Compliments of Carmel Reynolds.
MAGUIRE (Maguidhir) were Fermanagh's premier family during the Middle Ages, and are still the most common family today in that county. Genealogists give the Maguires an Oriel origin. They could have descended from one of the old Leinster Fermanagh families. It was in Lisnaskea tht Donn Mor Maguire seems to have established them, abut 1200 AD. The book also states that it was probably with help from the O'Donnells that the Maguires took the kingship of Fermanagh. Donn Carrach Maguire, who was the first Maguire king, died in 1302. They gradually came to control practically every aspect of Fermanagh life. At the beginning of the seventeenth century when the Irish were finally defeated, Fermanagh was simply a Maguire property.
There were 15 Maguire rulers of Fermanagh between 1300 and 1600. The most outstanding were Donn Carrach (d.1302), Philip of the Battle Axe (1363-95), Thomas the Great (1395-1430), Thomas the Younger (1430-71), Cuchonnacht II (1566-89) and his son Hugh (1589-1600). The Maguires divided after Thomas the Great, into a senior branch in Lisnaskea and a junior branch in Enniskillen. During the Nine Yaars' War (1594-1603) the junior line controlled the area - and they suffered most in the Ulster Plantation.
Brian Maguire of Tempo (junior branch) received property at Tempo during the time of the Plantation. He became anglicised and was "loyal" until he died in 1655. It was Cuchonnacht, grandson of Brian Maguire who led the Fermanagh Irish against William of Orange; he was killed in 1691 in Aughrim. The family retained the estate until after 1830, when Constantine Maguire moved to Tipperary.
The senior branch of the Maguires became very discontented, despite having fared well during the Plantation. In 1641 they led Fermanagh in the Rising. In 1644 Lord Conor was hanged at Tyburn, and in 1648 Rory was killed near Carrick- on-Shannon. The remaining family went to live in France and became prominent in the French army. The last of that line died in 1801 in Toulouse.
During the Penal Days other Maguires who retained prominence were the family of Brian Maguire of Knockninny and the Maguires of Gortoral.
That's all for now.
Best wishes,
Carmel