Fearghal Ó Gadhra facts for kids
Fearghal Ó Gadhra (born around 1597 – died after 1660), also known as Farrell O'Gara, was a powerful lord from Coolavin, Ireland. He is best known for supporting the creation of the Annals of the Four Masters, a very important collection of Irish history.
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Family and Background
Fearghal Ó Gadhra was the son of Tadhg mac Oilill Ó Gadhra. His family came from Coolavin, which is now in the southern part of County Sligo. The Ó Gadhra family had owned land in Connacht for a very long time.
Historians say their family line goes back to ancient times. They were once Kings of Sliabh Lugha in the 12th century. This area was also known as Gailenga. Later, the Ó Gadhras were moved to Coolavin in County Sligo.
Early Life and Politics
When Fearghal was young, Sir Theobald Dillon became his guardian. King James I arranged this. Dillon made sure Fearghal went to Trinity College Dublin from 1609 to 1616.
Even though Fearghal's father had been part of a rebellion, Fearghal inherited most of his family's land. This was thanks to Sir Theobald Dillon's help. By the 1630s, Fearghal was one of the richest Catholic landowners in County Sligo.
In 1618, Fearghal's estate at Moygara was given to King James I. However, Fearghal quickly got the land back under English law. This also gave him the power to hold court and act like a baron. In 1634, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sligo.
Fearghal married Isobel Taffe, whose father was Viscount Corran. Isobel's mother was also a daughter of Sir Theobald Dillon. Even though Dillon was Protestant, Fearghal and his family remained strong Catholics. Fearghal and Isobel had two sons, Cian and John.
Role in the 1641 Irish Rebellion
Fearghal Ó Gadhra welcomed Owen Roe O'Neill when he arrived in Ireland in 1642. Owen Roe O'Neill was an important leader in the Irish Confederate forces. Fearghal's son, John, even became a captain in these forces.
In 1643, some people accused Fearghal of being an Irish rebel. However, in 1644, a Protestant woman named Jane Browne gave a different story. She said that Fearghal Ó Gadhra had helped her and her children. He gave them shelter, food, and clothes after a Protestant fort fell in 1641. This shows he helped people even during difficult times.
Later Life
After the English army, led by Oliver Cromwell, took over Ireland, Fearghal Ó Gadhra's land was taken away. He was still alive in 1660, but we don't know the exact year he passed away.
Supporting the Four Masters
Fearghal Ó Gadhra's most important contribution was supporting the Annals of the Four Masters. This was a huge project in the 1630s. It involved collecting and writing down Irish history from ancient times.
The Franciscan order, a group of monks, chose Fearghal to support this work. He was a wealthy and respected Catholic leader in north Connacht. His support helped the scholars, especially Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, complete this massive historical record.
Some historians believe Fearghal's time at Trinity College Dublin might have connected him with scholars interested in Irish history. However, it's more likely that his guardian, Sir Theobald Dillon, had strong ties to the Franciscan order. One of Dillon's sons was even a novice master at a college where Ó Cléirigh also studied.
Because of his help, Fearghal received a special copy of the Annals. This copy included a long thank you note for his efforts. His sons inherited this manuscript. Later, Colonel Oliver O'Gara, a descendant, took it to Europe when he was exiled. In the 1730s, it was brought back to Ireland and is now kept at the Royal Irish Academy.
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