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O'Beirne Clan's proud Legacy Now in Print

An intriguing and informative book entitled 'The Family O'Beirne,' which details the history and character of the O'Beirne, originally from Co, Roscommon, was launched in America.

By Paul Gunning

Written by Bryan Patrick Beirne, this publication details the life and times of hundreds of O'Beirnes who influenced not only major Irish events, but also worldwide over the, passing centuries.

Detailing as it does the involvement in Ireland's first religious apparition, the capture of President Lincoln's assassin and accounts of Microsoft wizards, it recounts the endless list of O'Beirnes who were "achievers" in almost every conceivable field of human activity.

Along with being historically in depth the book is also garnished with various bits of entertaining historical trivia. One example states that the 8,400 foot high Mount O'Beirne in Alberta, Canada, is named after the "inordinately selfish, colossally impudent, flagrantly ungrateful, unconscionably egotistical and intolerably" indolent, Prof. Eugene O'Beirne, who, as well as being, "a dishonest old sot and fraud, capitalised on physical feebleness." Nevertheless, he was said to have had "'unspecified likeable, even loveable, qualities."

The O’Beirne clan originated from the lake dotted realm of northeastern Co. Roscommon, and during the early Gaelic days they were predominant chieftains in the Tir Briuin region.

Biographer Bryan Beirne initially details the clan’s family characteristics and blood-line before giving a comprehensive over-view of all the notable - and infamous - members of the international O’Beirne, Beirne, and Berne family umbrella-grouping.

"Emigration has determined the history of the O'Beirnes more than any other single influence" the author argues, explaining that "about two-thirds [of O'Beirnes] now live outside Ireland."

A selection of notable family characters include:

Patrick O'Beirne, who was Commandant of the Kildare Insurgents in the 1798 Rebellion.

Thomas Lewis O'Beirne (b.1747- d.1823), described as a ''brilliant and ambitious Protestant churchman" who was a "controversial political pamphleteer and successful cultivator of influential people."

The difficulties endured through the Great Famine also produced some harrowing episodes for the family, when in 1846 "a starving mob threatened to rifle Roddy Beirne's food store, in Frenchpark, if he would not give them food."

Owen Beirne, along with an accomplice, was hanged in 1848 for the fatal shooting of Strokestown landlord Dennis Mahon.

Ed. Note: Owen was hanged for the shooting of Rev John Lloyd. The hanging took place in Roscommon Town on the same day, August 8, that Patrick Hasty was hanged for the murder of Mahon. The funerals of the two men were held together and are said to have attracted more attendees than any other.]

It was Mary Beirne who unwittingly set off an extraordinary wave of religious fanaticism in Ireland during the early 1880s, when along with a close friend, stated they had "perceived a trio of apparitions floating in the air" at Knock.

John Beirne, of Croghan near Boyle, was six times elected as a Dail Deputy to represent Roscommon.

Monsignor Denis O'Beirne Faul, as the Chaplain at Long Kesh and The Maze prisons, was primary responsible for ending the hunger strikes there in 1980. He also was the first person to publish booklets about 'the Birmingham Six' and the 'Guilford Four.'

Andrew Beirne (b.1771-d.1845) became a self- made millionaire in West Virginia as a merchant having first started his career peddling goods door-to-door. Born in Dangan House, Andrew is described as a "bashful indolent and diffident youth" and on his arrival in Philadelphia, in 1793, he possessed only 30 guineas - roughly $150 dollars.

Oliver Beirne (b.1811-d, 1888), the "diffident" Andrew's son, having collected $6 million as an inheritance from the "Sugar King of Louisiana" - John Bumside - was the wealthiest man and largest landowner in Virginia.

Richard Foulke Beirne (b.l 856-d.1893), whose ancestors came from Rodeen -which is about halfway between Elphin and Dangan - was the owner and editor of 'The State' newspaper in Richmond, Virginia. He was also the winning party in America's last formal duel which resulted from an exchange of "editorial opinions" with The Whig's' William Elan.

James Rowan O'Beirne (b.1833-d.1917) is the most renowned family member in North America, as he was the Provost Marshall of Defenses, north of the Potomac River at Washington, after President Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth. He later received $2,000 dollars for his role in the capture of Booth. Following the Civil War he rode along with General Custer during the "Indian Campaigns." James was born at Ballagh, Kilrooskey, and was the son of Michael Horan O'Beirne and Elizabeth Rowan.

Joseph Anthony Beirne (b.1911-d.1974) a highly respected statesman of the American trades union movement was the son of a Roscommon railroad engineer, that of Michael Joseph Beirne. He consistently advocated the then avant garde beliefs that women and minorities were entitled to equal rights, and that automation "was here to stay. "

This 157-page book is packed full of information regarding the O'Beirne family, its Roscommon heritage and the clan's legacy to the world.

Saint Assicus Fled to Rathlin O’Beirne

Saint Assicus was Bishop and Patron of Elphin, one of St. Patrick’s converts and his worker in iron. In the "Tripartie Life of St. Patrick," (ed. Whitley Stokes) we read:

Bishop St. Attic was Patrick’s coppersmith and made altars and square bookcases. Besides he made our saint's patens in honour of Bishop Patrick, and of them I have seen three square patens, that is,a paten in the Church of Patrick in Armagh, and another in the Church of Elphin, and a third in the great church of Donough-patrick (at Carns near Tulsk). St. Assicus was a most expert metal worker, and was also renowned as a bell founder. Of his last days the following graphic description is given by Archbishop Healy:

Assicus himself in shame because of a lie told either by him or, as others say, of him fled into Donegal, and for seven years abode in the island of Rathlin O'Beirne. Then his monks sought him out. And after much labour found him in the mountain glens, and tried to bring him home to his own monastery at Elphin. But he fell sick by the way and died with them in the wilderness. So they buried the venerable old man in the churchyard of Rath Cunga, now Racoon, in the Barony of Tirhugh, County Donegal. The old church is there still, though now disused, on the summit of a round hillock close to the left of the road from Ballyshannon to Donegal, about a mile to the south of the village of Ballintra. His feast is celebrated 27 April.

W.H. GRATTAN FLOOD

Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas from the Catholic Encyclopaedia. Re-transcribed by John E. O'Beirne.

Questions: For whom was Rathlin O'Beirne named? Was Assicus an O'Beirne?