O'Houlihan (dynasty)
| Houlihan Family Ó hUallacháin Mac Uaileachain of Lusmagh, Ó hUallacháin of Siol nAnmchadha, Houlahan, Mac Uallacháin, Hoolahan, Ua hUallacháin, Oulahan, Cuolahan, etc. | |
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Arms of O'Houlihan | |
| Parent family | Uí Mháine (Hy Many) |
| Country |
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| Current region | |
| Earlier spellings | Ó hUallacháin, Mac Uallacháin |
| Etymology | "Of Uallachán" |
| Founder | Uallachán Mac Flann |
| Final head | Final known head: Henry Cuolahan Esq. |
| Historic seat | Siol Anmchadha Lusmagh, Garrycastle |
| Titles | Lord of Muintir Cionaetha/Munter Cinaith
Chief of Muintir Cionaetha/Munter Cinaith Chief of the Name, Ó hUallacháin Chief of Siol Anmchadha (former) King of Siol Anmchadha (former) Prince of Siol Anmchadha Lord of Siol Anmchadha Lord over Lusmagh |
| Style(s) | Mór hUallacháin (Lit. "Great Houlihan, or, The Houlihan") |
| Connected families | Ua Madadhan (O'Madden), of Connaught (Siol Anmchadha)
Hoolahan, Of Clan Colgan, King's County. Holahan, Of Kilkenny. Ó Treasaigh, Of Siol Anmchadha |
| Dissolution | Dormant since late 20th century |
The Houlihan dynasty is a noble house and clan descending from Uí Mháine in modern-day County Galway and County Offaly in Ireland. This is reflected in the patronymic naming system: "Uallachán, son of Flann, son of Flannchadh, son of Innrachtach, son of Maelduin, son of Donngal, son of Anmchadh, son of Eoghan Buac."
The source of the name "hUallacháin" (Houlihan) is from the progenitor of the family Prince Uallachan Mac Flann: "A rough-fettering lord of distinguished valour, venomous- weaponed, h-Uallachan." An Irish warrior and Prince of Siol Anmchadha. His name means "Proud", or "Arrogant".
There are likely more than 3 different main lines of the Houlihan name, which stem from different places. The name found in this article is the main line whom were "Chiefs of Siol Anmchadha in Hy-Maine" (Uí Mháine) as listed in John O'Hart's Pedigree of the Irish Nation.
At times, The Ó hUallacháin was the King and or Chief of Siol Anmchadha, as addressed in the "Annals of Ireland," and, "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many." But The O'Houlihan specifically ruled over Lusmagh, a parish East of the Shannon River, within the Barony of Garrycastle but not ruled by the Delbhna bEthra.