Analysis – Westmeath Cluster
Westmeath has the highest occurrence of the Seery surname in the whole of Ireland and from the projects results can been it is the proven to be the origin of the majority of the Freemans from the Connaught cluster. This appears to scientifically prove what Edward MacLysaught proposed in his book ‘More Irish Families’, first published in 1960. In his discussion on the origins of the McIntyre surname he writes,
‘Freeman also does duty, in this case by mistranslation, for Ó Saorthaigh, the name of a small Westmeath sept normally called Seery in English. A branch of this, or possibly a distinct family of the same name, was also at one time located in Donegal, but its present-day descendants are now found in small numbers in north Connaght, where some of its members are called Seery and some Freeman.’
There are 81 individual Seery landholders listed in the 1854 Griffith Valuation for Westmeath spread over 24 civil parishes as listed below. Parishes from the Barony of Kilkenny West are highlighted in red.
| Map Ref. | Parish Name | Individuals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drumraney | 7 |
| 2 | Kilkenny West | 6 |
| 3 | Dysart | 6 |
| 4 | Killucan | 5 |
| 5 | Ballymorin | 5 |
| 6 | Mullingar | 5 |
| 7 | Castletowndevlin | 4 |
| 8 | Clonarney | 4 |
| 9 | Newtown | 4 |
| 10 | Kilbeggan | 3 |
| 11 | Leny | 3 |
| 12 | Ballyloughloe | 3 |
| 13 | Castletownkindalen | 3 |
| 14 | Noughaval | 3 |
| 15 | Rathgrave | 2 |
| 16 | Conry | 2 |
| 17 | St Feighin | 2 |
| 18 | Kilmanaghan | 2 |
| 19 | Killuagh | 1 |
| 20 | Kilcleagh | 1 |
| 21 | Kilpatrick | 1 |
| 22 | Ballymore | 1 |
| 23 | Kilcumreragh | 1 |
| 24 | St Mary | 1 |
| 25 | Mayne | 1 |
| 26 | Rathaspick | 1 |
| 27 | Rathconrath | 1 |
| 28 | Multyfarnham | 1 |
| 29 | Stonehall | 1 |
| 30 | Castlelost | 1 |
| Total | 81 | |
These have been plotted onto a map of the civil parishes of Westmeath which is shown below. The major towns are shown as A=Athlone, C=Castletown Geoghan, M=Mullingar, D=Delvin & CM=Clonmellon
Distribution of the Seery Surname across the County of Westmeath, 1854
There are two main concentrations of Seerys, one located in the Barony of Kilkenny West and the other near Dysart. It is the Barony of Kilkenny West that may hold the answer to the Seery/Freeman migration to Connaught. The Prenders 1659 Census of Ireland ,which is actually a listing of Protestant landholdings by County, Parish and townland, mentions the common Irish surnames that are to be found in each Barony. Seery (or Sirey as it is spelt) is listed as being the 8th principle Irish name for the Barony of Kilkenny West.
Continue reading: The Dillons of Drumraney