The McGrath surname explained: hereditary poets to Brian Boru’s descendants, the author of the Wars of Turlough, the separate Termon McGrath family and the right DNA test.

The Thomond McGraths (Mac Craith, “son of Craith”) were hereditary poets and historians to the O’Brien kings, Brian Boru’s descendants, in County Clare. Tradition places them within the Dál gCais kindred. A second, unrelated Mac Craith family lived at Termon McGrath on the Donegal and Fermanagh border, so not every McGrath traces back to Clare.

Origin of the name

Mac Craith means “son of Craith”, a personal name usually linked to rath, meaning grace or good fortune. The Irish annals record the name in several forms, including Mag Craith and Mag Raith. McGraw, common in North America, is a phonetic spelling of the same name.

Poets to the O’Briens

In Gaelic Ireland, a king’s hereditary poet was a senior official. He kept the dynasty’s genealogy and wrote the poetry and history that recorded its deeds. John Grenham notes that the Clare McGraths were famous as hereditary poets and genealogists to the ruling O’Briens of Thomond.

The family’s best-known work is Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh (“The Triumphs of Turlough”), written in the 14th century by Seán mac Ruaidhrí Mac Craith. It tells the story of the wars between two branches of the O’Briens, ending with the defeat of the Anglo-Normans at the Battle of Dysert O’Dea in 1318, which kept Thomond free of English control for two centuries. It also contains one of the earliest references to the banshee in Irish literature.

The McGraths also held church office in Clare, and several served as bishops of Killaloe and Kilfenora.

How are the McGraths related to Brian Boru?

Tradition places the Thomond McGraths within the Dál gCais, descended from the line of Brian’s father Cennétig. Their best-documented link, though, is professional: for centuries they served Brian’s descendants, and much of what we know about the later O’Brien kings comes from McGrath pens. Treat the blood relationship as family tradition and the service to the O’Briens as history.

McGrath DNA

McGrath is one of the surnames found in R-L226 (Irish Type III), the Dál gCais Y-DNA group. Because there are at least two unrelated McGrath families, a Y-DNA test is the clearest way to tell a Thomond McGrath from an Ulster one. Start with a Y-37 test and join the McGrath surname project at Family Tree DNA. Big Y-700 gives the most detailed placement. For your wider tree, use an autosomal test such as AncestryDNA, and read our DNA guide for what each result can prove.

The Clan McGrath Society runs a membership network for McGraths worldwide and is a useful contact for gatherings and research.

McGrath places to visit

• Clare Abbey, just south of Ennis: the Augustinian abbey the Thomond McGraths were closely tied to, now a free-to-visit ruin.
• Dysert O’Dea, near Corofin: the site of the 1318 battle described in the McGrath history, with a round tower and high cross.
• Ennis Friary: the O’Brien foundation where the kings whose deeds the McGraths recorded were buried. See places to stay in Ennis.
• Killaloe: Brian Boru’s royal centre, 40 minutes east. Plan it with our Brian Boru trail.

Related Dál gCais surnames

See the MacMahons, MacNamaras, O’Gradys, Kennedys, Hogans and Caseys, or browse all Brian Boru kindred surnames.

Frequently asked questions

Are McGraths descended from Brian Boru?

Not directly. Tradition places the Thomond McGraths in his Dál gCais kindred, and for centuries they were poets to his O’Brien descendants.

Is McGraw the same name as McGrath?

Yes. McGraw is a spelling that reflects how the name was pronounced, common in North America.

Where do the McGraths come from?

The best-known family came from County Clare. A separate family lived at Termon McGrath on the Donegal and Fermanagh border.

What did the McGrath poets write?

Their best-known work is Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh, a 14th-century history of the O’Brien wars ending with the Battle of Dysert O’Dea in 1318.

Sources

1. John Grenham, McGrath surname history, Irish Ancestors.
2. Wikipedia, Seán mac Ruaidhri Mac Craith.
3. Wikipedia, MacCraith.