O'Leary
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O'Leary Surname Genealogy
O'Leary is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic word O'Laoghaire which translates literally as "keeper of the calves." Laoghaire was the name borne by a 5th century king of Ireland who reigned at the time of St. Patrick. It is from him that the O'Leary sept claims descent.
O'Leary and Leary are the two most common spellings today. O'Leary is mainly found in Ireland, Leary outside.
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America. The main country for emigration was America. Sizeable numbers were to be found in New York, Boston, Chicago, and later California. John O'Leary had arrived in New York from Kerry in 1879 and, after a brief period in the police force, became a builder in the Bronx and a prominent member of the civic community there.
Catherine O'Leary was alleged to have started the fire in 1871 which became known as the Great Chicago Fire and burnt down a large part of the city. She had in fact been used as a scapegoat by a Chicago Tribune reporter who later admitted that he had made up the story of a cow kicking over a lantern to start the fire because he thought it would make colorful copy. The popular refrain went:
Canada. Henry O'Leary came to Richibucto, New Brunswick from county Cork in 1852, puchased land there, and built a canning plant for lobster and salmon. Over time his business expanded to sawmills and shipbuilding. Two of his sons, Henry and Louis, became Catholic bishops at Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. Michael O’Leary was an earlier arrival in Prince Edward Island, in 1837.
John and Elizabeth O'Leary had arrived in Nova Scotia from Kilkenny around 1820. Their son Michael later settled in New Brunswick.
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Peadar Ua Laoghaire was a Catholic priest and writer regarded today as one of the founders of modern literature in Irish.
Johnny O'Leary, born on the Cork/Kerry border in 1923, was one of Ireland's most acclaimed accordion players.
Timothy Leary was the controversial American psychologist who in the 1960's advocated the taking of psychedelic drugs.
Michael O'Leary is the head of the low-cost airline Ryanair.
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O'Leary is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic word O'Laoghaire which translates literally as "keeper of the calves." Laoghaire was the name borne by a 5th century king of Ireland who reigned at the time of St. Patrick. It is from him that the O'Leary sept claims descent.
O'Leary and Leary are the two most common spellings today. O'Leary is mainly found in Ireland, Leary outside.
Select O'Leary Resources on The Internet
- The O'Leary Clan. O'Leary clan website.
- The O'Leary Legend. O'Learys and the Great Fire in Chicago.
America. The main country for emigration was America. Sizeable numbers were to be found in New York, Boston, Chicago, and later California. John O'Leary had arrived in New York from Kerry in 1879 and, after a brief period in the police force, became a builder in the Bronx and a prominent member of the civic community there.
Catherine O'Leary was alleged to have started the fire in 1871 which became known as the Great Chicago Fire and burnt down a large part of the city. She had in fact been used as a scapegoat by a Chicago Tribune reporter who later admitted that he had made up the story of a cow kicking over a lantern to start the fire because he thought it would make colorful copy. The popular refrain went:
- "Late one night, when we were all in bed,
- Old Mother Leary left a lantern in the shed;
- And when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said,
- 'There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.'"
Canada. Henry O'Leary came to Richibucto, New Brunswick from county Cork in 1852, puchased land there, and built a canning plant for lobster and salmon. Over time his business expanded to sawmills and shipbuilding. Two of his sons, Henry and Louis, became Catholic bishops at Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. Michael O’Leary was an earlier arrival in Prince Edward Island, in 1837.
John and Elizabeth O'Leary had arrived in Nova Scotia from Kilkenny around 1820. Their son Michael later settled in New Brunswick.
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If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
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Peadar Ua Laoghaire was a Catholic priest and writer regarded today as one of the founders of modern literature in Irish.
Johnny O'Leary, born on the Cork/Kerry border in 1923, was one of Ireland's most acclaimed accordion players.
Timothy Leary was the controversial American psychologist who in the 1960's advocated the taking of psychedelic drugs.
Michael O'Leary is the head of the low-cost airline Ryanair.
Select O'Learys Today
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