O’Birn of Carra

The Book of Lecan, written about 1417, contains a topographical poem which describes the various land holdings in the Connacht territory of Hy-Fiachrach. A portion reads, “The lordship of O’Birn extends from the causeway of Cillin na n-garg to Beul atha na sesidh, Roibin beag being on the east side, and from Sighin Ciarain to Tobar Lughna”.  This is the barony of Carra in southern County Mayo between Ballinrobe and Castlebar.

In his book Irish Families, Edward  MacLysaght states that a branch of the O’Beirne clan settled in Mayo north of Ballinrobe.  In his book Hy-Fiachrach, John O’Donovan said that the name O’Birn was still common in that area (writing dated 1844), but had been anglicized to Byrne.

(source: “The Clan O’Byrne of Leinster” by Paul J. Burns, published in 2001)

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