O'Toole family
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The O'Tooles of Leinster, one of the leading families of that province, are descended from Tuathal Mac Augaire, King of Leinster (died 958), who belonged to the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty. The name is an anglicisation of the Irish Ó Tuathail.
Their original territory comprised the southern part of the present County Kildare but they were driven from it during the Anglo Norman invasion and settled in the mountains of what is now County Wicklow around Glendalough.
Here, with their kinsmen the O'Byrne family, they were noted for their tough resistance to English domination for four centuries; including exercising great influence over the foundation of the Confederation of Kilkenny in 1642 in what had become Confederate Ireland.
At the start of the 16th century, there were five great houses, all, owing allegiance to "The O'Toole of Powerscourt" as the recognized chief:[1]
- O'Toole of Castleruddery, residing in Glen Imaile.[2]
- O'Toole of O'Toole's Castle, Ballymacledy, (now Upper Talbotstown), Glen Imaile.
- O'Toole of Carnew Castle.
- Art Oge O'Toole of Castle Kevin, Fertie.
- Tirlogh O'Toole of Powerscourt, Feracualan.
- O'Toole of Omey, Iar Connaught, with other minor houses of the family such as OToole of Ballineddan and Brittas, in the Glen Imaile; O'Toole of Toolestown, near Dunlavin; O'Toole of Glengap, or Glen of the Downs (as it is now called); and a few others.
At the start of the 16th century, the leading branches of the clan were to a certain extent independent of each other; they were all bound to protect themselves; but in external matters affecting the whole clan they were bound to obey the head of the sept.[3]
Throughout their history the family were famous as soldiers, from fighting the English in the glens of Wicklow to serving in the armies of other Catholic European countries in the 18th century, such as France and Spain.
A branch of the O'Tooles are also settled in counties Galway and Mayo.
Contents
Notable members
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- Saint Laurence O'Toole was an archbishop of Glendalough and in 1171, while he was Archbishop of Dublin he took up arms against the Anglo Norman invaders.'
- Mor O'Toole, 1st queen of Dermot MacMurrough and mother of Aoife of Leinster
- Colonel John O'Toole of the Irish Brigade in France was created a count and is the ancestor of the present Count O'Toole of Limoges.
- Sergeant O'Toole of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers of the British Army was awarded a Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in the Zulu War on 3 July 1879.
- Peter O'Toole was a notable Irish stage and screen actor who starred in such films as Lawrence of Arabia, The Lion in Winter, and Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
- Fintan O'Toole is an award winning Irish journalist, author and critic, best known for his work with The Irish Times.
- Michelle O'Toole is an award-winning interior-designer. Best known for her work with the Baltimore Ravens, Saint Louis Rams, World Wide Technologies, and Ascension Health. She now owns her own Interior Design Firm, 'O'Toole Design Associates' which specializes in modern commercial interior design; under the slogan, "we make space work."
- Gary O'Toole is a former World champion and represented Ireland twice in the Olympics, 1988 and 1992. Now a leading Orthopaedic Consultant in Ireland.
- Mark O'Toole is the former bassist and a founding member of 1980s pop band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
- Daddy O'Toole - concert hall owner in Dublin in the 1900s, and Godfather to the local area, put on performances nightly many of which included Kay O'Toole, the contortionist, and music by Martin O'Toole, father of 13, of whom Imelda O'Toole is the youngest. Imelda's children are heirs to the multi award winning company COOK www.cookfood.net being related via Penfold lines. COOK recently came in the top 50 companies to work for in 2015. Martin O'Toole's brother, Patrick O'Toole was a decorated soldier for the British army in WW2.
- Fionn O'Toole - An up and coming super star rugby player from Australia. Plays Number 8
See also
Notes
References
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- Attribution
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "History of the Clan O'Tool and other Leinster Septs" by Patrick Laurance O'Toole
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