The Doherty Clan (Irish: Clann Ua Dochartaigh) is an Irish clan based in County Donegal in the north of the island of Ireland. The name can also be a mis-anglicisation of Ó Dubhartaigh, correctly anglicised Doorty, and occurring mainly in Counties Cork and Kerry. Irish clans are officially recognized groups of people who either share a surname or are descended from people who bore the surname. ... Statistics Province: Ulster Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East, Donegal South West County Town: Lifford Code: DL Area: 4,841 km² Population (2006) 146,956 Website: www. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Cork Code: C (CK proposed) Area: 7,457 km² Population (2006) 480,909 (including City of Cork); 361,766 (without Cork City) Website: www. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ...

Like clans in other cultures, Irish clans such as the Dohertys are divided into many septs and regional families. In the modern day, there are 140 noted variations in spelling of the name, of which Doherty is the most modern anglicisation 1 For other uses, see Clan (disambiguation). ... A sept is a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Origins

The Dohertys claim to have been named after Dochartach, the 12th in linear descent from Conall Gulban (d. AD 455), the son of the famous Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noigíallach) the 5th Century High King of Ireland believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of St. Patrick, and namesake of the powerful Uí Néill dynasty. Through Niall, the Dohertys can trace their heritage back even further making a claim as one of Europe’s longest descent lines. The origins of the family however, as with the Irish people and their ancestors, the Gaels, is obscured by Celtic mythology and folk tales. Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach, was an Irish king founded the kingdom of Tír Chonaill in modern County Donegal in the 5th century. ... Niall of the Nine Hostages (Irish: Niall Noigíallach) was a High King of Ireland who was active in the early-to-mid 5th century, dying - according to the latest estimates - around 450-455. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Statue of Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (died March 17, 462, 492, or 493), is the patron saint of Ireland. ... The Uí Néill (Irish for descendants of Niall Uí pronounced Ee: ) were an Irish dynasty who claimed descent from Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a semi-historical High King of Ireland who died about 405. ... The Irish people (Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a European ethnic group who originated in Ireland, in north western Europe. ... “Gael” redirects here. ... Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. ...

The later chiefs of the clan, elected by tanistry under the Brehon Laws, were called the Lords of Inishowen as they were pushed from their original territory in the Laggan valley area of present-day Donegal, into the vacuum left by the end of Mac Lochlainn rule in the northernmost peninsula of the island of Ireland.They married mostly into the Murphy clan. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Brehon Laws were statutes that governed everyday life and politics in Ireland until the Norman invasion of 1171 (the word Brehon is an Anglicisation of breitheamh (earlier brithem), the Irish word for a judge). ... Location of Inishowen Inishowen (Irish: Inis Eoghain) is a historical peninsular region in County Donegal, and also the largest peninsula in Ireland. ... Alford L. McLaughlin, USMC, (1928-1977), Medal of Honor recipient Audrey McLaughlin, former leader of Canadas New Democratic Party Dean Benjamin McLaughlin, an American astronomer Jason McLaughlin, the American student gunman in the Rocori High School shooting John McLaughlin, the name of a number of notable individuals, including: John...

Modern history

Following the Flight of the Earls in 1607, the chief of the Dohertys, Cahir O’Dogherty, rose up in the following year against English domination in Ireland and the plantation of protestant settlers in what is known as O’Doherty’s Rebellion. He and his followers managed to attack Derry and burn several castles before ultimately being defeated. After this loss, Cahir was killed in 1608 and the family lost much of its power and influence. By 1784, the leading branch of the family fled the country. The chiefs have been absent from Ireland ever since. The Flight of the Earls (Irish: Teitheadh na nIarlaí) refers to the departure from Ireland on 14 September 1607 of Hugh ONeill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory ODonnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. ... Plantations in 16th and 17th century Ireland involved the seizure of land owned by the native Irish and granting of it to colonists (planters) from Britain. ... Derry is one of the longest continuously inhabited places in Ireland. ...

During the 1990s, the Irish government offered some limited recognition to the Chiefs of the most ancient clans, calling them the Chiefs of the Name and operating under primogeniture rather than tanistry. The chieftainship of the Dohertys was claimed by Ramon O'Dogherty of Spain. The Chief of the Name is the recognized head of a family or clan. ... Primogeniture is the common law right of the first born son to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

After a scandal involving bogus claims of Terence MacCarthy, to be the chief of that clan, the status of the chiefs in Ireland is now uncertain. Terence Francis MacCarthy (born January 21, 1957), formerly styled Tadhg V, The MacCarthy Mór, Prince of Desmond and Lord of Kerslawny, is a genealogist, historian, and writer. ...

Today there are Doherty families in many parts of Ireland, and the Doherty's are an important part of the Irish diaspora. To this end, the family continues through voluntary organisations exploring family and Irish history and hosting regular family reunions. The Ó Dochartaigh Clann Association previously operated an office on Inch Island from 1985 until 1999, and in Buncrana from 1999 until 2007. // The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and states of the Caribbean and continental Europe. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference C346320 Statistics Province: Ulster County: Elevation: 62 m (206 ft) Population (2002)  - Town:  - Rural:   3,420  1,851 Inishowen peninsula Buncrana (Irish: ) is a town in County Donegal, in the northwest of Ireland, located on the Inishowen peninsula, along Lough Swilly. ...

Doherty reunions have been hosted in Ireland every five years since 1985, by the Ó Dochartaigh Irish Reunion Committee (an amalgamation of the reunion committees from Inishowen and Derry). The next reunion will take place in July 2008, commemorating the 1608 death of Cahir O'Dogherty, and in July 2010.

The Ó Dochartaigh (Doherty) Clann Association is North American-based (USA/Canada), offering international membership and a newsletter.

References

• Ó Dochartaigh Clann Association.
• Ó Dochartaigh Irish Reunion Committee.
• Buncrana.
• http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/chiefs/4chiefs.htm#odoch
• http://homepage.tinet.ie/~kthomas/names4.htm
• http://www.dochertyfamily.com