It is often said that County Clare is named after the de Clares. However this is not the origin, rather, the name comes from the Irish word 'Clár', meaning a board or plank. A board was placed across the river Fergus outside Ennis, at a place which was to become known as Clare, (now Clarecastle town). This Clare was a place of some importance as early as the 12th Century - thus predating the arrival of the de Clare family to County Clare.
FAQs
How did County Clare get its name? ›
It is often said that County Clare is named after the de Clares. However this is not the origin, rather, the name comes from the Irish word 'Clár', meaning a board or plank. A board was placed across the river Fergus outside Ennis, at a place which was to become known as Clare, (now Clarecastle town).
What is the nickname for Clare County? ›Clare's county nickname is the Banner County, for which various origins have been suggested: the banners captured by Clare's Dragoons at the Battle of Ramillies; or the banner of Catholic emancipation raised by Daniel O'Connell's victory in an 1828 by-election for County Clare that led to Parliament passing the Roman ...
Where did the name Clare originate? ›Clare is a baby girl name of Latin origin. A variant of the French names Clara and Claire, this baby name means "bright" and "famous." If you're well-traveled, you may also recognize Clare as an Irish county with rolling hills, breathtaking coasts, and beautiful music.
What Irish surnames come from County Clare? ›Surnames strongly associated with Co. Clare include O'Brien, McMahon, McNamara, Molony, O'Loughlin, O'Hehir, and O'Dea, Among the more unusual Clare names are Talty, Haugh, Minogue, Frawley, Clune and Mungovan.
What are some interesting facts about the County Clare? ›Interesting facts about the lovely County Clare
- The Burren, County Clare.
- John Philip Holland, the inventor of the submarine, was from Clare.
- Muhammad Ali had roots in County Clare.
- The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare.
May 5, 2024
It is often said that County Clare is named after the de Clares. However this is not the origin, rather, the name comes from the Irish word 'Clár', meaning a board or plank. A board was placed across the river Fergus outside Ennis, at a place which was to become known as Clare, (now Clarecastle town).
Is Clare a biblical name? ›Various early male Christian saints were named Clarus; the feminine form became popular after the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), one of the followers of Saint Francis, who renounced her privileged background and founded the order of Poor Clares.
Is the surname Clare Irish or Scottish? ›Clare is a surname of English or Irish origin. The name is most often derived from the titular de Clare first held by Richard fitz Gilbert, a Welsh lord from a Norman family, who took it from Clare, Suffolk.
What is the history of Clare? ›Clare was part of Thom*ond, or North Munster, of which the O'Briens remained lords until the 16th century, despite the Anglo-Norman colonization in the 12th century. Clare was made a shire in the reign of Elizabeth I.
What is the difference between Claire and Clare? ›Claire is the French spelling, Clare the Irish.
What is the oldest surname in Ireland? ›
The earliest known Irish surname is O'Clery (O Cleirigh); it's the earliest known because it was written that the lord of Aidhne, Tigherneach Ua Cleirigh, died in County Galway back in the year 916 A.D. In fact, that Irish name may actually be the earliest surname recorded in all of Europe.
What is the most used last name in Ireland? ›For example, Murphy, Byrne, and O'Brien are a few of the oldest and most common surnames in Ireland. Some may even say Murphy is the most Irish name ever, as it's currently the most common surname in the country. Many Irish family names have both anglicised and Gaelic equivalents.
Who were the most powerful Irish families? ›The O'Neills were perhaps the greatest of the Irish clans, whose origins date back as far as the 10th century and whose lineage includes two High Kings of Ireland. Hugh O'Neill became leader of the clan in 1595 and as such was known as The O'Neill.
What is County Clare nickname? ›The Banner County
There are three primary dialects of Irish: Munster, spoken in the southern part of the island (Counties Cork, Kerry, and Clare). Connacht, spoken in the western part of the island (primarily Counties Galway, Mayo, and Sligo).
What is the crime rate in County Clare? ›Thefts form the majority of the 3,800 crimes reported in Clare in 2023, new figures show. Stock Image. About 3,833 incidents were reported to Gardaí in County Clare across 19 local stations in 2023, an analysis of official crime figures shows.
What are the nicknames for County Clare? ›The Banner County
Silicon Valley
The name came from the silicon element used by semiconductor companies in their microchips.
Clare Hurling History
The Coat of Arms and the Crest denote separate branches of the O Briens. The Irish Crown on the design is associated with Bannerman, Brian Ború who was proclaimed Ard Rí in 1002. The “Fillers” represent Celtic Inter-locking Knots and Annulets.
The crest is divided into six main compartments, which represent the six ancient areas of Clare. Stag's head – traditionally, lots of families in County Clare had a stag's head on their shield and crests. Tau Cross (Kilnaboy) – The Tau Cross is an ancient symbol.
