Word: ceallaigh
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...that might imply Australian recognition of Eire's claim to Northern Ireland, and with the Queen herself due for a visit to Canberra, that would never do. How, suggested the Australian government, about "Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland," or even "Ambassador to President Sean T. O'Ceallaigh," just as the British themselves do it, spelling O'Kelly in the Gaelic way? No, said Dublin firmly, it would have to be "Ireland" or nothing...
...issued an order in 1465 requiring all Irishmen to take "an English surname of one towne, as Sutton, Chester . . . or art or science ... or office, as cook, butler." Though the law was generally ignored, the Irish did find it expedient to Anglicize their names. In the proud name O Ceallaigh, for example, the O was dropped, hard Irish c became k, the guttural aigh softened to y; and the result was Kelly. Many Eire patriots are now reversing the process, with Murphy re-emerging as O Murchadha, and Moriarty as O Muircheartaigh...
| 1 |