The name Dolan is fairly common today in Ulster, particularly in Cavan, Fermanagh and Tyrone, and also in the Connacht Counties of Roscommon and Galway.
[2] The Dolan branch of this clan settled in counties Sligo and Mayo and take their name from Dobhailen, the son of Gormghus.
The Annals of the Four Masters under the year 885 state- Dobhailen, son of Gormghus, lord of Luighne Connacht, died.
The Annals of the Four Masters under the year 920 state- Uathmharan, son of Dobhailen, lord of Luighne in Connaught, died.
994: Fogartach mac Diarmuda, maic Uathmuran, rí Corco Tri Chonnacht, was slain by the Gailenga of Choraind (Corann).
1031: Cusleibhe Ua Dobhailen [Cú sleibi h-úa Dobuilén], chief of Corca-Firtri, was treacherously slain.
Triallam timcheall na Fodla written about 1372 by Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin gives a listing of the Irish chiefs.
[5] Patrick O'Keefe's letter of 12 September 1836 gives an account of 'O'Doláin Duinn' whom he associates with Feenagh Lough (Feenaghmore[6] townland, Toomour parish, Corran barony).
In the Patent Rolls of King James I, a grant to Sir James Fullerton dated 28 January 1608 includes the four townlands surrounding Feenagh Lough which were collectively called 'Balligolan', probably a corruption of the Irish Baile Uí Dobhailén, meaning "Dolan's Town".
They agreed and Maguire granted 16 tates or townlands in Clanawley barony to Tigernán O'Dolan, the son of the chief of the clan.
An Inquisition held in Devenish, County Fermanagh on 7 July 1603 listed the chief freeholders in the barony of Clanawley, among whom were Montery Doelan.
)[14] At the end of the 16th century Bryan Dolan lived in the parish of Killargue, probably on land granted to his family there by the O'Rourkes.