O'Driscolls, past and present, celebrated in new book

A NEW book which celebrates the O’Driscolls of Baltimore has been launched locally.

Since 1986 the annual O’Driscoll clan gathering has drawn people to Baltimore and its offshore islands. 

They come to learn about the O’Driscoll history and heritage. 

Many come back again and again to be refreshed by the warm welcome that the community in Baltimore, Cape Clear, Heir and Sherkin island extends to them. 

They all feel that they are ‘coming home’. 

One of the highlights of the 2019 O’Driscoll clan gathering was the launch of the updated and extended Éamon Lankford’s,  O’Driscolls, Past and Present book  at Bushe’s Bar in the village square. 

The book traces aspects of O’Driscoll ancestry and history over 1,500 years, from the end of the sixth century. 

The O’Driscoll castles as photographed and mapped in the book provide a useful indicator of the extent of their territories and wealth. Baltimore (Baile an Tighe Mhóir) became the seat of the Ó Driscoll Mór in the mid-thirteenth century. 

 The castle, known as Dún na Séad, was built in 1215 by the English and it is probably the oldest of the O’Driscoll castles. 

When exactly it came into their hands is not known. It has been completely restored by Patrick and Bernadette McCarthy and hosts the annual O’Driscoll Clan Gathering.

Other O’Driscoll castles or tower houses were at Oldcourt, Castlehaven, Castlenard, Lettertinlish, Rincolisky, Aghadown, Lough Hyne and Ardagh, as well as those on the islands – Dún an Óir at Cape Clear, Dún na Long in Sherkin and Dún na nGall in Rinn Garóige or Ringarory Island.  

Some 35 volumes of The O’Driscoll Collection, has been compiled for the O’Driscoll Memorial Archive by author Éamon Lankford.

 All who are descended from an O Driscoll are invited to make a submission of  their family history and story for inclusion at www.odriscoll.ie 

• O Driscolls, Past and Present by Éamon Lankford is published by Celum Publishing, in Cork and priced at €16 and available in bookshops and direct from Éamon Lankford, at 146 South Douglas Road, Cork or at from the website at www.odriscolls.ie.