Between 1989 and 1991 the "Clare Champion" newspaper ran a series of articles written by The Clareman, a pseudonym used by Gerald O'Connell (1918-1991), an Ennis-born historian. His popular weekly articles covered various aspects of the county's history, archaeology and people. During 1989 and 1990, The Clareman column frequently comprised of pieces on the 'Learned Families of Thomond' - a selection of mainly Gaelic Clare-based families who had been prominent in the areas of literature, scholarship and medicine. These articles are reproduced here.

During his lifetime Gerald O'Connell contributed many articles to historical journals and also published guides to Ennis and the Burren. He was a founder member of the Clare Archaeological and Historical Society.

Clare 1300-1600
Map showing the location of the principal Gaelic Septs.
Source: Edward McLysaght, "Irish Families"
(Click Map for Larger Image)