Clontonakelly

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Ir. Cluainte Uí Cheallaigh ‘(O’) Kelly’s meadows’

The family of Ó Ceallaigh ‘(O’)Kelly’ is said by Woulfe (1923, 457) to consist of a number of different septs, including Ó Ceallaigh of Uí Maine in Connacht who were a branch of the Oirghialla of Ulster. However, the family referred to in the name of the townland of Clontonakelly may be descended from the Clann Ceallaigh ‘family of Ceallach’ of Drumbo who are mentioned in the early Ulster genealogies as descended from Bécc Bairche who was ruler of the native kingdom of Dál Fiatach and who died in 718 AD (Descendants Ir xiv 80). The district inhabited by the Slut Kellies (Irish Sliocht Ceallaigh ‘offspring of Ceallach or Kelly’) is shown a short distance to the north of Drumbo on 16th-century maps (PNI vi 118). The surname Ó Ceallaigh (or its variant form Mac Ceallaigh) seems to be represented in a number of other Co. Down townland names, including Carnacally in the parish of Newry (PNI i 11), Ballyvicknacally in the parish of Dromore (PNI vi 117), Ballykelly and Drumnagally in the parish of Seapatrick (PNI vi 308, 313), and possibly Tirkelly in the parish of Drumballyroney (PNI vi 177). Half of the large townland of Clontonakelly (which measures approximately 1,238 acres) is in the neighbouring parish of Drumbo.

(* cf Drumnagally in Seapatrick par.)

References

Historical/Postulated Forms

Balleclontonikelly - Ham. Copy Inq. [1623], xxxiv, 1623
Clentoneelly - Ham. Copy Inq. [1623], lv, 1623
Clontinekelly - CPR Chas I, 66, 1625
Ballyclontecally - Inq. Ult. (Down), $29 Car. I, 1632
Ballyclontecally - Inq. Ult. (Down), $53 Car. I, 1635
Ballicklonetonekelly - Inq. Ult. (Down), $86 Car. I, 1640
Clantinically - Census 1659, 89, 1659c
Clontanacally - Map of Down (OSNB), E 19, 1745
Cluntonokilly - Map of Down (OSNB), E 19, 1745
Cluntonecally - Wm. Map (OSNB), E 126, 1810
Cluntonekelly - Wm. Map (OSNB), E 19, 1810
Ballyclonakelly al Clontonacally - OSNB: gen. sources, E 126, 1811
Clontinacally - Bnd. Sur. (OSNB), E 19, 1830c
Clontonecally - Bnd. Sur. (OSNB), E 126, 1830c
Cluainte na Caillighe "lawns or meadows of the ha - J O'D (OSNB), E 19, 1834c
Cluainte-na-coille, meadows of the wood - Joyce, iii 219, 1913