Lawler

O'Leathlabhair, O'Lawlor or O'Lalors, took their name from Leathlabhor, prince of Dalaradia, or Ulidia, now the county of Down in the tenth century, who was their ancestor, and they are therefore of the Irian race, of Clanna Rory of Ulster, and of the same descent as the O'Moores, princes of Leix.  The O'Lawlors had in ancient times extensive possessions in Leix, in the barony of Stradbally, Queens county. (Keatings History of Ireland - Topographical Index)

The name itself is said to be derived from  leath (half) and  labhar (sick person / or stammerer). 

Between 1550 and 1610 Carew, Gilbert, Pelham and Mountjoy staged a literal war of extermination in Ireland.  Lecky, a Trinity College historian, states ..... "The slaughter of Irishmen was looked on literally as the slaughter of beasts. Not only the men, but even the women and children who fell into the hands of the English were deliberately and systematically butchered."  At this time the O'Lalors were located in County Leix.  Located near the  famous Rock of Dunamase they were driven from the area by English invaders under Elizabeth I.  

In 1607 O'Lalor Mills in County Laois was the scene of a treaty which resulted in the transplantation of the leaders of the Seven Septs of Laois (including the O'Lalors) to Co. Kerry.  The lands in northern Kerry had been confiscated from the O'Connors, Sullivans and more at the end of the Elizabethan-Desmond war of 1582 and distributed by the crown.  

The Crosbie Agreement which was signed by Teig Lalour and other Sept leaders named 87 Lalours. The designated transplantation area was  northern county Kerry, where the Crosbies held land, particularly in the area of Tarbert, but spread along the entirety of the area as far as Tralee.

While it is believed that many peasants and workers of the O'Lalor sept remained in their old territory, a fact that is supported by the prevalence of the name there, the "fighters" were either transplanted, hid or fled the county.  One manuscript of the times states that the Sheriff and Governor of Laois spent a week demolishing all the buildings, seizing cattle and hanging anyone from the Seven Septs who was found.  

The O'Lalors, did not settle without a fight.  They were mentioned as setting fire to Lord Kerry's new castle in 1641, resulting in his leaving Ireland forever. 

Our Lawlors are found in the Gullane district of Co. Kerry.  This was never Crosbie land, but was it was part of the lands that they helped secure for Trinity College.

It seems likely that our Lawlors are descended from the transplanted leaders.  But at this point our knowledge of our Lawlor ancestors is limited to two generations beginning in approximately 1800.  Let the search continue.

Lineage
  1. Mary Lawlor (abt 1819-1909) m. Edward English m2. John Carmody (Dropbox )
  2. Thomas Lawlor  (abt 1800 - bef 1855) m. Katherine Sweeney (Dropbox )
  3. Lawlor Ancestry (Dropbox)
    • From Kilconly Parish, Kerry to Minnesota (Dropbox)
    • Lawlors found in Kilconly Parish  (Dropbox)
    • Lawlors in Olmsted and Winona Counties MN  (Dropbox )

Places

More

Books
  • Keane, Michael Christopher From Laois to Kerry Fitzsimmons Printers Shanagolden 2016
  • Hickson, M.A.,  Selections From Old Kerry Records: Watson and Hazel 1874
  • Berrington, T.J., Discovering Kerry

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