The McGrath (Irish: Mac Raith, commonly now Mac Craith) family is an Irish clan. The name is derived from the GaelicMac Craith, recorded in other written texts as Mag Craith, Mag Raith and Macraith, including the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Ulster. McGrath is a surname of ancient Irish origin, and is borne by the descendants of a number of septs, each with a common origin in the Kingdom of Thomond, a kingdom that existed before the Norman invasion and was located in north Munster.[1]
Tradition states the McGraths are of Dál gCais ancestry, stemming from Cormac Cas, King of the Province of Munster in the 3rd century AD. The Irish surname Mac Craith is considered to be patronymic in origin, being a name derived from the first name of the original bearer. The prefix ‘Mac’ in Mac Craith, denotes ‘son of’ and is followed by the genitive form of Rath, a personal name meaning ‘good fortune’, or ‘grace’.[2] The final -c in Mac was subsequently carried across and prefixed to the personal name Rath.[3] According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the MacGraths were one of the chiefly families of the Dal gCais or Dalcassians who were a tribe of the Erainn who were the second wave of Celts to settle in Ireland between about 500 and 100 BC.[4]
As the native Irish language was replaced by English, so the spelling of the family name Mac Craith was transformed. The most widely used anglicised spelling of Mac Craith is McGrath. However other variants exist, including Magrath, McGraw, Macrae, Mcilrath, MacCrae, McCreagh, MacGraith, Megrath, MacReagh, MacCraw, McCreath, MacGrae, Makrayth, McKray. These are simply anglicised variations of the same name.[5]
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (941 - 1014 AD)
During the High Kingship of Brian Bóruma Mac Cennéide or Brian Boru as he is more commonly referred, the Mac Craith Clan as a separate entity did not exist and the ancestors of the Mac Craith possibly formed part of a wider family group.[6]
Historical sources state these proto-Mac Craiths were the descendants of Cinnéide (Kennedy), the Father of Brian Boru, and when Brian died they were within the generational range that made them eligible for the leadership position within the wider Clan group, they were part of the deirbhfhine. This allowed any man whose father, grandfather or great grandfather eligible for election as King. In the lifetime of the king, one man of the deirbhfhine was nominated Tánaiste, or heir, to succeed on the king's death.[7] With the election of one of Brian's sons as King and the passage of time, these proto-Mac Craiths were no longer eligible for leadership of the O'Brien dynasty (descendants of Brian Boru) Clan, and so developed into a separate dynasty.[8]
Brian Boru's Father Cinnéide had the support of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in his rise to power.[9] This link may have drawn the Mac Craith Clan north to Ulster to settle the lands around Lough Derg in Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The Mac Craith Clan established a buffer zone through their control of the Termon (Church) lands around the holy islands of Lough Derg. An area known as Termonmagrath. This buffer zone provided a neutral territory protected by Irish custom and insulated the Uí Néill of Tyrone from the other powerful dynasty in Ulster, the O'Donnell dynasty of Tyrconnell (Co. Donegal).[8]
Earliest references
The Royal Lineage of the Clan McGrath
The earliest reference to the name McGrath occurs in a citation from 1086 AD[10] referring to a McGrath who was described as the Chief Poet of the Province of Munster. This McGrath, the progenitor of the Clan Mac Craith, was related to the O’Briens of Thomond and served them as poets. The Mac Craith lineage is as follows:
Lórcan → Cinnéide → Etchtighern (Brother of Brian Boru) → Flan → Craith.
Craith may have been born around 970 AD. In 1097 AD the Annals of Innisfallen record the "Son of Mac Craith the poet died". This is the first instance of Mac Craith being used as a family name. As poets the Mac Craiths are important enough to be recorded in the Annals.[11]
McGrath Sept of Ulster - Tearmann Mac Craith
McGrath Castle, Termonmcgrath, Barony of Tyrhugh, Co. Donegal
Termonmagrath (in Gaelic: Tearmann Mac Craith) exists in the Barony of Tirhugh in southern Donegal. The territory incorporates the modern town of Pettigo and the ancient pilgrimage island and lake of Lough Derg. Termonmagrath is also the location of Castle McGrath (also known as Termon Castle). To the north of the McGrath territory and just outside Ballybofey is Carraig McGrath, possibly the inauguration site of the McGrath Chieftains.[12]
The Clan McGrath were the hereditary Coarbs of the famous pilgrimage island known as St. Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg. They were also protectors of the Augustinian monastic settlement on Saint's Island, Lough Derg and provided many Prior's of the pilgrimage site in the medieval period. The Clan McGrath controlled the routes to the pilgrimage islands and the revenues gained from pilgrims making their way from across Europe. The Annals of Ulster detail the names and lineage of the McGrath Chieftains of Ulster from the 12th century until the eventual dispossession of McGrath lands in the 17th century. This valuable source also gives information on the Termon.[12]
The Termon was under the divine protection of the local Saint Davog (Dabhog) and the McGrath Chieftain. We find the annals describing this Termon as Tearmann Dabhog (St. Davog's Termon) until the end of the 15th century when in 1496 the Annals of Ulster begin to refer to it as Tearmann Mhic Craith (McGrath's Termon) from the Clan who held the hereditary office of Corab (in Gaelic: Comharba).[12]
Archbishop Miler McGrath 1523 - 1622 AD
Portrait of Archbishop Miler McGrath (1523–1622)
Perhaps the most infamous of the McGraths of Termonmagrath is Archbishop Miler McGrath (also spelt Myler Magrath 1523–1622 AD). Miler was the son of the McGrath Chief, Donnchadh and was destined for the religious life. He became a Franciscan and studied in Rome where he acquired the Roman Catholic bishopric of Down and Connor. Although kinsman and foster brother of the Gaelic Lord and Chieftain Shane O'Neill, Miler was himself a master in the game of politics and alliances. In 1569 he conformed to the reformed faith and was initially granted the Protestant bishopric of Clogher, thus holding a Roman Catholic and Protestant bishopric at the same time. This continued until 1580 when he was eventually deprived of the Catholic bishopric for heresy.[13]
Miler would expand his influence and power across Ireland and in 1571 AD became Archbishop of Rock of Cashel in Tipperary. Miler brought 200 armed men from his ancestral home at Termonmagrath, consisting mainly of his McGrath kinsmen.[14] Their descendants are still found today in Co. Tipperary. Miler patrolled his lands in Tipperary, carrying a sword and wearing armour, a sign perhaps of the dangers in which a man such as he found himself. Miler married Amy, the daughter of the O'Meara Chieftain and fathered four sons and two daughters.[13]
In 1622 aged 100 years Miler died. Prior to his death he commissioned his tomb stone which today bears an effigy in the robes of a Catholic bishop. It is debated as to whether this is an actual representation of Miler or a later addition to the tomb. It is a tradition that Miler converted back to the Catholic faith before his death. Miler had his coat of arms carved on his tombstone, these are re-created in the above artwork. Miler's arms are the earliest depiction of the McGrath Arms.[14]
The Ulster McGrath Chiefs of Termonmagrath 13th - 18th century
Giolla Adhamhnain Mac Craith Coat of Arms of the McGrath of Ulster (circa 16th Century).
Nicholas, son of Giolla Mac Craith
Muiris son of Nicholas Mac Craith
Mark son of Muiris Mac Craith
Sean Mor son of Muiris Mac Craith
Matthew brother of Sean Mor Mac Craith
Sean Bui 'the fair haired' son of Sean Mor Mac Craith
Diarmuid son of Mark, son of Muiris Mac Craith
Rory son of Diarmuid, son of Mark Mac Craith
Torlough, son of Andrew Mac Craith
The Mac Craith (First Name Unknown) Chieftain between 1549 and 1562
Donncha Mac Craith, Father of Archbishop Miler McGrath
James, son of Archbishop Miler McGrath
Turlough, son of James McGrath, Captain of 140 rebels in Donegal during the 1641 Rebellion
Late 17th and early 18th century
Brian, son of Turlough McGrath, a rebel, is outlawed for his part in the Jacobite wars in Ireland
Seámus Og, son of Turlough is McGrath of the Termon
Reamonn, son of Seámus Og is McGrath of the Termon
McGrath Sept of County Tipperary
The Civil Survey of 1654 AD for Co. Tipperary effectively groups together three main clusters of McGraths. One are the descendants of Archbishop Miler McGrath and his kinsmen in central Tipperary, the other is a family listed as McCragh in northwest Tipperary and the third was again listed as McCragh in the Cahir area. Members of the Thomond branch of the McGraths migrated to the Cahir area of Tipperary in the late 16th century and established a bardic school.
A McCraith family occupied the tower house at Loughlohery both before and after the Cromwellian transplantation that removed many Irish families from their homesteads. Their descendants still occupy the townland of Loughlohery to this day. Over the subsequent years some of these McCraghs migrated into Co. Limerick, Co. Cork and Co. Waterford.[16]
McGrath Sept of County Waterford
The best known Waterford McGraths, often referred to as McCragh, were located on the eastern slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains. These families were descended from the Mac Craiths of Thomond and were associated with the Fitzgerald family (Earl of Desmond). The McGraths and O’Briens were invited to occupy the slopes of the Knockmealdown and Commeragh Mountains respectively to protect the Fitzgerald territory from incursion from the North.[17]
The head of the clan in the early 1600s was Philip McCragh of Sliabh Gua who constructed a castle called Sleady Castle in 1628 at Curragh na Sleady. The walls of this impressive 17th century, four story structure are still standing. Sleady Castle is located just east of Cappaquin a little off the road to Clonmel. The family also had a castle at Mountain Castle (which is still standing), where Philip lived prior to building Sleady Castle.[18]
A tower house at Abbeyside across the river from Dungarvan was built by a member of this family in the mid 1500s. They were protectors and patrons of the nearby Augustinian Abbey. The castle was finally demolished in the 1960s. The site of the castle was marked with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in 2015.
Logo of Cumann Chlann Mhic Craith - The Clann McGrath Society
The Clan McGrath Today
The Clan McGrath Society - Cumann Chlann Mhic Craith has been reorganised in 2023 and was formally launched at the Clan McGrath International Gathering 2024 which took place in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. The aim of the society is to unite the various septs and family groups of the Clan McGrath under one banner.
The two main Irish septs in Ulster and Thomond, have come together with international clan groups and associations around the world and successfully organised and delivered the first Clan McGrath International Gathering since 2019 and the Covid pandemic. The gathering took place from 8th – 12th August 2024 and participants travelled from the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia for this festival of heritage and culture and were welcomed home to Ireland's green shores by McGraths from across Ireland.
The clan gathering was opened by Waterford City and County Mayor Cllr. Brian Murphy, who raised the clan banner above the Park Hotel Dungarvan, the base for the 2024 gathering. The theme of the gathering was ‘walking in the footsteps of our ancestors’. Bookending the gathering programme, on Day 1 the programme reflected the development of early Ireland and the impact of 19th century immigration on Irish society with guided tours of the Irish National Heritage Centre in Wexford, the Dunbrody Famine Ship and the JFK Homestead.
On Day 2 as the gathering programme moved to focus on the McGrath legacy on medieval Munster, the McGrath gathering visited the tomb of Archbishop Miler McGrath at the Rock of Cashel to learn of this notorious ancestor’s role in the politics of Tudor Ireland. Then it was to Cahir Castle, the seat of the Butler Earls of Ormonde for a wonderful tour of this magnificent castle and its defensive power and key position in medieval / early modern Munster. To close the day, the gathering enjoyed a bus tour of the Nire Valley and travelled the old road from Clonmel which the McGraths would have used and learned of the aftermath of the siege of the McGrath stronghold of Sleady Castle.
On Day 3, under beautiful sunshine the McGrath gathering visited Dromana House, arriving by bus and tightly squeezing through the arch of Dromana Gate, a lovely bridge based on the Pavilion in Brighton, England, the gathering was treated to a personal tour of the house and grounds. Once the seat of the Fitzgerald Lords of the Decies, allies to the McGraths during the confederate wars, the gathering learned of the story of Lady McGrath whose sister married into the Fitzgerald family of Dromana in the 17th century. The gathering then moved to Lismore to visit this beautiful town and the St. Carthage’s Cathedral which houses the famous carved McGrath Tomb. Completed for John McGrath and his wife Catherine Prendergast, the tomb is a beautifully carved memorial tomb and is one of the finest examples of 16th century stone carving in Ireland.
The gathering then travelled to the final resting place of the late Thomond Chieftain Dan McGrath for a memorial service that paid tribute to him and Dan’s consistent hard work which brought the McGrath gatherings back to Dungarvan.
The Clan McGrath gathers to launch Sleady 400, a conservation project to protect their built heritage.Clans of Ireland Historical Sites Plaque unveiled at Sleady Castle during the Clan McGrath International Gathering 2024.
Ending Day 3, the pinnacle of the gathering explored the ancestral home of the McGrath family in Munster. Within the shadow of Sleady Castle the gathering enjoyed a BBQ. Live music echoed from the gables of the castle as the McGraths celebrated the 2024 Gathering in style. A message from the General Secretary to Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland was read which expressed the President’s good wishes for the gathering. A plaque to mark Sleady Castle as a national Clans of Ireland Historical Site was unveiled and the memory of the late Thomond Chieftain Dan McGrath was marked with a memorial bench. The culmination of the evening was the inauguration of Scott McGraw as Taoiseach / Chief of the newly constituted Clan McGrath Society / Cumann Chlann Mhic Craith and the launching the society’s built heritage project SLEADY400. Sleady Castle will be 400 years old in 2028 and the society’s aim is to complete conservation plans to mark this.
Day 4 and the final day of the programme saw the gathering welcomed to celebrate mass at St. Augustine’s Church, Abbeyside. The Clan McGrath were founders and patrons of the medieval abbey and houses the grave of Domhnall McGrath dated 1400. Members of the Clan McGrath took part in the liturgy and learned more of the conservation efforts of Fr. Ned and the parishioners to conserve the medieval belltower of the Church.
The gathering then travelled to the Curraghmore Estate, seat of de le Paor family, one of the most powerful families in county Waterford. Mary de le Paor famously told Philip McGrath before she married him “Her fathers stables would be more befitting a lady”. Following that statement, Philip set about the building of Sleady Castle. The gathering explored Lady McGrath’s roots and explored the famous Curraghmore gardens and sample the tea and scones in their newly opened tearooms. From Curraghmore it was to Waterford City and walking tour to take in the sites and sounds of Ireland’s oldest town before returning to the Park Hotel, Dungarvan for the closing event, a gala dinner hosted by Clan Taoiseach Scott McGraw and accompanied by a piper to stir the spirit and fill the gathering with pride.
In his closing remarks, Scott reflected on the weekend and paid special mention to Joanne Hickey and Seán Alexander McGrath who were fundamental in the organisation of the gathering programme and particularly to the Hickey family who opened Sleady Castle up to the Clan McGrath. Scott further appealed for McGraths everywhere to become involved in the Clan McGrath Society and in a hand-over ceremony Joanne passed the McGrath banner from Thomond to Scott and onto Seán, who will be the main organiser for the next Clan McGrath International Gathering which will take place in the McGrath Territories in Ulster in 2026.
Arms
The McGrath family are armigerous in Ireland and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The earliest recorded McGrath Arms are that of the McGrath Chieftain of Ulster. These are recorded as 'argent, three lions passant gules' in the book Irish Pedigrees: The Stem of the Irish Nation by John Hart[19] and in Irish Families, Their Names, Arms and Origins by Edward MacLysaght.[20] However, the McGrath Arms are recorded in a slightly different form in 16th and 17th century sources, including on a portrait of Archbishop Miler McGrath dated 1570. In the portrait the red lions can be seen against a white field on the shield positioned at the top left corner. The lions are passant guardant, that is looking towards the viewer. Above the shield is a bishop's mitre. In 1622, the death of Archbishop Miler McGrath saw him interred in a tomb at the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick at the Rock of Cashel. Above the head of the effigy and on the tomb itself is a carved stone coat of arms. These arms depict three lions passant guardant in the first quarter, the arms of the McGrath Chieftain of Ulster. Miler being a native of the Termonmagrath, the Termon lands of the McGraths of Ulster and son of the McGrath Chieftain, Miler naturally depicts these arms on his coat of arms.
The other quarters include a cross pattee, a motif often used by bishops and bishoprics. A battleaxe, possibly representing defence of the faith and a demi-antelope possibly representing steadfastness. The antelopes horns possibly represent the old and new testaments. The motto is held to be SALUS IN FIDE, salvation by faith. There is no historical evidence for the use of this motto. However, modern tradition associates the motto with the arms and in many ways it sits well with the ecclesiastically influenced coat of arms of an archbishop.
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References
↑ The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin by Michael F McGraw, 2005, Para.2
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