| Ó Donnabháin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent house | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Titles | Ancient:
Later sept titles:
|
The O'Donovan family is an ancient Irish noble family. Their patronymic surname derives from Irish Ó Donnabháin, meaning the grandsons or descendants of Donnubán, referring to the 10th century ruler of the Uí Fidgenti, Donnubán mac Cathail. During the 12th and 13th century, O'Donovan relations relocated from the Bruree/Croom area south to the Kingdom of Desmond and to Carbery, where they were a ruling family for centuries and played a role in the establishment of a feudal society under the MacCarthys. Other septs retreated into the southeast corner of the Ui Fidgheinte territory, reaching from Broadford/Feenagh to the Doneraile area. The northern septs of the O'Donovans did not use a White Rod as the family's position in their original territory was vastly eroded, while several septs of O'Donovans in the southwest territories were semi-autonomous flatha under the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty in Carbery, with the most notable being local petty kings.[3] The family were counted among the leading Gaelic nobility of Ireland.
- ^ From which devolved various septs of the Uí Chairpre Áebda, specifically the Ceinel Laippe, to whom Donnuban is believed to have belonged. See Máire Herbert and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds. & trs.), Betha Adamnáin: The Irish Life of Adamnán. Irish Texts Society 54. 1988.
- ^ Donnubán's final style in the Annals of Inisfallen at his death in 980. This was an ancient city in County Limerick, now identified with the late Iron Age Reerasta (Ri Ressad) Rath right next to the much larger bronze age Ballylin complex. See also Ardagh Hoard and Colmán of Cloyne.
- ^ Dillon, Myles, "The consecration of Irish kings", in Celtica 10 (1973): 1–8. Dillon refers to O'Donovan as a petty king under MacCarthy. See also Elizabeth FitzPatrick, Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland, passim.