# Firceall

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**Firceall** (ˈfʲɪɾʲcəl̪ˠ) was an ancient [Gaelic](/source/Gaelic_Ireland) Irish territory which formed the most south - westerly part of the ancient [Kingdom of Meath](/source/Kingdom_of_Meath). O'Molloy was chieftain of the territory.[1] Firceall itself comprised the ancient baronies of [Ballycowan](/source/Ballycowan_(barony)), [Ballyboy](/source/Ballyboy_(barony)) and [Eglish](/source/Eglish_(barony)), which are located in modern day mid [County Offaly](/source/County_Offaly) extending from [Durrow](/source/Durrow,_County_Offaly) north of [Tullamore](/source/Tullamore) to Eglish on the edge of [Birr](/source/Birr,_County_Offaly) in an area which is some 25 miles in length by 5 miles in width.[2] The name Firceall comes from the Irish words *Fir Ceala* meaning *Men of the Churches*.[3]

## Details

O'Molloy claimed descent from [Niall of the Nine Hostages](/source/Niall_of_the_Nine_Hostages) who ruled [Tara](/source/Tara,_Ireland) from 380 - 405.

Firceall formed land boundaries with a number of major ancient Irish Gaelic Kingdoms. A land boundary was formed with [Éile](/source/%C3%89ile) (Ely) of the [Kingdom of Munster](/source/Kingdom_of_Munster) just east of [Birr](/source/Birr,_County_Offaly). Near Tullamore, another land boundary with [Uí Failghe](/source/U%C3%AD_Failghe) (anglicised as Offaly) of the [Kingdom of Leinster](/source/Kingdom_of_Leinster) was formed.[4] Firceall also formed a land boundary with the territory of [Delbhna bEthra](/source/Delbhna) ruled by MacCoughlan.[5] Delbhna bEthra was also allied with [Meath](/source/Kingdom_of_Meath).

Under the [Plantations of Ireland](/source/Plantations_of_Ireland) Firceall was broken up into the Baronies of Eglish, Ballyboy and Ballycowen and these were located in the then newly formed [King's County](/source/County_Offaly) which later became known as [County Offaly](/source/County_Offaly) (named after the ancient territory of Uí Failghe) following Irish independence.

During its existence, Firceall was the location of a number of ancient abbeys and castles. The church at Lynally (near Tullamore) formed the parish church until the foundation of parish churches at [Rahan](/source/Rahan,_County_Offaly), [Killoughey](/source/Killoughey), [Ballyboy](/source/Ballyboy), [Drumcullen](/source/Drumcullen) and [Eglish](/source/Eglish). A number of known ancient abbeys were located at Drumcullen, Killyon, Kilcormac & Rahan.

## References

1. ["Molloy Omolloy Clan Rally Firceall Molloy Family Genealogy Family Tree Ancestors Offaly Ireland - Omolloy Molloy Ireland Molloys"](http://www.omolloy.com/). *www.omolloy.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

1. ["Molloy Omolloy Clan Rally Firceall Molloy Family Genealogy Family Tree Ancestors Offaly Ireland - Omolloy Molloy Ireland Molloys"](http://www.omolloy.com/). *www.omolloy.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

1. ["Molloy Omolloy Clan Rally Firceall Molloy Family Genealogy Family Tree Ancestors Offaly Ireland - Omolloy Molloy Ireland Molloys"](http://www.omolloy.com/). *www.omolloy.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

1. Eglish and Drumcullen: A Parish in Firceall, Firceall Heritage Society

1. ["Molloy Omolloy Clan Rally Firceall Molloy Family Genealogy Family Tree Ancestors Offaly Ireland - Omolloy Molloy Ireland Molloys"](http://www.omolloy.com/). *www.omolloy.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-02.

## See also

- [Kingdom of Meath](/source/Kingdom_of_Meath)
- [Kilcormac](/source/Kilcormac)
- [Tullamore](/source/Tullamore)
- [Ballyboy](/source/Ballyboy)
- [Rath, County Offaly](/source/Rath,_County_Offaly)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Firceall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firceall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firceall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.