This is the master volume to the 28 book set on Irish Family History from the Irish Genealogical Foundation. The largest and most comprehensive of the series, this volume includes family histories from every county in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It also has, for the first time, the complete surname index for the entire series. The 27 other books which are indexed in this volume will provide additional information on even more families.

The Inishowen peninsula abounds in place-names, all steeped in history and legend, and all reflecting the flora and fauna of Donegal's most beautiful province. This book covers the entire peninsula - from Urris to Templemore.

This edition presents the opening chapters of 'Inishowen, Its History, Traditions and Antiquities', first published by Michael Harkin in 1867 under the pen name of 'Maghtochair'. The book sweeps through Inishowen's ancient, medieval and modern history. We hear of its mythical past - the Tuatha De Danaan, the Milesians and the story of Niall of the Nine Hostages from whom it is claimed the O'Neill dynasty and St. Columbkille were descended. Accounts are given of the Viking raids, the arrival of Strongbow and the final dismantling of Gaelic Ireland, with the defeat of the great Ulster Chieftains, the O'Neills and O'Donnells, at the Battle of Kinsale in 1607. As well as the history and topography of Inishowen, we learn of its archaeology. The cairns, burial sites, standing stones, druidic temples and forts conjure up its pre-Christian era. After the coming of St. Patrick the archaeology is of ancient round towers, chapels, churches and monasteries, including the ancient Abbey at Fahan.

"This work represents the largest compilation of Irish family names and Irish coats-of-arms ever bound together under one cover."--Jacket.

Using archaeology, history, place-names, mythology, and folklore, this book examines one of the smallest territorial units in Ireland from the beginning of history c.600, and traces its development to c.1100. It argues that these people from a remote area of Donegal constituted a tiny kingdom that had an ongoing association with the pagan god Lug - Lugh Lamhfhada. The book demonstrates how the people's original devotion to Lug was transmuted through conversion to Christianity, reconstituted in aspects of the cult of St. Colum Cille and of a probably invented local saint - Beaglaoch. From c.725, their territory and influence were expanding - eventually giving rise to the powerful O'Donnell and O'Doherty families. Although relatively large in contemporary European terms, there is still only limited documentary evidence. However, this study makes the Donegal landscape itself speak in a revealing manner and offers a unique insight into wider early medieval history and religious culture.

Charles McGlinchey (1861-1954) lived his entire life on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal. On winter evenings in the 1940s and 50s, McGlinchy would visit friend Patrick Kavanagh and talk about his life and times. Kavanagh wrote down McGlinchey's words in their entirety.

Perfect for fans of character driven mysteries with a powerful sense of place Being adapted for a television crime series Summer has arrived in Inishowen and solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O'Keeffe is greatly tempted by a job offer from a law firm in America. Yet before making any life-changing decisions, there is her assistant Leah's wedding to attend at the newly restored Greysbridge Hotel—with its private beach and beautiful pier. The perfect location—but the festivities are brutally cut short when a young American, a visitor also staying at the hotel, drowns in full view of the wedding guests. And when a second death is discovered the same evening, Ben finds herself embroiled in a real country-house-murder-mystery, where all the guests are suspects. Sergeant Tom Molloy's appearance to investigate throws Ben into turmoil, especially when the pursuit of two runaways leads the pair to an island off the Donegal coast, where a violent storm traps them together, completely cut off from the mainland. A deadly conspiracy is unfolding on this tiny North Atlantic island—fueled by the ruthless pursuit of money—careening toward disaster for the inhabitants—and for Ben. Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Lisa Gardner—and, of course, Agatha Christie While all of the novels in the Inishowen Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: Death at Whitewater Church Treacherous Strand The Well of Ice Murder at Greysbridge The Body Falls

When a skeleton is discovered, wrapped in a blanket, in the hidden crypt of a deconsecrated church, everyone is convinced the bones must be those of Conor Devitt, a local man who went missing on his wedding day six years previously. But the post mortem reveals otherwise. Solicitor Benedicta 'Ben' O'Keeffe is acting for the owners of the church, and although an unwelcome face from her past makes her reluctant to get involved initially, when Conor's brother dies in strange circumstances shortly after coming to see her, she finds herself drawn in to the mystery. Whose is the skeleton in the crypt and how did it get there? Is Conor Devitt still alive, and if so is there a link? What happened on the morning of his wedding to make him disappear? Negotiating between the official investigation, headed up by the handsome but surly Sergeant Tom Molloy, and obstructive locals with secrets of their own, Ben unravels layers of personal and political history to get to the truth of what happened six years before.

'Maghtochair' was the pseudonym of 'Derry Journal' journalist Michael Harkin who compiled a series of articles on Inishowen and published them in 1867. His aim was to record and preserve the fast vanishing traditions of this well loved peninsula before the old social order and the Gaelic language disappeared. The book sweeps through Inishowen's ancient, medieval and modern history. We hear of its mythical past as well as its topography and archaeology. After the coming of St. Patrick and the conversion of the Gaelic chieftains, the archaeology is of ancient round towers, chapels, churches and monasteries including ancient Abbey at Fahan. The Viking and English invasions are chronicles as well as the final dismantling of Gaelic Ireland. Harkin describes the demand for tenants' rights and the abolition of tithes. To this story he adds descriptions of each parish. To this he adds colourful stories of rebels, murders, legends and folklore, along with superstitions which once abounded about them.