Mac Amhlaoibh and Mac Amhalghaidh (Irish septs)

[1] Today Anglicised forms of Mac Amhlaoibh and Mac Amhalghaidh include: Cauley, Caully, Cauly, Cawley, Cawly, Colley, Gawley, Macaulay, MacAuley, Macauley, MacAuliffe, MacAwley, MacCauley, MacCawley, MacGauley, Magawley, Magawly, McAulay, McAuley, McAuliffe, McAuly, McCaulay, McCauley, McCaully, McCauly, McCawley, McCawly, McGauley, MacAulay,[3] McCowley,[3] McColley,[3] Macauley,[3] McCooley,[3] and Oliffe.

The heartland of the family was near Ballyloughloe, within the barony of Clonlonan, County Westmeath, and was known in Elizabethan times as "MacGawleys Country".

[1] One pedigree of a family within the sept reaches back to Niall of the Nine Hostages and is stored in the genealogical office in Dublin.

The historian Dalton claimed that the inauguration chair of the "Magawley chiefs stood on the hillock now called Tullymagawley".

Tullymagawley (Tulach Mic Amhalghaidh) was one of the later mediaeval seats of the chiefs of the sept.[7] The arms of Arms of Valerio Magawly-Cerati (pictured) are blazoned argent a lion rampant and in chief two dexter hands gules; crest a demi lion rampant gules; motto LAIMH DEARGH ABOO; and supporters the black eagles of Austria.

[1] The chiefs of the sept are mentioned within the mediaeval topographical poems of Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin and Giolla-na-Naomh Ó hUuidrain: Far from the bounteous river Ella, To the west of Gleann Salchain of smooth rods, is a fine land without concealment of fair nuts, It is the land of the noble Mac Amhlaoibh.

MacAuliffe was at the time considered the chief of the sept.[15] The arms are blazoned argent three mermaids with combs and mirrors in fess azure between as many mullets of the last; crest a boar's head couped or.

[15] On 1 November 1709, the King of Spain combined several Irish units in his service, and formed the Ultonia Regiment which was commanded by MacAuliffe.

[18]: 154 The Mac Amhlaoibh sept of Mág Uidhir (Maguire) originated in the area occupied within the present County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

The family established itself in Muinntear Peodacháin, near Lough Erne, dispossessing the Mac Gille Fhinnéin chieftain.

[19] In consequence of their military actions the family eventually left its mark on the area in the name of the barony of Clanawley in County Fermanagh.