The O Beirnes (not to be confused with O Byrnes) are only one of hundreds of small and relatively insignificant Irish Families of Celtic origins. They have inhabited northeastern County Roscommon beside the Shannon for two millennia. Their history is in three phases: existence, suppression, and development
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Their existence was favoured up to the 1300s by a relatively warm climate and by the usual absence of major destruction by invaders from abroad. But their population was regulated by tribal feudings and by effects on health and mortality of the primitive and unhygienic living conditions. |
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The
suppression phase had two primal causes: effects of five centuries from about
1350 to 1850 of cold and wet climate - the Little Ice Age; and direct
suppression by invaders from Britain from the 1500s into the 1800s. Apart from
the direct effects of these on mortality they combined to favour famines and
epidemics that in each of their extremes around 1350, 1650, 1740 and 1845
carried off perhaps one-third of the population. |
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The O Beirnes began to develop when and where the climate was favourable and suppressive invaders missing: by emigration beginning in the 1600s to countries where such conditions existed, with the consequence that two-thirds of the O'Beirnes now live outside Ireland; and within Ireland in the later 1900s as the climate became increasingly warm and the invaders and the causes of famines and epidemics controlled. |
This is a report of a survey of the history of the O Beirnes and of the achievements of its individuals worldwide. It is not a scholarly study (such as that on the Mac Dermot Clan) because unavoidably it had to be based partly on second- or third-hand information instead of only on primary sources. As it is not a scholarly study it includes surmises and speculations. It has four main purposes:-
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To provide a framework of information that would indicate by its deficiencies where scholarly, or at least more detailed, studies are needed. Errors of fact and of speculation or surmise need to be corrected. Omissions undoubtedly include the many notable individuals that were overlooked because their achievements are recorded, if at all, only in local newspapers or in specialized journals rather than in works of reference. Information on others often is unavoidably unduly, and doubtless often unfairly, scanty. |
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To form a basis for studies in depth. Aspects that especially need investigation because they are dealt with here only sometimes or not at all include: genealogies and relationships of individual families and the occupations or accomplishments of their members; full histories of the O Beirnes of particular regions or occupations and their Irish origins; descendants of the O Beirne "Wild Geese" in Spain and France; and O Beirnes elsewhere in continental Europe, South America, and Asia. |
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To illustrate by example what could and should be done for each of the other similarly small and apparently relatively undistinguished native Irish families. |
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To assess the actual and relative importance of the Family from the achievements of individuals. Two general conclusions: no O Beirne has left a lasting mark on the history of any country; but so many have been constructive achievers that the aggregate of their accomplishments entitle O Beirnes to be proud of their Family name.The achievers were predominantly in occupations that inform, lead or manage people constructively, as distinct from exploiting them. Named after some are enduring memorials such as a lake and a mountain peak, a community and a townland, public parks, a research tower, a law school, a research foundation, a charitable trust, several awards, a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and new species of insects and of a fungus; and there are numerous technical books and other enduring publications authored by O Beirnes. |
It became very obvious during this investigation that many O Beirnes are keenly interested in others of the Family and in history and relationships. This raises the question of whether an O Beirne Family Association should be established, perhaps with regional chapters. It might produce an O Beirne Report or Newsletter by print or computer network that could publish genealogies and information on histories and achievements that otherwise would not be generally available, and arrange personal contacts or wider O Beirne get-togethers. John E. (Seán) O'Beirne has agreed to explore the feasibility of this and seeks comments, suggestions, advice, and offers of assistance to e-mail address, Tulskone@aol.com.
[Note to this Web Issue: Since this book was published in 1997 “The O’Beirne Family Journal” was launched. It seems to meet some of the requirements expressed above by Professor Bryan Beirne --- Seán O’Beirne, editor.]
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