Early History

During the early centuries of the first millennium A.D., lands were allotted to the various Celtic clans of noble pedigree. The O'Deas became lords of that part of North West Clare between the river Fergus to the East, the Burren to the North, and the Atlantic ocean to the West.

Early in the 8th century a pious hermit named Tóla was given a plot of land near the O'Dea stronghold. Here he set about organizing a small monastic community. Tóla built a little church in Dysert about 700 A.D., parts of which are incorporated into the present church at Dysert O'Dea. 

The chief who gave his own personal name to Clan O'Dea was Déaghaidh (pronounced Day), who is referred to in Keating's History of Ireland under the year 934 A.D, where he describes the rescue of Ceallachán (King of Munster) from his capture on a Viking ship at Dundalk.  "Cinneide (Brian Boru's father) also brought five hundred men from Dal gCais (Co. Clare) under Déaghaidh son of Domhnall (ancestor of the O'Deas) together with those who came from the other free clans of Munster."  The O'Deas, therefore, were one of the first families in Europe to have a surname, which they adopted before King Brian Boru made it compulsory early in the 11th century.

The twelfth and thirteenth centuries were a time of chaos throughout Ireland. There are many references to the O'Deas showing that they were involved in numerous civil wars and inter-tribal conflicts.  In August of 1317, a great meeting of the Dalcassian chiefs was held at Rathlaheen. It was decided that they would meet a week later at Ruan, from whence they marched northwards past Tullach O'Dea until they reached the Cistercian Abbey of Corocomruadh. Numbered in this great army were many of the major and minor clans of County Clare. In opposition, Donnchadh, grandson of Brian Rua, gathered his forces and was overwhelmingly defeated in the battle of Lough Raska near Corcomruadh Abbey.

The Battle of Dysert O'Dea, 1318

When Richard de Clare heard of the devastating defeat of his allies at Corcomruadh, he decided to attack O'Dea at Dysert and so cut off the strong arm of the combined Gaelic opposition. His troops arrived at Ruan on the morning of May 10, 1318, and were divided into three columns. The first column, headed by his son, marched northwards to Tullach O'Dea to cut off help which might arrive from O'Connor of Ennistymon. The second division marched southwards towards Magowna to intercept any support from that side. The third division, under his own command, marched westwards towards Dysert O'Dea, the home of Conor O'Dea.

When Conor got news that such a large force of English and Irish mercenaries were advancing on him, he sent messengers to the neighboring clans for aid while he hastily put together a strategy for defense. With a small band of followers, he maintained a stand at the ford on the Fergus (where Macken Bridge now stands) and held back the Anglo-Norman advance while his men took up an ambush position behind him. De Clare, seeing only a small body of Conor O'Dea's men at the ford, rushed across with some English knights and was immediately surrounded by the O'Deas. He was felled by the axe of Conor O'Dea himself and was hacked to pieces by others while the main body of his troops looked on helplessly from the opposite bank of the stream.

The enraged Anglo-Normans fought their way across the stream and surrounded the O'Deas. Suddenly, Feilim O'Connor's troops charged down the hill of Scamhall (Scool) and cut a path through the English to join O'Dea in the fray. De Clare's son arrived on the scene and was cut down and killed by Feilim O'Connor.

About this time news reach Muircheartach O'Brien, who was encamped about 10 miles east of Dysert O'Dea, that O'Dea and O'Connor were sorely pressed by the English. He and his men rushed to the battle as fast as their horses could gallop. O'Connor was first to see them arrive and thought they were more English reinforcements which caused him to despair, but he was soon delighted when he heard their Gaelic war cries.

Soon Lochlann O'Hehir and the MacNamaras joined the fight. The English continued to fight bravely and fiercely. Their commanders fell where they stood and they were annihilated almost to a man. Those of the race of Brian Rua who made it across the Shannon were banished forever from the Kingdom of Thomond. Later the Irish arrived at Bunratty to find the castle ablaze and de Clare's wife and household fled to England.

Since that day in May 1318, no Englishman held power or land in Country Clare for over two hundred years. So began an era of peace and prosperity which had not been seen since the coming of the Danes five hundred years before.

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