ireland Genealogy Project Ó Maoilriaghain at Library Ireland Ryan at The Irish Times The Origins of the Surname Ryan at The Tipperary Antiquarian Uí Dróna Kingdom at Medieval News