Introduction
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Origin of the Crowley name
During the mid-eleventh century in Ireland, Diarmuid, the son of Conchubhar,
who in fact was one of the McDermots of Moylurg in Connach, demonstrated his
great prowess as a warrior and acquired the nickname of "An Cruadhlaoch,"
which means 'hardy warrior'. Diarmuid preferred the name Cruadhlaoch over
his family name so he adopted it as his surname. Later this name became
O'Crowley, carrying the same prestige as the O'Connors and the McDermots.
(See the Crowley coat of arms at bottom of page.)
Some history of the O'Crowleys
The O'Crowleys settled in County Cork in an area named after Clan Sealbhaigh
which lays north of the Bandon river between Bandon and Dunmanway, some
five miles northeast of Dunmanway, in the barony of East Carberry.
The townland of Curraghcrowley (Currach Ui Chruadhlaoch) in the parish of
Ballymoney was an early seat of the family, as was Caher in the parish of Kinneigh.
(See location map at bottom of page.)
In Elizabethan times, the head of the O'Crowley family resided in the O'Crowley
castle of Ahakeera in Fanlobbus Parish. Around 1540 O'Crowley maintained
an armed force of eighty horsemen and sixty kerne. In 1597, the freeholders
in Carberry consisted of O'Mahoney Fionn, O'Mahoney Carberry, O'Crowley,
O'Donovan and O'Driscoll.
Warlike by name and by nature, the O'Crowleys frequently gave cause for
pardoning in Elizabethan times. Pardons were granted for many and sundry
offenses. The rebellion of 1641 once again threw Carberry and the O'Crowleys
into a state of war. In 1643 a total of 25 O'Crowley men were outlawed for
their rebellion, most of them from the ancestral lands of Coill Sealbhaigh.
After the rebellion ended, any lands of which the O'Crowleys were freeholders
were promptly confiscated by the English. This included the parishes of Kinneigh
and Fanlobbus and totaled 6,240 plantation acres, which were divided among the
victors - the Earl of Cork, the Earl of Anglesey, Captain John Jacock, Samuel
Woodruff and others. It has been stated that of the 20 million acres in Ireland,
11 million were confiscated and redistributed by the English.
The O'Crowley castle was badly damaged in the many battles fought in the area,
but the family was commemorated in the local tradition name, Cachlach Ui
Chruadhlaoich (O'Crowley ruin). All that remains of the castle is a wall some
25 feet long, 10 feet high and five feet thick at its base.
(See Castle at bottom of page.)
After the Williamite wars in 1767, the ensuing years brought more rebellious wars
and more hardships enforced upon the Irish Catholics by the English. Because of
this and of course, the Potato Famine; many familes fled Ireland to escape death
either from starvation (many corpses were found with grass stained lips and teeth
and with only grass or seaweed in their stomachs) or from religious persecution,
many of the O'Crowleys included. Many immigrants came to North America and
today Crowleys reside in all fifty states of the U.S., as well as other countries.
And, of course, many were transported to Australia for crimes committed during
these hard times.
(See population map at bottom of page.)
So much are they identified with County Cork, that today seventy-five per cent of
the births of Crowley and O'Crowley are recorded in County Cork.
Every three years there is a "Crowley Clan Gathering" in Ireland, the last being in
September, 2004. Crowleys from all over the world attend.
Read report from
The Irish Examiner.
Crowley coat of arms .......................... Location map
Castle ............................................................. Population map
Crowley Bulletin Board .............................. Read comments received
Some name variations.
Cralle, Craule, Crauley, Crawle, Crawley, Crawly, Croley, Croly and possibly
many more.
LINKS
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This Website owned and maintained by Charles M. Crowley, D/B/A, Crowley Productions. Last updated 4 June, 2004.