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 | O'BrienIrish Family NamesO'Brien, one of most renowned of all Irish names, comes from Brian Boru, High King of Ireland in the 11th century. His royal family started using the name after his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, although it didn't come into general use until many years later. Brien is derived from the Irish bran, which means raven, although some sources beleive it is more likely to have been derived from the word brion, meaning lofty or eminent. The name has belonged to numerous illustrious people, many of whom had connections with counties Clare and Limerick, traditionally the O'Brien stronghold. O'Brien's Castle in Limerick city was probably the palace of the royal family of Thomond in the 13th century. In Co. Clare, Corcomroe Abbey, near Ballyvaughan, was founded by King Donal O'Brien in 1181. Today, Conor O'Brien, the 18th Baron Inchiquin, the O'Brien of Thomond and a direct descendant of Brian Boru, lives on the Dromoland estate near Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co. Clare.
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