The O'Deas trace their ancestry to Milesius, whose descendants lead the Gaelic race to Ireland, and his wife, Scota, after which Scotland is named. For many centuries the O'Deas fought side-by-side with the O'Briens, O'Quinns, O'Connors, O'Hehir, MacNamaras and others and were loyal to the King of Thomond.

In 1318 A.D. Richard de Clare with a formidable army, decided to attack Conor O'Dea, chief of the Cineal Fearmaic, at Dysert and so cut off the strong arm of the combined Gaelic opposition. With a small band of followers, Conor maintained a stand at the ford on the Fergus (where Macken Bridge now stands) and held back the Anglo-Norman advance while his men took up an ambush position behind him.

De Clare, seeing only a small body of Conor O'Deas's men at the ford, rushed across with some English knights and was immediately surrounded by the O'Deas. He was felled by the axe of Conor O'Dea himself. A long and bloody battle ensued. There were heavy losses on both sides, and the Irish eventually became out numbered.

The O'Deas were joined by the O'Connors who were followed by the O'Briens, O'Hehir and MacNamaras and the English were soon defeated. After the victory,the Irish marched back to the De Clare settlement, only to find that de Clare's wife had set fire to everything including Castle Bunratty and had returned to England.

In the battle of Dysert O'Dea over eighty Englishmen of noble birth and many foot soldiers were killed. For two hundred years after the battle of Dysert O'Dea no Englishman held power or land in County Clare.

These and other historical facts are recorded in the book, "O'Dea, (Ua Deaghaidh) The Story of a Rebel Clan", by Risteard Ua Croinin. For more information on the castle and the book contact:

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