Tál Cas

Thomond Tribal Map c. AD 1200, with Uí mBloid, Clann Caisin and Cinéal Fearmaic being the ancient Dál gCais tribal areas

Cas or Tál Cas was the eponymous ancestor and dynastic founder of the Dál gCais[1] (Deisi Tuaiscirt) clan in Gaelic Ireland, from whom all branches of the Dalcassian dynasty claim common descent.

Life

Tál Cas was the son of Conall Eachluath and his wife Coirpthe, daughter of Eochaid Mugmedon.[2] He acquired the nickname Tál (meaning "adze") as he was the foster son of a wright. He became King of Thomond and made a gavel of his territory among his thirteen sons. On his death the kingship of Thomond passed to his eldest son Blait.[3][4]

Family[3]

Tree chart showing relationships between the Dalcassian septs

He had thirteen sons, at least three of whom would found substantial lineages whose descendants would rule as lords over substantial territories:

  • Blod (Uí Bhloid)
  • Caisín (Ua Caisin)
    • Eochaidh
      • Cinéal nDúnghaile
    • Sineall
      • Uí Dhobharchon
    • Carthann
  • Aonghus Ceann-nathrach
  • Aonghus Ceann-aitinn
    • Clann Ifeamain
    • Clann Neachtain
  • Lughaidh/Dealbhaoth
    • na Dealbhna
    • Muinnter Chochláin
  • Carthann
    • Dal gCais Leithe Lachtmhuighe
  • Aedh
    • Ui Aedha
  • Lughaidh Éile
    • Muinnter Dhobharchon
    • Muinnter Chonraoi
    • Muinnter Chearnaigh
    • Muinnter Aonghusa
    • Muinnter Dhubhthaigh
  • Séadna
  • Cormac
  • Caindeach
  • Nae
  • Loisceann

Genealogy

Surnames purported to be of Dalcassian origin have a statistically significant correlation with the possession of the Y-DNA signature R-L226 and thus this mutation is believed to be associated with their ancestral founder.[5]

References

  1. ^ Irish pedigrees; or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation, John O'Hart, 1892, page 155, https://archive.org/details/irishpedigreesor_01ohar/page/154
  2. ^ Bart Jaski, 'The (legendary) rise of Dál Cais', in: Seán Duffy (ed.), Medieval Dublin XVI: proceedings of Clontarf 1014–2014: national conference marking the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf (Dublin, 2017). 15–61.
  3. ^ a b Tadhg Ó Donnchadha,"An Leabhar Muimhneach", 1900, page 86, page 237, page 295, https://archive.org/details/leabharmuimhneac01odon/page/86/mode/2up, https://archive.org/details/leabharmuimhneac01odon/page/236/mode/2up, https://archive.org/details/leabharmuimhneac01odon/page/294/mode/2up
  4. ^ Pedigrees of the MacNamara Family, R.W Twigge, published 1908, republished by Martin Breen 2006, page 12
  5. ^ "A Set of Distinctive Marker Values Defines a Y-STR Signature for Gaelic Dalcassian Families". JOGG.info. 7 July 2011.