Moreover, the O'Conor parent house the Uí Briúin and Síol Muireadaigh ruled Connacht on many occasions – but not continuously – between 482 and 956.
The house of O'Conor also produced two High Kings of Ireland, Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair and his son Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland.
The O'Conor family like all Gaelic Nobility followed Brehon law system up until the 16th century.
The Kings, or Chiefs of the O'Conor family would be elected by a close kinship group.
This did frequently result in bitter feuds and lead to civil wars within the Kingdom, therefore at times dramatically weakening the family's power in Connacht and in Ireland.
Isabella, Countess O'Rourke (née MacDonagh), grandmother of
Charles O'Conor of Ballinagare
(1710–1791). After her husband's death in 1702 at the
Battle of Luzzara
, she became a lady-in-waiting to
Mary of Modena
, before retiring to the household of her son-in-law Denis (Just below).
Denis O'Conor of Ballinagare (Donnchadh Liath) (b. 1674), Charles' father.
Charles O'Conor of Ballinagare (1710–1791), in middle age.
Denis O'Conor of Ballinagare (1732–1804), Charles' eldest son, in middle age.
Charles O'Conor of Mount Allen (1736–1808) as a young man.
Revd Dr Charles O'Conor (1764–1828), grandson of Charles O'Conor of Ballinagare (1710-1791) who was also a historian of note but created controversy during his lifetime.
Owen O'Conor of Ballinagare. He purchased Clonalis estate in 1805 and inherited the O'Conor Don title in 1820. Owen moved his family and household to Clonalis in that year and left Ballinagare Castle. A Catholic emancipationist and close friend of
Daniel O'Connell
, he was the first elected Catholic Member of Parliament for Roscommon since the
Patriot Parliament
of 1689.
