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= O'Crowley Clan (O'Chruadhlaoich) =

Introduction
The O'Crowley Clan is an Irish Gaelic clan established in the 13th century in Carberry in the Kingdom of Desmond. The O'Crowleys belong to the Siol Murray (Siol Muireadagh Muillethan MacFergus), a house issued from the Ui Briuin tribe through Murray, king of Connacht 695-702 of which the O'Connors, MacDermotts are the leading clans. The O'Crowley derive their name from Dermot MacDermott, prince of Moylurg, given as a hostage to King John of England in 1214, and who was given the sobriquet "chruadh laoich" or Crowley, meaning the "hard warrior", upon his returning to Ireland and assuming the contested principality of Moylurg from 1215-1218. Dualda MacFirbis states "they (O'Crowleys) derive their name and descent from Diarmaid "an chruadhlaoich" who was 4th in descent from Diarmaid (ancestor of the MacDermotts) - Clann Mhaolruanaidh, race of Maolruanaidh (O'Connor) son of Tadhg, king of Connacht : a branch of the Siol Muireadaigh of which the MacDermotts of Moylurg and MacDonaghs of Tirerill were the chief families; and Cineal Mbeice, race of Beice, grandson of Feidlimh, king of Desmond in the 6th century; the clann name of the O'Mahonys, whose territory lay around the town of Bandon."

Establishment in the Kingdom Desmond
Following the rise to power of the O'Brien dynasty in Munster and the Treaty of Glanmire in 1118, the Eoghanagh lead by the MacCarthy dynasty moved from their base in Tipperary into south Munster or Desmond displacing local clans. A state of constant warfare between the O'Brien dynasty, now king of Thomond and the MacCarthys king of Desmond existed during this period. In 1232 O'Connor; king of Connacht sent an army into Desmond to help the MacCarthys defeat the O'Briens. In the same year the MacCarthys under Donal Gott Cairbreach conquered a large part of Carberry displacing local clans (O'Mahonys, O'Driscolls) and established a sub kingdom of Desmond. It may be through the course of these events that the O'Crowleys came into Desmond as an aristocratic professional soldiers family replacing Clan Shealbhlaigh, akin to the O'Mahonys, gaining ownership of their lands in Kilshallow. In 1283 Donal, a son of Donal Gott MacCarthy rebelled with Clan Shealbhaigh against Donal MacCarthy Mor, king of Desmond. In the same year the Annals of Inisfallen record that the King of Desmond defeated the rebels who fled from the Carberry and the king "caused great migration into the borders of Clan Shealbaig". For the same year the chroniclers record the first reference of an O'Crowley in Desmond with the death of "Ragnall Ua Cruadlaich" slained by the rebel Owen MacCarthy.

The Justiciary Rolls for 1295 records " Dermod and Conechor Ocroylly charged with homicides and other misdeeds, put themselves on the country. Guilty. Hung. No chattles." indicating that the O'Crowley at that time were firmly established in Carberry ,the townlands of Cahir Ui Chruadhlaoich, Curragh Ui Chruadhlaoich and Connaghta, in the parishes of Kinneigh and Ballymoney, represent early places of settlement with the Chief's residence in the stone of fort of Cahir Ui Chruadhlaoich.

O'Crowley Clan Lordship
The main territory of the O'Crowley clan lied in a stretch of land called Kilshallow (Coill t Shealbhaigh or Wood of Shelly) north of the Bandon river between Dunmanway and Inniskean near Bandon. It represented 32 ploughlands, and area of about 10,000 acres for which the Chief of the clan was paying by 1496 a Chief rent of £ 9 4s. 4d. to The MacCarthy Reagh prince of Carberry. The O'Crowleys serving as professional soldiers to the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty were very closely associated with the growth of the principality of Carberry. By the mid 15th century The MacCarthy Reagh had conquered former Norman lands, notably from the Arundels, de Courcy and de Barrys and had O'Crowleys settled on many of these directly serving them or other sundry MacCarthy septs.

In 1484 Henry VII of England by letter of patent granted Finghin MacCarthy Reagh, Prince of Carbery, protection of English law and empowers him to receive the hommage of the independent Irish Chiefs on his behalf. In 1493 by letter of patent Finghin MacReagh agrees to follow English succession law and to provide 20 knights and 400 foot soldiers. In 1496 Auliffe O'Crowley in company with other Chiefs (O'Mahony Finn, O'Donovan, O'Driscoll, O'Mahony Carbery) submitted to Finghin and was recognised Lord by the crown.

The same Chief Aullife O'Crowley petitioned in 1488 to the bishop of Ross in order to have a separate parish formed in Kilnagross where he had a church built on account of O'Crowley settlements. This was later confirmed by the Pope in 1493. The adjunction of Kilnagross parish to the O'Crowley lordship added a considerable estate.

The O'Crowley clan evolved into a number of septs, some established where they provided military force to local lords or chiefs; O'Crowley na Madrai (of the hounds)and O'Crowley Buidhe (fair) in the Parish of Kinneigh, O'Crowley Og (young), Kilshanan, Parish of Kilbrittain, O'Crowley MacFyneen (from Fyneen Chief in 1577), Parish of Kilnagross and in Muskerry, O'Crowley Riough (red), Ballinacarriga, RossCarbery, O'Crowley Ciappach (tormenting), Parish of Kinneigh, Phale, O'Crowley na Gabhna (smith), Parish of Marragh, O'Crowley Baccach (lame), Parish of Caheragh, O'Crowley Mac y Vallirty (son of the bright ruler), Parish of Kilmaloda.

The Desmond Rebellion
The O'Crowleys were involved in the Desmond Rebellion s. The Chief at the time was Fyneen O'Crowley, who had succeeded to his first cousin Cormac (deceased in 1552, Irish Compendium), the son of Auliffe O'Crowley. Fyneen, formerly constable to The MacCarthy Muskerry, was then Marshall The MacCarthy Reagh, Prince of Carbery. Pardonned in 1577, thanks to the protection from The MacCarthy Mor, O'Crowley Clan were not attained by the massive land confiscation following the rebellion, whereas their neighbourghs the O'Mahony Finn clan had all their land escheated. The result of the Desmond Rebellion was the surveying of lands and the Composition of Munster, that is the imposition of English Land Laws, the suppression of clans private armies and land taxes. In the September 1592 Teige O'Crowley, the Chief of the clan, and David O'Crowley na Madrai agree to pay a yearly composition of 80 Pds.

The Nine Year War
The O'Crowleys throughout the Nine Year War were followers of Fyneen MacCarthy Mor, The MacCarthy Mor, and his brother Dermod Moyle MacCarthy leaders of the rebellion in Munster. The O'Crowleys participated to the battle of Kinsale 24 December 1601 and were at the thick of the resistance in its aftermath.In March 1602 Teige MacDermot O'Crowley Brannlaghe retires out of Beare with his clan back into Kilshallow supporting Dermod MacCarthy. Carew, Lord President of Munster writes to Donal O'Brien Earl of Thomond "Dermod Moyle MacCarthy is most assisted by the O'Crowleys, have a special care to prosecute him and his assistants". The O'Crowley Clan were in the Irish force lead by Bishop Owen MacEgan at the battle of Ballineen on the border of Kilshallow, where Teige MacDermot O'Crowley (The O'Crowley) surmaned Furiosus, in single combat deprived the White Knight, commander of the English force, of "two fingers, signet ring, ear, and his horse". After Ballineen battle the rebellion ceased and pardons were issued to ease out the country.