McGillycuddy of the Reeks
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The ancient Irish designation of 'The McGillycuddy of the Reeks' was given courtesy recognition by the Chief Herald of Ireland at the Genealogical Office, Dublin as one of the Chiefs of the Name and direct descendent of Mogh Nuaghad, King of Munster, c. 125 A.D.
Irish genealogists represent his son, the celebrated Prince Oilioll Olum (d. 234) as the 43rd direct descendent of the Spanish warrior Milesius, (1284 B.C.) No other dynasty can be traced back 3,200 years in fact or in Ireland. Bardic legend has it that Moses was attending to the wound of Gaodhal, son of the Pharaoh's daughter Scota, who was bitten by a snake. Moses, referring to Crete and Ireland, foretold that Goadhal's descendent would inhabit islands where there were no snakes or other obnoxious reptiles. Goadhal's descendents went first to Crete, then Spain where they founded Braganza, (Portuguese since 1640). Milesius, a descendent who became chief of the colony, returned to Egypt where he was later appointed C-I-C of the army that drove the Ethiopians out of the country. The Pharaoh awarded him his daughter, another Scotia who bore him 8 sons.
They returned to Spain and in due course during a drought heard of a land where it rained a lot. They set sail for the imaginary Inisfail and named that part of Ireland they settled in Ivernia, as in Latin Iuverna. There was much early cultural exchange between Ireland and Spain. After much fighting, only Hebera nd Hemeron were left of the 8 sons. They divided the land between them, Heber taking the South-West. Scotia was also killed and is buried near Tralee. His descendent was Oilioll Olum who established Cashel, seat of the Kings of Munster and this is where recorded history takes over. There remain 15 other active Irish chieftains. Each chieftain is a living memorial to his ancestors in a continual flow of history. The name McGillycuddy originates from O'Sullivan Mor sending his trusted son (Mac-Goilla) to be educated under the C.16th tutelage of St. Mochuda at Lismore, hence Mac-Giolla-Mochuda became McGillycuddy. G in Spanish is pronounced as H. The middle 'y' is most probably the Spanish 'and', hence Mac - illycuddy with a softer G than in modern Gaelic.
The current McGillycuddy
The Chieftain was born at Bishopscourt, Straffan, County Kildare on 17th December 1939 and Christened Dermot Patrick Donough in March 1940 at Rathmore Church near Naas. World War II had broken out. His Father, Dermot left his legal practice of Darley & Co. in Kildare Street, Dublin to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Battle of Britain. He returned to Darley & Co after the war with the rank of Squadron Leader. He served in Fighter Command, Air sea rescue and briefly at Nurnburg. Also see the official web page at [[1]]
His sporting achievements are summed as an excellent oarsman, Eton and Trinity, Dublin and rugby for the RAF v. Combined Services in 1945. He became well known in Irish legal and sporting circles and as Manager of Punchestown race course.
The Chieftain's Mother was 4th daughter of the eminent Irish bloodstock (The Tetrarch) breeder, Mr Edward Kennedy of Straffan Station Stud. Donough was principally educated at Eton College, and briefly at Neuchâtel University. He ran and rowed well at Eton before joining the Irish Guards, 1958-62. A long stint of Public Duties in London District was combined with the specialities of anti-tank gunnery and air portability. Post service education was a year a Le Pin-au-Haras, HQ of the French National Stud in Normandy studying bloodstock breeding and equitation. He married Wendy O'Connor (Don) Spencer at Winwick, Northamptonshire on 4th April 1964. Her father was the late George Spencer, JP. FRS, who married Susan Ballam, born at Manorhamilton, Leitrim, in 1931.
Donough and Wendy raised Piers, Lavinia, Michael and Jocelyn in Northamptonshire and educated them in England and Scotland. After 2 years in Normandy, Donough's life took on a different educational course following the death of Wendy's brother Michael at the age of 29 when involved in the family textile business. Agriculture was more Donough's metier and the appearance of Warwickshire Pheasantries on the market took them into commercial game hatching. The link with equipment and dog food supplier, Gilbertson and Page Ltd was the channel exploited to put that company's principal product onto the shelves of the major English retail grocery multiples in the 1980's. As a result it was an extraordinary growth period for the company, one which they were unable to sustain.
From early childhood, Donough participated in field sports, mainly hunting, both on foot and well mounted. He briefly played regimental polo and cricket and managed the battalion football team. Beagling and rowing took up far too much of his time at Eton for academic prowess to be recorded. At Leicester Polytechnic in the early 70's he sailed through the City and Guilds of London Institute technological exams and gained a Diploma in Management Studies. Following 23 packs of hounds after 6 quarry species in 4 countries and occasionally hunting the Albany Bassets imbued the hunter-gatherer with considerable knowledge of venery and the ability to cross country swiftly on horse and on foot. Trout fishing and deer stalking are extensions of pursuits enjoyed by his forebearers. He has also sailed extensively incl. 12m. level.
The distinctive Irish name is the signature to well over 250 'McGillycuddy Letters' to people of political influence such as editors of daily newspapers and agricultural and sporting journals. Taking the cue from his late Father and his more active Grand-Father, this McGillycuddy has for over 30 years tirelessly sought peace in Ulster, a province missing out on Ireland's involvement in the European Union. His Grand-Father was a signatory to the 1937 Constitution and within a few years combined the roles of clan Chieftain, Senator of Dail Eireann and Commanding Officer of a Transport Training depot in Co. Down following re-enlistment in 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards at the age of 57 at the outbreak of WW II. He was retired on his 60th birthday. If Ireland's recent success is anything to go by, every letter and phone call to those who worked with Lady Thatcher, Gerry Adams, John Major and Tony Blair was worthwhile. Many of the other letters covered the agricultural scene especially Foot and Mouth Disease and the debate that raged over Britain's Government impinging upon the Liverty and Livelyhood of those involved in hunting. He was instigator of a campaign named "Tally Ho, Tony!" McGillycuddy's views in SA Farmer's Weekly upon the South African farming scene have twice earned him 'Letter of the month'. One was a rebuke of the South African authorities who accused the Irish of dumping Irish Cheddar cheese on the South African market. He wrote that it was the duty of SA buyers to source the best cheddar that they could buy!
Donough and Wendy had lived 4½ years in the Southern Drakensberg foothills of Natal when Christmastime bad news broke of his Cousin Richard's terminal illness in Ireland. Richard presided over the inauguration of the tourism-inspired family-clan gatherings in Killorglin. The identity and expansion of the May 2007 gathering was the first McGillycuddy matter that Donough put in place at the commencement of his tenure of this ancient Gaelic designation. The second matter is the McGillycuddy Foundation for the promotion of philately in schools post graduate music, apprentice farriery, golf and sailing for the physically disadvantaged, support of the Kerry Mountain Rescue and a link to Joint Aid Management, a Johannesburg-based charity giving school meals to many orphaned small African children.
The next generation
The designated Tàiniste (see Tanistry) is Piers Donough Edward George McGillycuddy (b.17.4.1965 at Rowston Manor Lincolin). Educated at Summerfields and Gordonstoun, Piers has worked much of his life in London and Marbella, Spain. He has travelled widely, sailed the Atlantic and his expanding commercial interest may be found at [www.terracast.co.uk].
