O'Keeffe,
O'Keefe, Keefe, Keif
The O'Keefe's are are part
of a medium sized Irish clan known as the O'Keeffes or O Caoimh
in the Irish language. The name translates as "descendant
of Coamh" or "descendant of the beautiful/gentle/noble."
In the early 10th century, Ireland was divided into five separate
kingdoms and Fionghuine, the Prince of Fermoy and the King of
Munster, ruled over southwestern Ireland. In 902 A.C.E.,
his son Art Caoimh was slain and the name has been carried by
his descendants ever since. In the 12th century, the O'Keeffes'
traditional enemy, the Macarthy Mor, allied themselves with the
Anglo-Norman invaders and pushed the O'Keeffes West from Fermoy
into Duhallow. The Clan O'Keeffe has remained in the area
ever since. However, many of the leaders of the clan were
killed or driven into exile between the Elizabethan Era and O'Connell
Reforms. |
