Hi all,
Pat Connors has been the list administrator for this list and is now taking
a well deserved break - and she is launching into a massive project on the
Cashel & Emly records which are finally open at the National Library of
Ireland - and I have taken over the list at her invitation. Currently I am
the administrator of the CoTipperary list. Pat has been a dedicated
administrator and I thank her for all her hard work over the years.
From years of research, we now know that Cullinan, Quillinan, Callinan
and
Quinlan in Munster are all anciently of the same sept. The names are often
used interchangeably and sometimes within the same family and generation.
The surname goes back to probably Eoghan mac Cuilleannain, the brother of
Cormac Mac Cuilleannain, who became King of Munster c. 900 AD with no issue.
Eoghan was killed before his brother became king, and I have a hunch that
Eoghan was the warrior and the one due to become king, and not Cormac. The
boys were born at Doonoor, Co. Tipperary, which is on the road from
Tipperary Town to Dundrum. The second theory is that the father was
Cuilleannain, Lord of the Conaille, Co. Louth, who is the only Cuilleannain
I have been able to find in the right place at the right time to father
these sons. His father, King of the Conaille, had been captured by the
Vikings in the early part of the 830's and he was down in the Limerick area
to ransom him at the right time.
Cullinan's are pretty much in Limerick and Clare. Callinan's in No. Tipp and
Cork and Galway. Quinlan's and Quillinan's pretty much in Tipp. Any of the
variations can be found anywhere in Munster, however. There are also a lot
of variations of each surname. Much to keep us busy.
I'd like to use this time to have a Roll Call so we can get to know each
other. Please use "Roll Call - [Surnames in capital letters & County &
townland, if you know it]" as the subject line. If you have a brick wall,
please tell us about it, and please tell us where your ancestors emigrated -
Australia? Canada? New Zealand? USA? Or are you in Ireland?
I would also like to know about your favorite websites for information.
I maintain spreadsheets for all 4 variations of the name, but they are not
complete. As I get time I will try and post the records I do have.
I love a chatty list, so have at it.
Janet