Because of the lack of definitive records of the various medieval Irish septs and the various colonial intrusions the previous chapter gives just a abroad historical background  based on available references at present.
Hence my story begins  in 1470 ad in and around the ancient monastic village of Clonmore with Lorcan O'Byrne of Portrushen, an important local chieftain of the area situated about 6 miles west of  Clonmore, in County Carlow.
For easy reference the history is broken down into 16 generations, from 1450 to 2016, to giving the history of each family from actual available records and the results of which which have been confirmed by DNA testing over the past 20 years.​
Generation No.  16    {1471 C: }
​Lorcan of Portrushen

Generation No.  15  
​Feilim Buidhe Mc Lorcan of Portrushen
Had Issue:  Hugh( Geangagh), Tirlagh, Charles and one daughter Sadbh who married Hugh mac Shane O'Byrne of Glenmalure and had issue Feagh macHugh O'Byrne.

  Generation No.  14  
Hugh ​​​​Geangagh {the Snubnosed} Mc Feilim of Portrushen and later of Clonmore Castle.
Married:  Margaret, dau. of Pearce Grace of Rathvilly
Had Issue:  4 sons,  Feilim, Art, Robert, James,  
​   and 3 daughters, Moare, Durren and Margaret    

Picture
The Castle in 1998 from a painting by Roland Byrne
Picture
Map of Clonmore
Picture
The Castle in 1792 from an etching by Lt. Daniel Grose
​​​Hugh Geangagh O'Byrne was granted the Manor [castle] of Clonmore and 11 townlands  on a lease of 21 years by
​ Black Tom the Duke of Ormond in 1575.
Why ?  Because the Earl wanted a loyal barrier  between himself in Kilkenny and his enemy the FitzGeralds in Kildare .