The O’Neill clans, especially via the Cenél nEógain, are foundational to the history and governance of what became County Tyrone.
Clogher (barony, parish, etc.) falls within the sphere of territory controlled by Cenél Fearadhaigh, a branch of the O’Neills’ wider kindred, and was a domain for one of their septs (MacCathmhaoil).
The O’Neills are part of the Northern Uí Néill, a major Gaelic dynasty descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Within that, the Cenél nEógain (kindred/descendants of Eógan, son of Niall) are particularly relevant: their territory became Tír Eoghain, later anglicised Tyrone. Clogher (barony, parish, etc.) falls within the sphere of territory controlled by Cenél Fearadhaigh, a branch of the O’Neills’ wider kindred, and was a domain for one of their septs (MacCathmhaoil). The Barony of Clogher was even formerly known by a name referencing Cenél Fearadhaigh (sometimes “Kinel Ferady”).
Key individuals like Sir Cormac O’Neill also held territory in Clogher, linking the main O’Neill line to that area.
Cenél Fearadhaigh & Clogher
One branch of Cenél nEógain is Cenél Fearadhaigh (the “kindred of Feradach”), descended from Feradach mac Muiredach, who in turn was a grandson of Eógan. Cenél Fearadhaigh, by the 12th century, controlled a large area of what is now eastern / central Tyrone, including the Barony of Clogher, the Maguires checked their expansion into Fermanagh.
The MacCathmhaoil / MacCawell sept
One of the major septs (sub‐clans) of Cenél Fearadhaigh is the MacCathmhaoil (anglicised in various forms as MacCawell, McCaul, etc.). They were based in the Barony of Clogher. They were among the “seven powerful septs supporting the O’Neills.” So their role was to help hold territory, maintain power, act as allies / vassals, or rivals in some cases, within the O’Neill/Cenél nEógain sphere.
Sir Cormac O’Neill & Clogher
The Barony of Clogher was recognised historically as the “country” (territory) of Sir Cormac O’Neill, a younger brother of the Earl of Tyrone. After the “Flight of the Earls” (when Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, etc., fled in 1607), inheritance, forfeitures and confiscations of land by the English/Government affected Sir Cormac’s holdings in Clogher, etc.
The O’Neill clans, especially via the Cenél nEógain, are foundational to the history and governance of what became County Tyrone.
Clogher (barony, parish, etc.) falls within the sphere of territory controlled by Cenél Fearadhaigh, a branch of the O’Neills’ wider kindred, and was a domain for one of their septs (MacCathmhaoil).
Lineage path (simplified):
Niall Noígíallach (“of the Nine Hostages”)
└─ Eógan
└─ Cenél nEógain (O’Neill sphere, Tír Eógain/Tyrone)
└─ Cenél Fearadhaigh (“Kinel Ferady”) → territory later renamed “Clogher” barony
├─ Mac Cathmhaoil (MacCawell/McCaul…) – leading sept in Clogher
├─ Maolgeimridh (Montgomery/Mulgomery)
└─ Maolpadraig (Kilpatrick/Mulpatrick)
(Clogher also links to the main O’Neill earldom line via Sir Cormac O’Neill’s holdings in the barony in the late 1500s–early 1600s.)
Key septs in Clogher (Cenél Fearadhaigh)
Mac Cathmhaoil (MacCawell / McCaul / MacCall; also anglicised into many forms): leading sept in Clogher and one of the “seven powerful septs” supporting the O’Neills.
Maolgeimridh (Montgomery/Mulgomery) and Maolpadraig (Kilpatrick/Mulpatrick): recorded as holding the two ancient districts of the Cenél Fearadhaigh at one time.
Additional families associated with the broader Cenél nEógain presence in/around Clogher include Mac Giolla Mhártain (Gilmartin) and Mag Uidhrín (McGivern) as noted in branch lists for Cenél nEógain. (These are attested in Cenél nEógain branch summaries; treat as supporting context rather than exclusive to Clogher.)
Main O’Neill line and late-medieval/early-modern ties
The O’Neills were sovereign kings of Tír Eógain (Tyrone) for centuries; Clogher sat within that power-base. In the 16th–17th centuries, the barony of Clogher was recognized as the “country” (territory) of Sir Cormac O’Neill, younger brother of Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone. Post-Nine Years’ War/Flight of the Earls, his lands were swept up in forfeitures despite his not fighting the English.
Modern Clogher barony (the historic Kinel Ferady) includes these main settlements and civil parishes—useful anchors if you’re tracing people or townlands:
Main settlements: Augher, Ballygawley, Clogher, Fintona, Fivemiletown.
Civil parishes in the barony: Clogher, Errigal Keerogue, Donacavey (shared with Omagh East), Aghalurcher (shared with Magherastephana), Errigal Trough. If you’re hunting records, start here for parish/townland mapping.
Townlands in Clogher linked to O’Neill septs
Townlands and parishes in Clogher were held by O’Neill septs (MacCathmhaoil, Maolgeimridh, Maolpadraig).
Annals confirm Cenél Fearadhaigh chiefs as rulers of Kinel Ferady (Clogher) before the O’Neills proper dominated.
Sir Cormac O’Neill personally held Clogher barony, tying the main Tyrone O’Neill dynasty directly to the area.
The old barony of Kinel Ferady (Clogher) was carved into parishes and townlands. From land records, hearth rolls, and annals, the following sept associations stand out:
Mac Cathmhaoil (MacCawell / McCaul, etc.)
Chief sept in Clogher parish and Errigal Keerogue parish.
Townlands often associated: Tanderagee (Errigal Keerogue), Killaney, Mullynure, and parts of Clogher village lands.
They were recorded as lords of Kinel Ferady until the Plantation of Ulster (early 1600s).
Maolgeimridh (Montgomery / Mulgomery)
Held lands in Donacavey parish (around Fintona area).
Their name survives in anglicised “Montgomery” families in the barony after Plantation times.
Maolpadraig (Kilpatrick / Mulpatrick)
Linked with Errigal Keerogue parish (close to Ballygawley).
The Kilpatrick surname still clusters in Tyrone parish records here.
Cenél Fearadhaigh chiefs (Annals extracts)
From the Annals of Ulster and Annals of the Four Masters, we see these chiefs named:
Aedh mac Feradhaigh (d. 789) — first clear eponym of the Cenél Fearadhaigh.
Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (early 9th c.) — branch expansion leader.
Domnall Ua Gailmredhaigh (†1176) — styled tigerna Cenél Feradhaigh (lord of Kinel Ferady).
Mac Cathmhaoil lords dominate records from the 13th c. onwards, often appearing as “lords of Kinel Ferady” until the O’Neills absorbed and overshadowed their title.
Sir Cormac O’Neill’s line (main O’Neill → Clogher)
Conn O’Neill (“Conn Bacach”), 1st Earl of Tyrone (†1559)
└─ Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone (†1616, “The Great Earl”) – led the Nine Years’ War
└─ Sir Cormac O’Neill (†1619) – held “the country of Clogher”
└─ Captured after Kinsale, imprisoned in the Tower of London, died 1619
└─ His heirs’ claims to Clogher lands were lost in the Plantation of Ulster
Sir Cormac’s seat: His portion of Tyrone, centred on Clogher barony, was explicitly forfeited after the Flight of the Earls (1607), even though he did not flee.
The English Crown granted much of this land to undertakers and servitors in the Plantation, breaking the O’Neill hold on Clogher.
