Conall Mag Eochagáin facts for kids
Conall Mag Eochagáin (also known as Conall Mac Eochagáin) was an important Irish historian and translator. He lived from about 1592 to 1644. Conall was known for translating a very old history book called the Annals of Clonmacnoise into English in 1627. Because of this important work, he was often called Conall the Historian. He came from a place called Lismoyny in County Westmeath, Ireland.
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About Conall Mag Eochagáin
His Family Background
Conall Mag Eochagáin belonged to the Geoghegan family, which was a very old and respected family in Ireland. His family line could be traced back to a famous ancient Irish king named Niall of the Nine Hostages. Specifically, he was a descendant of Niall's son, Fiachu mac Néill.
His grandmother, Gyles "Shiela" O'Dempsey, was the sister of a well-known person named Terence O'Dempsey, 1st Viscount Clanmalier.
It is believed that Conall was born around 1592 in Lismoyny, which is near Clara in County Offaly. His parents were Anne Fitzgerald and Neal/Niall Mag Eochagáin.
Conall's wife was thought to be Margaret Coughlin. He had two known sons: Conla and Anthony. Conla married Marian Molloy, and Anthony became a bishop. Conall is considered an ancestor of many Geoghegan and Gahagan families today. He passed away in 1644.
His Famous Translation: The Annals of Clonmacnoise
The Annals of Clonmacnoise is a very important historical record. It's sometimes called "Mageoghagan’s Book" because Conall Mag Eochagáin translated it into English. This translation was crucial for saving this history for future generations.
Conall dedicated his translation to his brother-in-law, Toirdhealbhach Mac Cochláin (Terrence Coughlin). Terrence's family was one of the last to continue many traditional Gaelic Irish customs. This dedication showed how important it was to preserve Irish heritage.
Conall finished his translation on April 20, 1627. He completed it at the Castle of Lemanaghan in County Offaly. The original handwritten copy of Conall's translation has been lost over time. However, several copies of it exist today. You can find these copies in important places like the Library of Trinity College in Dublin and the British Museum in London.
The original Annals were written in Irish Gaelic. Conall often mentioned the "old Irish book" he was translating from. He noted that some parts of the original book were missing. Despite this, Conall did an excellent job of keeping the true meaning and style of the original Gaelic language in his English translation. His work is still highly valued by historians today.
See also
- Geoghegan (surname)
- Irish annals
- The Chronicle of Ireland
