O’Callaghan of Munster Clan Society

An affiliated society of The Council of Irish Clans

Who are we?

We are the children of Irish ancestors who share a common ancestral homeland (Munster, Ireland) and a surname derived from Cellachán Cashel, the formidable Chief of the Eóganachta tribe and King of Munster from AD 935 until 954 who, amongst many other famed accomplishments, is said to have subdued the Vikings and defeated the father of Brian Boru of the Dal gCais, in battle.

Common kinship is reflected in our surnames which are variations of Ceallachán and, through the turmoil of history, have found themselves transformed into numerous modern variants such as O'Callaghan, Callaghan, O'Callahan, Callahan, O'Kallaghan, Kallaghan Kallahan, Kalahan, Keelaghan, Kealahan & Keelan etc.

DNA testing reveals we are more than one bloodline, but history tells us that we were bound together into a single union, marked by a shared surname and membership of a historic fraternity.

Our Goals

Our first goal is to establish an O’Callaghan of Munster Clan Society. Modern life means that the “Callaghans” (in all varieties of the name) are dispersed throughout the world, so we are using this web page as a medium to connect with potential members, and to assess the demand for an O’Callaghan of Munster Clan Society. Thus, if you think this is a good idea, please make sure you let us know by emailing us at “O'CallaghanOfMunsterClan” (click to open an email).

The Goals of the O’Callaghan of Munster Clan Society are to:

· Foster and facilitate surname spirit, diversity, friendship and networking amongst members.

· Encourage and promote the study and preservation of the history, folklore, and traditions of our clan.

· Research the history and genetic genealogy of our clan.

· Support our clan members in seeking to understand their roots and connections.

· Provide opportunities for members to participate in international and regional gatherings and to network with their clan.

Should I Join This Society?

If you share our goals, and your ancestors bore the surname Callaghan (or any variant) either now or sometime in the past¹, plus those family members originated from Munster in Ireland, then this is the Clan society for you. To express your support, or interest in joining our clan society, please email us at “O'CallaghanOfMunsterClan” (click to open an email client).

Note 1: For example, the way inherited names work, the female line of Callaghans lose their Callaghan surname but clearly, they remain genetically part of the clan as much as any male and thus, would be very much welcomed into this society.

Is There a Membership Fee?

No, the society is run by volunteers (its members) with the goals outlined above.

How is the Society Structured and Organised?

The society will be run as a democracy by a team of volunteers, undertaking the critical tasks (see next section). Once the society has established itself, it is hoped that roles can be rotated annually (to share the load) and where there is more than one person putting themselves forward for a role, be decided by members votes.

Are There Ways I Can Help?

Currently, the society is in the very early stages of being set up. Thus, simply registering your support or interest in becoming a member is very helpful to us, since it allows us to assess the demand that exists for establishing this society.

While the vast majority of members would simply enjoy the benefits this society will offer (see above goals), for this society to function, some members would need to be part of the team that sets-up and runs the society. Tasks include:

· Secretary(s) (first point of contact for potential and existing members etc)

· Writers (members who might write occasional short about articles Callaghan history or genealogy for online webpages or a newsletter)

· Advisors (members who might be willing to share their experiences of genealogy research to help other members)

· Media Officers (members who help the society with publicity, social media postings etc)

· Website Managers (being part of the team that maintains and expands the society’s webpages, as the society grows)

· President (and vice presidents) (being the public figurehead and senior executive overseeing operations)

We imagine most of the tasks would be overseen by small teams of volunteers, pooling the tasks (rather than the workload falling to just one individual) as commitments in the volunteer’s lives allow (ie as they juggle jobs, family and other commitments). Thus, if you are interested in joining this society either as a regular member, or as part of the volunteers that run this society please contact us by emailing “O'CallaghanOfMunsterClan” (click to open an email client).

Further Information about the O’Callaghan of Munster Clan:

· Joseph F.O Callaghan, "Clan Callaghan: The O Callaghan Family of County Cork", 302 pages, publisher Genealogical.Com, Inc, published 23 Nov 2020 (revised edition), ISBN: 9780806359168, 2020 (revised)

· Chris O'Callaghan “Book of The Callaghan“, 396 pages, Co. Cork, Ireland, 2013, 2014, 2017 & 2020, ISBN: 978-0-9565354-2-9 (provides an in-depth factual account of Ceallachán Caisil). Click on Chris O'Callaghan to get a free download version of his book.

· Callaghan Webpage, discusses the history of the Callaghan surname.

· Wikipedia O’Callaghan Website, Provides general information on all O’Callaghan clans, together with a list of notable Callaghans.

Finally, we hope you can join us on this journey, for what will surely be an interesting new adventure for our clan,

Professor Joseph O'Callaghan

Professor Victor Callaghan

Contact: O'CallaghanOfMunsterClan (click to open email client)

Our thanks to Dr Mike Fitzpatrick and Proinsias Mag Fhionnghaile, of the Council of Irish Clans, for their valuable guidance in creating this web page.