| My name is  donal laurence heffernan (Ui Fearnain)
and I started this site. Initially it was to trace and record the origins of the Heffernan/Knox clans of Kildare and beyond. As it has progressed and more families are drawn into its scope, I have endeavoured to add basic details of each. I hope that all who join will add their exclusive knowledge to the ever-growing story. Feel free to upload relevant and rare photos and documents that you may have access to, and to add detail that you find relevant and interesting to the over-all picture. If you object to any material you may delete it, but please leave an explanation of some sort !! (In the modern tree lay-out, don't forget to check out the personal profile of each family member. When you 'CLICK' on any member of the family tree', their page will open. Under their name there is a bar---- "VIEW PROFILE". This is where their life comes alive. There is a section where you can scroll down through a selection of facets of peoples lives, accomplishments, beliefs, ideals, anecdotes. This is only as good as you make it. As a site member you may add or change as you see fit. In fact, may I suggest that you write your own version of your life before we make up a more exaggerated one!) Let's begin with:- "The name "Heffernan", which, as a family surname should, of course, be written "O'Heffernan" or "O'Hiffernan", is the anglicised version of the Irish "Ua h-Ífearnain" (or Uí Fearnain). In which form the name is first mentioned in Irish historical records in connection with the year 1047, when Madadhan Ua h-Ífearnain, Chief of Clan Creccain, was slain by Nial, son of Malachy, the high king, in Brega. (Annals of Ulster, Four Masters, etc.)"This was all taken from "The Heffernans and Their Times" by Patrick Heffernan M.D. (Una Bennet used to have a prize copy) He continues:- "There were, therefore, two families or clans of Hiffernans, coming of different stocks, in Ireland, one in Brega in Meath, the other, a Dalcassian clan from Clare, in Owney, Co. Limerick.The first theory, the oldest, and that most generally held, is that "Ífearnan" is a later Irish pronunciation and phonetic spelling of the old Gaelic "Eichthighearnan" (pronounced "Eachcheernan") If this theory is correct, "Heffernan" is simply an honorific form of "Ahearn ", the anglicised form of" Eichthighern ", meaning, literally," horse-lord" ("eich", a horse, "thighearna", lord)." There has been, down through their history, a strong connection between the Clan and equine husbandry, one of the most well known being the breeding of the famous "Birdcatcher" by George Knox, a great story complete in itself. That famous stallion is the progenitor of all 'speed' horses alive today. The great Saddler's Wells was one of his descendants. Some of the clan represented Ireland in the Olympic showjumping. Many still carry on the tradition of horse-breeding. This equine association is borne out by a further quote:- "At this stage, one naturally enquires who or what were those Gaelic "horselords"? Were they professional horse-breeders, horse-tamers, horse-breakers, roughriders; or horse-thieves, whom the ancient Irish, in their grand eloquence, glorified with the name of "horse-lords"? Or were they Gaelic mounted knights, manifest in the stress that is laid on horse mastership and the like in early Irish names."It was this love of horses that overcame a religious bias and united the Heffernan and Knox Families. Apparently, much to the annoyance of their respective clans, a strong attraction developed between a young Presbyterian, Frances Knox, of Scottish aristocratic descent and a local Catholic lad, Laurence Heffernan, from a successful Irish farming & hotelier family. They both used to ride out with the Kildare hunt and, one fateful day, they did not return. Their horses were found tethered together at the rail outside the local train station, and they had eloped to England (Dublin?) to tie their own knot. We all are the continuation of their story. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is another traditional legend/story that was related to me whilst tracking down family around Fontstown/Ballitore/Monatore. There was a strong belief that the Dalclassian Uí Fearnáin Clan had come up from around Owneybeg in Clare/Limerick centuries before. The cause of their migration was down to their rescue of a Princess from one clan who had been promised in marriage to yet another clan. She, however, had other ideas and wanted to join a religious order. For some noble reason unknown, the Uí Fearnáins came to her aid and she was spirited away. After many weeks travel avoiding their pursuers they settled in Kildare near Athy. She eventually became St. Ita and there is a church in Kilmeade (Cill Íde) (near Athy) dedicated to her memory. (I am working on the theory that Athy is an anglicised version of the Gaelic which could have been Ath Íde, the place of Ita). This ties in with the fact that there is a Kilmeady (Cill m' Íde) near Limerick-, Kilmeedy (In Irish - Cill m'Íde, or church of my Ita) where she founded a convent.. She was born in 480 A.D. and died in 570 A.D. (see photos). To put this in context, St. Patrick (387-493 A.D.) was busy around the country while she was a young girl. "This Patrick portrayed by Tírechán and Muirchu is a martial figure, who contests with druids, overthrows pagan idols, and curses kings and kingdoms. On occasion, their accounts contradict Patrick's own writings: Tírechán states that Patrick accepted gifts from female converts although Patrick himself flatly denies this. However, the emphasis Tírechán and Muirchu placed on female converts, and in particular royal and noble women who became nuns, is thought to be a genuine insight into Patrick's work of conversion. Tírechán's account suggests that many early Patrician churches were combined with nunneries founded by Patrick's noble female converts."I have yet to establish the veracity of this legend, but it is a baited hook. (this research is leading to ever more detail, so I think it would be best if I wrote a seperate chapter just on this} The Brega line of Heffernans where from the area around the Boyne and the Newbridge Megaliths. Tracing back the Knox line leads us, via Moyne Abbey, Mayo, to Scotland and the Stuart Royal family, to Princess Marjorie (de Bruce) and her father, Robert de Bruce. Marjorie, while pregnant at 19, fell off her horse and was taken to the infirmary of Paisley monastery. She gave birth by Caesarean and died. Her son later became Robert II, King of Scotland. Her husband, Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward, went on the 3rd Crusade with Richard the Lionheart. He was also a patron/benefactor of the Knights Templar. There were at least 5 Crusaders in the line. What was once a possibly boring history lesson now gets down and personal. Adamus de Dunbar, the founder of the Knox name, married into the Royal Stuart blood-line. He was given the Barony of Renfrewshire including the lands of Ranfurlie and Knox, as a dowry, when he married his cousin, Lady Sybella, sister of Alan, daughter of Walter Fitz Alan, 1st High Steward of Scotland. Paisley Abbey was built by Walter. Adam adopted the name Knox (Cnocs) which referred to an enigmatic ancient hill on his new estates. This was a new widely used method which differed from the old, where reference was made to the father's name. |
