The Ancestors of the present O’Shea family have their origins in Kerry and still many remain in the Kingdom of Kerry. The surname has altered and evolved considerably in the last 1000 years.
In 1899 Miss Hickson produced an article for the Journal of The Royal Society of the Antiquaries of Ireland (JRSAI), Vol 29, mentioning the O’Shea surname. She refers to the Parish of Tuosist on the west of the Beara Peninsula as deriving its name from the O’Siosta, which she suggested was the original of the modern O’Shea. In 1587, the Desmond Survey lists this O’Siosta Sept. Also, the O’Siosta surname was frequently written as O’Chuista according to the JRSAI. The parish of Kilmakilloge into the 1600s still was called Kilmackcollok O’Cestie. On the Dingle peninsula [Corcaguine], Dingle was known as Daingean Ui Chuis. In 1601 at nearby Stradbally, a pardon was granted to John O’Coshe. These are tenuous connections to the O’Sheas but worthy of further research.

O’Heerin [who d.1420] in his Topography of Ireland refers to O’Sheas having been Kings of Uibh Rathach (present Barony of Iveragh). They were constantly at loggerheads with their O’Falvey cousins in Corcaguine. In 1115 Lochlann O’Falvey was killed by Murchad O’Shea . Then Tadh O’Shea was killed by O’Falvey. In 1158 another O’Falvey leader was killed by The O’Shea. Beyond this internecine strife, The clans were also involved in larger struggles, involving The O’Briens Of Dal Cais, The O’Connors and The Mac Carthy Mors.

At least when struggling with their neighbours it was an even fight [until O’Falveys brought in the Limerick Vikings [their own cousins]. Getting involved in the larger struggle resulted in Murchad O’Shea being exiled in 1124 by Cormac Mor MacCarthy. In the 1300’s, we find another clan leader having migrated to Tipperary and later to Kilkenny where that branch became O Shee or Shee. In 1580 Lord Grey De Wilton annihilated a Papal force at Smerwick on the tip of the Dingle peninsula and initiated a scorched earth policy, which quashed resistance, This must have led to some migration. There had been serious famines between1270 and 1320 and then in the first half of the seventeenth century they had harvest failures and military upheavals. Famines in 1727/29 and 1739/41 left 10 per cent dead. Then there were famines in 1799/1801, 1816/17, 1822, 1831, 1845/50 and threatened famines in 1860, 1880s and 1890s in the west.

In spite of all this and more, from a low of 71 and 49 families in all Cork and Kerry [Down Survey] for 1659, the O’Shea Clan rose in numbers to 930 and to 1583 families by 1852. That took stamina and gumption. Since 1700, 10 million people left Ireland. Today 70 million claim descent. I wonder how many were O’Sheas?


The Controversy
The people of Dingle or “Daingean” will be voting on what to call their town. There has been a lot of controversy since the name “Dingle” was removed from all road signs in the region in 2004. Many people feel that the name change is hurting tourism, Other locals say the Minister didn’t get the Irish version of Dingle correct. “It’s not Daingean, it’s Daingean Uí Chuis”. Daingean is in Co. Offaly” was said. Those who support the change to Daingean have argued that the benefit is continued grants to a Gaeltacht area. The list of electors is to be brought before the September 2005 meeting of the town council for final approval and a date will then be set for the plebiscite (vote on the name of the town).

Background Information
The O Sheas and their cousins the O’Falveys were descended from Corc who gave his name to Corcu Duibne. The O’Sheas held territory on the south side of the Dingle peninsula , and the north and west of the Iveragh peninsula. It is believed they were a branch of the Earna or Erainn, themselves a branch of the Fir Bolg or Belgae who came to Ireland 500 to 300 BC. Circa 1200 AD, the tribe was known as Aes Iorruis with the additional name of Tuaiscirt for Corca Duibne and Deiscirt for Iveragh. Most settlements were small family farming units within Raths or Lioses and extended families in Cahers (stone forts).

As late as 1815, Caherciveen consisted of only 5 houses. By 1835 the population was 1,200. Almost from pre Christian times local agricultural products were exported and luxury goods from the continent imported from nearby small sheltered bays such as Dingle. As early as 1287 taxes from this little port amounted to one percent of the national revenue. Never the less, even then smuggling took place especially with Spain. In 1585 Elizabeth I of England granted 300 Pounds to wall in her new borough here, to try and bring order to the area and protect the new settlers.In Irish, Dingle was always known as Daingean Uí Chuise. Based on the works of the famed historian Miss Hickson about 1900, I submit that “Daingean Uí Chuise” translates as: “The Settlement of the O Sheas”. Dingle was granted a Charter by James I in 1608. In 1765 Parliament granted 1000 pounds to build a town pier. About this time it had its own identifiable coinage. A cottage industry for linen as well as a local mill were developed, fostered by the Knight of Kerry. Dingle has for some time now been going through a phase of redevelopment for tourism!
So, a town with a significant place in Kerry history is getting a chance to decide its future name and perhaps its destiny?
Brian O’Shea