O'Hagan

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Family History

The Irish name O'Hagan is derived from the native Gaelic O'hAgain Sept that was originally rendered as O'hOgain, from a Gaelic word meaning 'young'.

Until the destruction of Gaelic order in the 17th Century the O'Hagan's were one of the most powerful and influential families in Ulster, holding the title Lord of Tullyhogue (Tulach Óg, Hill of Youth, in Irish) located in County Tyrone Barony of Dungannon (Upper), parish of Desertcreat.

Chiefs of the Clan Feargusa, they descended from Fergus Cerrbél mac Conaill Cremthainne (Fergus Crooked Mouth) grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages said to be High King of Ireland from 370 to 406. For over six hundred years the O'Hagan's were hereditary brehons and inaugurators of O'Neill (surname) who were descended from the Uí Néill.

Before the 1200s branches of the sept were established in County Monaghan and County Armagh and soon spread into the neighbouring counties of Antrim, Londonderry and Down. Two places called Ballyagan, one in County Londonderry and the other in County Antrim attest to the O'Hagans predominance in the region.

The High Chair at Tullyhogue

According to tradition, O'Hagan inaugurated O'Neill by putting on his slipper hence the shoe always appears in the Coat of Arms. The inagugration is said to have taken place at the coronation chair on the O'Hagan lands at Tullyhogue Fort. In the 16th century the 'Leac na Ri', or Stone of the Kings, inauguration stone, which is said to be blessed by Saint Patrick, was embedded in the coronation chair. The chair was destroyed in c1602 at the orders of Lord Mountjoy before the surrender of Hugh O'Neill to Mountjoy.

Flight of the Earls

During the 17th Century O'Hagans staunchly opposed English aggression and a number were at the Battle of Kinsale in 1603, suffering great losses with the dispossessions that followed. Some were hanged at Carrickfergus County Antrim.

There were several O'Hagans among the 98 who fled Northern Ireland in 1607 with Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell in an event commonly referred to as the Flight of the Earls which marked the end of the Gaelic order in Northern Ireland.

Famous O'Hagan's

♦ Turlough O'Hagan Chief of the Name who journeyed to Wicklow in 1590 to escort Hugh O'Donnell and two children of Shane O'Neill to Ulster following the latter's dramatic escape from imprisonment in Dublin Castle. Turlough is also the fictional narrator in the Hiberian Nights stories published by the Dublin College Press from 1863 - 1865

♦ Ivor O'Hagan tutor of St Malachy (c 1100) was a member of the Armagh Branch

In modern times of interest were:

♦ Shaun O'Hagan (1992--) ♦ John O'Hagan (1822--1890) patriot poet and Judge ♦ Thomas O'Hagan (1812--1885) first Catholic Lord Chancellor of Ireland since James II with peerage title of Baron O'Hagan, of Tullahogue granted June 14, 1870 ♦ Mary O'Hagan (1823 -1876) founder and Abbess of the Covenant of the Poor Clares. ♦ Andrew O'Hagan (born 1968) Scottish writer and novelist ♦ Aisling O'Hagan (born 1999) famous scholar and Aisling O'Hagan's brother,Jack O'Hagan (born 1996)also famous for being a scholar.

References

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/r/a/Bronwyn-Craig-WV/FILE/0009page.html