Coat of Arms : On a white field for Purity and Integrity, and between these three blue boars’ heads for a Fierce and Fearless Warrior, is a red chevron for Valour and Protection on which are three small golden crosses denoting Fidelity and Faith.

Crest : A demi-lion rampant holding in the dexter paw a sceptre crowned.

Motto : Honor et Virtute. (Honor and approved virtue.)

Of the 60 major Gaelic Kings, Princes and Dukes, whom we now have a tendency to call merely ‘Chiefs’, which were enumerated for Henry VIII prior to his conquests, only a handful survived the devastations. Today, the Chief Herald of Ireland, gives courtesy recognition to 19 heads of Gaelic families who are the direct descendants of the last Gaelic title holders. The Chief Herald of Ireland, representing the Irish state though, claims that only these Gaelic title holders who claim their titles by the primogeniture laws of England can be recognised.

The Mac Dermots are one of the few septs whose head is recognized by the Irish Genealogical Office as an authentic chieftain, that is to say he is entitled in popular parlance to be called ‘The Mac Dermot’ and in this case this is enhanced by the further title of ‘Prince of Coolavin,’ though of course as titles are not recognized under the Irish Constitution the designation is only used by courtesy. Currently, Rory MacDermot is The Mac Dermot, Prince of Coolavin. Francis MacDermot is the Tanáiste (which means the next in line to inherit, or the heir).

The family descends from Tadhg O’Connor, who was King of Connacht before the Norman invasion. The Mac Dermots divided into three distinct septs, or, if we disregard the branch which early accepted English domination, into two septs. The more important, having precedence, is that of Coolavin, Co. Sligo, formerly of Moylurg, whose territory embraced much of Co. Roscommon, the other, further north in Co. Roscommon, owned Kilronan and was called Mac Dermot Roe (I.e. Red). Madam Mac Dermot (1659-1739), of Alderford, wife of Mac Dermot Roe, was noted for her patronage of O’Carolan the Harper (Toirdhealbhach O’Cearbhalláin) at the time when aristocratic patronage of the bards was almost a thing of the past. Many of his works survive today. O’Carolan was buried in the Mac Dermot Roe family vault at Kilronan. He is considered by many to be Ireland’s “National Composer” and “the last of the Irish bards.”

The Mac Dermot name is numerous – it is included in the hundred commonest in Ireland. It is the second most common in its home county (Roscommon) and is also found frequently in Counties Donegal and Tyrone. It is seldom used without the prefix Mac, except in Co. Leitrim where the simple form Dermott is not uncommon. Its derivation is simple – Mac Diarmada (son of Diarmuid or Dermot). Several of the name may be mentioned as outstanding: two of these were of the Chiefly family of Moylurg – Brian Og Mac Dermot (d. 1592), learned owner of the famous manuscript “The Annals of Lough Cé” and Hugh Mac Dermot (1834-1904), leading barrister and politician; Martin Mac Dermott (1823-1905), Young Irelander and poet of The Nation; Ruaraidh MacDermot of Moylurg, a scion of The Mac Dermot, Prince of Coolavin, was actually one of the Irish Volunteers who fought in the General Post Office Garrison in 1916. He fought with the Volunteers throughout the War of Independence. And, of course, I would be remiss not to mention Dylan McDermott, the American actor; and Galt MacDermot who is one of this century’s most prolific and distinguished composers : musicals (HAIR, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Human Comedy), ballet scores (La Novela, Salome), film scores (Cotton Comes To Harlem, Fortune and Men’s Eyes, Mistress), chamber music (Wind Quintet), the Anglican Liturgy (The Mass in F), poetry (The Thomas Hardy Songs), drama accompaniments (The Sun Always Shines For The Cool, The Shooting of Dan McGrew), and band repertory. The name Mac Dermot is also to be found among the prominent members of exiled Irish families on the continent, both as ecclesiastics and as soldiers.

The principal dynastic tribes of Connacht claim descent from the sons of Eochaidh Mugmedon, King of Connacht towards the end of the 4th century. The early genealogists trace his descent from Conn Cet-Chathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles), a High King in the early sagas of the Tara kings and the ancestor of the Connachta. Eochaidh was the great-grandson of Cormac Mac Airt, the great law-giver, who was the grandson of Conn Cet-Chatach.

Eochaidh is said to have had three sons by his first wife, Brión, Fiachra, and Ailill. A fourth and younger son by a different mother was the warrior, Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noigiallach). Their base was the ancient site of Cruachan, between Tulsk and Belangare in modern County Roscommon.

Brión, the eldest, stayed in his own territory, with Cruachan as its center. His sons or descendants founded (amongst others) three principal dynasties: the Uí­ Briúin Ai, ancestors of the O’Conors and Mac Dermots; the Uí­ Briúin Breifne, who became the O’Rourkes of Breifne, County Leitrim; and the Uí­ Briúin Seola, ancestors of the O’Flahertys of West Connacht.

Fiachra, the second brother, founded the Uí­ Fiachrach. They produced rather more than half of the kings of Connacht during this period. The O’Dowds and the O’Heynes are descendants of Fiachra.

Aillil moved towards the northeast of Connacht, where his name is perpetuated in the country of Tir-Errill, in County Sligo. There is not much in the histories regarding Ailill’s line.

Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages) moved across the Shannon into Midhe (Meath), where he founded a flourishing kingdom. It is thought that he created his dynasty at Uisnech, a royal hill in Westmeath, and that later descendants moved on to Tara. His descendants in the Midlands were ancestors of most of the well-known Gaelic families in that area, including the Midland O’Neills. Two of his sons moved north, Conaill into Donegal where he established the Clann-Connell (O’Donnells), while Eoghan went to the peninsula now known as Inishowen from where his descendants moved into what is now Tyrone and founded the dynasty of the northern O’Neills. The Midland and northern O’Neills shared the High Kingship in Ireland for nearly five centuries.

The Mac Dermot tribe descends through Muireadhach Muilleathan, King of Connacht (697-d.701AD) from whom they derive their clan name Siol Muireadhaigh (Sil Murray) ‘the seed of Muireadhach’. After the death of Tadhg ‘of the Towers’ Sil Murray, King of Connacht from 924 to 956AD, the kingship and the larger part of the territory, passed to a son, Conor (K.C. 966-971AD), the ancestor of the O’Conors. Incidentally, the genealogies show a family link to Brian Boromh (Brian Boru) here because Brian’s mother and this Conor’s mother were, in fact, sisters. Another son, Maelruanaidh Mór (Mulrooney) was given or acquired the territory of Moylurg in which he founded an independent tuath (our tuath) which became known as O’Mulrooney, until the emergence of a 12th Century descendant, Diarmaid (Dermot), King of Moylurg (1124-d. 1159AD), who was eminent enough so that the tuath adopted the surname Diarmaid (Dermot), which means ‘envy free’. After his death, Diarmaid’s son took the name Conchobhar Mac Diarmaid (Conor Mac Dermot), King of Moylurg, 1186-1197AD.

In ancient times there were three branches of the Mac Dermot clan; those who descended from Muireadhach Muilleathan, forebear of the O’Conors of Connacht, the main branch whose seat was at Carraigh Mac Dermot in Lough Cé; the Mac Dermott Roes (Reogh) of Kilronan, whose seat was at Alderford, Roscommon; and the Mac Dermots Galldha, who were chiefs of Airtech, near Tibohine. ** Mac Dermot Galldha and Mac Dermott Roe both expired as independent Mac Dermot families before the end of the 16th century.

The Kingdom of Moylurg

The Mac Dermots were the second most powerful family of the Siol Muireadhaigh next to the O’Connors. Moylurg was occupied by the main branch of the Mac Dermots, Tir-Tuathail by the Mac Dermots Roe, and Airtech by the Mac Dermots Gall. The dispersal of the Clan to places outside these areas would have commenced after about 1600.

The ancient Irish name for Moylurg was Magh Luirg an Dagda (the plain of the tracks of The Dagda), named after a king-god of the Tuatha dé Danaan, The Dagda. The territory consisted of the two tuaths of Moylurg and Tir-Tuathaill, and the tuath of Airtech was also added early, although the exact date is unknown at this time. It was, and is to this day, some of the richest pasturage and farm land in all of Ireland. Their territories in Roscommon and Sligo were known as ‘Mac Dermot’s Country’. They built their fortress on the legendary island of Carraigh Mac Dermot (Mac Dermot’s Rock) in the deep waters of Lough Cé. The name Cé comes from a druid of Nuada ‘of the Silver Hand’, by the name of Cé, who was mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (Moytura) in which the Tuatha dé Danaan fought the Milesians; it is said that Lough Cé burst from Cé’s grave. This fortress was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1187AD (according to the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Ulster). The Mac Dermots of Moylurg retained their rank as lords of the territory of Moylurg, now represented by the parishes of Frenchpark and Boyle in northwest County Roscommon, down to the end of the sixteenth century, after which time they continued to hold considerable property as princes of the adjoining Sligo territory of Coolavin.

Annals of Lough Cé

By 1593, the Mac Dermots were living at Port-na-cairge, suggesting that the Rock had become uninhabitable by this time. Brian Og Mac Dermot was the patron of the compilation of Annals now known as the Annals of Lough Cé. They were prepared by the O’Duigenan family of scribes, who used the Annals of Boyle, as well as many other ancient manuscripts, in the compilation; and Brian, himself, made many entries. The Annals of Lough Cé survive to this day at Trinity College, Dublin; they have been translated and published, but are currently out-of-print. (CELT has them translated now and published in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2. You might also check out the Annals of Connacht.)

An annal is a manuscript, written by hand, a record of significant historical events arranged in a date order, which is invaluable for Irish history up until the 16th century. An annal would be a collection of papers, yellowish brown coloured paper with black ink writing. The material it was written on would be vellum, which is fine parchment made from the skin of a calf. The owner and person who compiled the manuscript, later known as ‘The Annals of Lough Cé’ was Brian Og Mac Dermot of Carrick-Mac Dermot, County Roscommon, who died in the year 1592. The annals were purchased in Dublin in 1766 at a book sale of Dr. John O’Fergus, by Dr. Thomas Leland, a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. He placed the manuscript in the library of that University where it is now.

These ancient historical sources tell us a great deal about past events, people and places and remind us of the great heritage of the Irish tuaths. The Annals of Lough Cé give us a rare insight into the history of Ireland and the West. A conflict is mentioned in 1256 between Walter Burc and Fedhlim O’Connor.

1256:

‘A prodigious hosting was made by Walter, son of William Burc, against Fedhlim, son of Cathal Crobhderg, and against his son, i.e. Aedh son of Fedhlim, and to the sons of Tighernan O’Ruairc (Tiernan O’Rourke); and it was a very long time before or since a host so numerous as this was assembled in Erinn, for it was reckoned that there were in it twenty thousand to a man. And these great hosts marched to Magh-Eo of the Saxons, and from thence to Balla.’ – Annals of Lough Cé.

The background of the extract was a time in Irish history when the Anglo-Normans came into Connaught. They had come to Ireland in 1169, but an effective invasion of the West by the Anglo-Normans, led by Maurice Fitzgerald and Richard de Burgh did not take place until 1235.

The extract tells of a conflict between Walter Burc, a major Norman baron and Aedh, son of Fedhlim O’Connor, a representative of the Irish Gaelic O’Connor Kings of Connaught. Walter Burc raised a great army, or hosting of over 20,000 men and invaded Mayo. The Normans showed their military muscle and marched to the town of Mayo, then known as Magh-eo of the Saxons and then on towards Balla.

The annals tell us of a process of Anglo-Norman intrusion into the West which led to extensive settlement. This colonisation led to the creation of castles and manor houses. The Anglo-Normans made a great lasting contribution to the history and culture of Ireland. They became part of the local population becoming ‘more Irish than the Irish’. By the 16th century many Norman families changed their names to more Irish forms. The Burcs became Burke or Bourke, and contributed significantly to the development of Irish culture, language and customs.

The Legend of Una Bhán

MacDermot was chieftain of Moylurg, a Celtic Kingdom in North Roscommon. He had a beautiful daughter, Una Bhán, – so named because of her long blonde hair. His neighbour was Tomás Láidir Costello, a good and sincere man, handsome and strong.

Una Bhán and Tomás Láidir fell in love and wished to marry but MacDermot would not allow the marriage because he believed Tomás Láidir was not good enough for his daughter.

Tomás Láidir was banished from the area and MacDermot had Una Bhán confined on Castle Island, Lough Key, then called “The Rock”, which was located in the centre of MacDermot territory.

Una Bhán went into a deep melancholy and was dying of grief. Tomás Láidir, hearing of the situation went to see her, and when he left, vowed that if MacDermot did not send a message for him to return before he reached the river, he would never go back. The messenger was sent, but did not reach Tomás Láidir until after he had crossed the river. Being a man of honour Tomás Láidir was unable to break his vow and did not return.

Una Bhán died of a broken heart and was buried on Trinity Island. In his grief Tomás Láidir used to swim to the island every night to keep vigil at her grave. Eventually he got pneumonia, and realising that he was dying requested that MacDermot allow him to be buried beside Una Bhán. His request was granted and thus the two lovers were belatedly united.

Tradition says that two trees grew up over their graves, entwining together to form a Lovers Knot, standing guard over the site.

In some parts of Connacht the name has been corrupted to Kermode, due to the aspiration of the initial D of Mac Diarmada in spoken Irish, but the following names are all related to this tuath : Mac Diarmada, Mac Dermot, Mac Dermott, Mc Dermott, Mc Dermot, Mac Dermond, Mac Dermode, Mac Dermoud, Mac Dermod, M’Dermot, Mac Dermoth, M’Diermody, M’Diermoda, M’Dermorde, Darmody, Mac Dermody, Kermode, Mc Darmond, Mc Dormand, DerMott, Mac Diarmaid, Mc Dermitt, Mc Dermid, Dermott, and there are probably even more! There are millions of Mac Dermots spread throughout the world, and we are all part of the same tuath.

There is a Mac Dermot Clan Association which organizes the Dáils in Ireland, and helped to publish in 1996 “Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family” by Dermot Mac Dermot, then Prince of Coolavin, (ISBN 1-873437-16-1), and sponsors the official clan website of the Mac Dermot’s at http://www.macdermot.com/

Sources Consulted:

Mac Dermot of Moylurg: The Story of a Connacht Family by Dermot Mac Dermot, ©1996 MacDermot Clan Association, Drumlin Publications, ISBN 1-873437-16-1. (Currently unavailable at Amazon.com, but you might try finding it at BookFinder.com.)

Book of Irish Names: First, Family and Place Names by Ronan Coghlan, Ida Grehan, and P.W. Joyce, ©1989 Sterling Publishing, ISBN 0-8069-6944-X.

Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins by Edward MacLysaght.

History by Stephen Goldrick.

Roscommon Tourism.